Period dramas have been sweeping the film industry for years, offering audiences glimpses into the past. With Netflix being a leading streaming app, it’s been bringing a plethora of period drama series and films to the trending queue. Lately, The Last Kingdom has been reigning supreme since its release in 2015, along with its newest film, Seven Kings Must Die, tying the loose ends.
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This epic series is an adaptation of the historical book series “Saxon Stories” by Bernard Cornwell. The series presents compelling characters and rich details about bringing the lands of England to unity against the tyranny of the Danes. Although many characters are fictional, some are still based on real-life characters, including Aethelwold and Lady Aelswith.
Moreover, the leading character, Uhtred of Bebbanburg, played by Alexander Dreymon, has been a sturdy factor in capturing the eyes of the spectators. Meanwhile, Uhtred was distinctively based on the ruler of Bamburg, Uhtred the Bold, yet they have so little in common besides the name and the title.
Besides the compelling characters and exciting plot line that contributed to the enormous success of The Last Kingdom, one cannot deny the accordance of the filming locations. Authentic fans wouldn’t help but wonder where on Earth are all these locations that genuinely speak of the past. The short answer is Hungary, England, and Wales, yet the detailed ones are to come shortly.
Keep reading to learn about the real-life location where Uhtred and his army have been battling and fighting for England.
1. Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland – Uhtred’s Bebbanburg Fortress of Northumbria
Born a Saxon but raised a Dane was the everlasting inner conflict of Uhtred, who was torn between his two heritages. Yet, all the conquests he had been on alongside the pious king Alfred of Wessex were to claim his birthright as the ruler of Bebbanburg. Although most of The Last Kingdom’s scenes were shot in Hungary, it’s easy to guess that the coastal scenes were elsewhere.
Even more interestingly, the outstanding Bebbanburg Fortress that was seen in The Last Kingdom was far from fictional. It was set in the real-life Bamburg Castle on England‘s northeast coast. This royal stronghold proudly sits in Northumberland, which was also depicted as the ancient Northumbria of England in the series.
Out of all The Last Kingdom filming locations you can visit, this is the most accurate depiction where you can follow in the footsteps of Uhtred of Bebbanburg. The Normans built this castle and are among the ancient Anglo-Saxon citadels that still stand firm today. You can visit this ancient fortress and enjoy the glorious coastal scene from a high stronghold sitting on the rocky lands.
2. Göböljárás Village – Winchester, Rumcofa, and Eoferwic Sets
Wessex was the oldest Saxon kingdom ruled by King Alfred, from which he started his master plan of uniting the Christians in one land under one king. In The Last Kingdom, scenes of Winchester town, the kingdom of Wessex, didn’t take place in the real-life location of Sussex in England. Instead, it was set in the Hungarian village of Göböljárás, located outside Budapest.
On the other hand, there were also the towns of Rumcofa and Eoferwic, the lands where the Saxons and Danes disputes kept on going over. These towns were also built in Göböljárás Village, located in the Fejer region with more than a few attractions and landmarks. Visiting this Hungarian town is an adventurous quest to go on and feel the Vikings’ ambience in real life.
The production manager believed that Hungary was the right place to recreate Old England, given that its lands embrace a plethora of medieval and Renaissance buildings. Göböljárás Village was also the chosen location for some of the battlefields in The Last Kingdom. With the massive success of the series, it’s easy to see why Hungary was chosen for filming most of the show.
3. Szárliget Village – Battlegrounds
Another remarkable village situated in the Fejér region was Szárliget. It was the chosen location for one of the prominent battles of The Last Kingdom. By looking at its photos, it’s pretty easy to envision why this village, in particular, worked perfectly with the series’ settings. It offered a picture-perfect backdrop seamlessly integrated into the series’ scenes.
Besides its fictional significance, Szárliget Village is home to dense forests, cliff edges and rocky paths, all of which were quite perfect elements for a battlefield. Besides, It’s a popular hiking spot among tourists who seek real-life adventures with breathtaking views. Enthusiasts from all corners of the world travel to marvel at this wonderful spot.
This area also embraces several hiking trails, with the National Blue Trail being the most famous attraction. It passes through the renowned mountain range of Vértes, where visitors experience an unforgettable journey within the embrace of nature’s raw beauty.
4. Lake Velence – Cocchum Town (Kingdom of Mercia)
Cocchum town, which is now Cookham, was the kingdom of Mercia that Aethelflaed ruled after the passing of her husband, Aethelred. It was also the banishment location of Uhtred Ragnarsson, ordered by Alfred of Wessex in Season 2. Despite the existence of real-life Cookham, the shooting location of Cocchum town in The Last Kingdom was set near Lake Velence in Hungary.
Hungary is known to be home to several natural lakes, with Lake Velence being the third largest natural lake in the country. Lake Velence is a popular holiday destination for locals and visitors, where they swim and sunbathe. And when winter comes, adventurous spirits lace up their skates and fearlessly venture across the frozen lake, gliding their worries away.
The warmth of the lake is among the contributing factors that set it apart. This lake is one of the warmest in Europe. Its water is said to be laden with several minerals that help refresh the body and relax the muscles. The lake’s location offers a stunning sight of the mighty Velence mountains meeting the lake’s shimmering waters.
5. Esztergom Hills – Wealas (Rural Wales)
Although Wales was one of the filming locations of The Last Kingdom, the rural Wales scenes represented on the show took place in Hungary. It’s pretty confusing, but that didn’t take out any of the series’ huge success, thanks to the perfect choice of filming locations—Esztergom Hills, the chosen spot for depicting Wales in the series.
It was the location where Wealas of King Hywel took place, where Brida worked as a slave for the Welsh after being captivated in the aftermath of the Tettenhall battle. These hills were seen in the scenes where pregnant Brida was carrying wood and being humiliated by King Hywel’s brother, who didn’t want to give her the satisfaction of death.
Esztergom is known for its historical significance, where the first king of Hungary, St. Stephen, was crowned. It’s home to a fascinating fortress that used to be the capital of Hungary and the primary seat of royalty. This castle overlooks the pretty Danube River and embraces Hungary‘s largest church, the Esztergom Basilica.
6. Korda Studio – The Majority of the Scenes
As Hungary was mainly the filming location of The Last Kingdom, most of the series’ scenes occurred within Korda Studios in Budapest. The studio owns a vast land that stretches over eight acres, located near the Hungarian capital of Budapest. This studio was built and set in a Medieval design, an ideal choice for period dramas in the Middle Ages.
Besides, its location within the mighty mountains, coursing lakes, and dense forests offers a lot of breathtaking outdoor shooting. Although the studio was mainly built to serve the needs and dynamics of the film industry, it still hugely contributed to Hungary’s tourism, thanks to the included surroundings.
Despite the numerous facilities of Korda Studio, its medieval backlot was the primary shooting set for The Last Kingdom. It was formerly built for other TV Series and movies, yet it serves Netflix’s The Last Kingdom quite perfectly, adding to its immense success. Interestingly, booking tours to the Korda Studio is open for visitors all year round, yet you can book in advance, for the tour takes a limited number of people.
7. Old Quarry Outside of Budapest – The Icelandic Opening Scene of Season 5
Uhtred and Brida’s relationship was one that we loved seeing on screen, yet it was short-lived after Uhtred swore loyalty to the Saxons, which didn’t go down well with Brida. At the end of Season 4, we see them parting their ways as sworn enemies. Consequently, Brida vanishes into thin air and flees to Iceland only to raise an army against her Saxon foes.
This is where we see Brida in Iceland at the opening of Season 5. The creators of The Last Kingdom made it convincing that the scene was shot in Iceland, the Land of Fire and Ice, where icy landscapes meet with an active raging volcano. Although such scenery would be faithful to the identity of Iceland, this scene, in particular, was instead shot in Hungary.
The scene took place in an old quarry outside Budapest. Among the elements that contributed to creating an Icelandic ambience is the volcano’s existence within the set, where Brida took its eruption as a sign to start a war. Although Hungary is no longer home to active volcanoes, it’s still home to several extinct ones, where it once was a hotbed of volcanic activity. However, the volcano’s name in the scene was never mentioned.
8. The Whistling Sand in North Wales – Coastal Shoots in Season 1
There were scenes in The Last Kingdom that took place in real-life Wales; however, they weren’t ones that depicted the fictional Wealas, the Welsh kingdom. Despite the confusion, the scenes in North Wales mainly were the coastal shoots that took place in Season 1. There were many coastal scenes in The Last Kingdom, and with Hungary being landlocked, it’s understandable why they had to travel to a different location.
Those coastal scenes from the first season of The Last Kingdom franchise took place in North Wales, in Llŷn Peninsula, where the Whistling Sands are located. The Whistling Sands is the nickname given to the sandy landscapes of Porthor, given the natural phenomenon it depicts.
These sands literally create a whistling sound when you walk over them. Some also call it the Singing Sand. The sound produced when walking over the sand is due to sliding sand grain layers over one another with every step. Such a surreal experience is nowhere to be found in Europe besides this Welsh Whistling Sand beach and another beach in Scotland.
9. Dobogókő, Visegrád – Wessex Countryside
In all of the seasons of The Last Kingdom, Uhtred and his men were seen roaming the countryside of Wessex. Again, these scenes weren’t shot in real-life Sussex, but they also took place in Hungary, in the Dobogókő region specifically. This region lies in the county of Pest and features the beautiful mountain range of Visegrád.
Visegrád Mountain is a top tourist destination in Hungary. It also served the settings of The Last Kingdom perfectly. These mountains have always been a hot hiking spot for adventurous souls. Located in northern Hungary, it embraces a wide array of natural elements that offer scenic views during the hiking journey.
Waterfalls, andesite rocks, and the Danube River coursing across the region are among the hallmarks that make up this outstanding landscape. As an extra bonne bouche, Dobogókő is a neopagan pilgrimage site for Hungarians, where they revive pagan rituals from ancient times, another element that was showcased in The Last Kingdom series.
10. Nose’s Point in England – Uhtred’s Slavery Scenes
There were a plethora of battle scenes where we got to see Uhtred vigorously taking down his enemies and entitled as one of the greatest warriors of his time. His men followed him wherever he went and never suspected his choices. However, the unexpected life changes got Uhtred by the neck when he was sold into slavery.
These slavery scenes were among the most painful storylines in The Last Kingdom. There were many times when fans teared up, and Uhtred’s downfall was one of them. As seen in the series, Ragnar went to the rescue of his younger brother, where he found him on the coast somewhere far away. These were the scenes that took place in real-life England.
Although The Last Kingdom was supposedly set in England and Denmark, only a few scenes were actually shot in England, and those were among them. The scene takes place in Nose’s Point in Seaham. It’s known for its rugged coastline and the large waves carved out sea stacks. This location has been quite popular among tourists for its scenic views.
Moreover, Nose’s Point is known to have unique geological and ecological properties. It’s home to a plethora of rare species of both animals and plants. Furthermore, it embraces more than a few Award-winning hotels where you can stay for a few nights and enjoy the facilities. There is a lot to discover around Durham City and endless landmarks to marvel at.
Being on this page directly indicates how true a fan of The Last Kingdom you are. If you wish to search medieval areas featured in this historical masterpiece, Hungary is what you are looking for.
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