How to have a Rivals weekend
Visit real-life Rutshire, in the filming locations of the Jilly Cooper-Disney reboot
In case you missed it, the much-anticipated new TV version of Rivals has arrived. The series, based on the Jilly Cooper books, stars David Tennant, Aidan Turner, Alex Hassell and Emily Atak and has just launched on Disney, to wild reviews.
The series, set in the 1980s, follows the cut-throat world of TV and is set in fictional Rutshire. In real-life, production took place in the Cotswolds and Bristol, so for a fabulous Rivals-inspired getaway, here’s where to go:
Tetbury, Gloucestershire
The second-biggest town in the Cotswolds, Tetbury is also home to Charles and Camilla at nearby Highgrove. Much of the filming was done in the town, including at Chavenage House, a beautiful historic manor house, which coincidentally, was also where Poldark was filmed, starring Turner.
Corsham, Wiltshire
Over in Wiltshire, you’ll find the pretty town of Corsham, which also provided the backdrop for much of Rutshire and was another double-location for Poldark.
Bristol, Somerset
Many of the scenes were also shot in Bristol - at the Bottle Yard Studios south of the city. Corn Street in Old City and Queen Square, a beautiful Georgian park, provided locations for the series, as did the Grade II-listed Cosy Club Bristol, which was once a church, then a banking hall, and now a bar and restaurant. Another location, where you can stay, was Harbour Hotel Bristol, with its spa, Gold Bar and sumptuous rooms.
For more: visittetbury.co.uk; visit-corsham.co.uk; visitbristol.co.uk