Recently updated on October 16th, 2025 at 10:06 am
Ever wondered where the Guinness family’s drama actually unfolded in the House of Guinness Netflix series? Spoiler: those sweeping castle shots and moody Irish backdrops aren’t always where you think. While the series dives deep into the intoxicating world of Ireland’s most famous dynasty, much of the magic was brewed across the Irish Sea. Crews set up in grand Welsh castles, stately English manors and historic Northern cities – transformed to create 19th-century Dublin.
The best bit? You can visit many of these filming locations – or the originals – for yourself (including the OG Ashford Castle on Trafalgar’s Castles & Manors tour). Here’s where House of Guinness filmed its story – and how to see it for yourself.
Penrhyn Castle, Wales
Standing proudly near Bangor in North Wales, Penrhyn Castle is the dramatic stand-in for the Guinness family’s grand Ashford Estate in House of Guinness. Its imposing neo-Norman towers and lavish interiors perfectly capture the wealth and ambition of the time. Built in 1840 for the wealthy Pennant family, Penrhyn’s opulence mirrors the Guinness dynasty’s rise. It is now run by the National Trust. Like Ashford, the lavish property was built to appear older than it is. That’s something the industrial families who made a fortune during the Victorian era sought out.
But here’s the catch – you can actually visit and stay at the original Ashford Castle on Trafalgar’s Castles & Manors tour, an 8-Day jaunt across Ireland exploring castles and historic sights across Dublin, Galway and the Ring of Kerry. The real deal is actually better and more luxurious than the movie magic stand-in! Town & Country contributing editor William Li said, “The minute you drive over the moat, you’re in an Irish fantasy… the butler, the doorman, the wolfhounds… the dining rooms are grand, the grounds are incredible, the gardens are fantastic. There’s also so much history there.”
But best of all, you’ll feel like lords and ladies when you stay the night during the Castles & Manors tour. Imagine waking up at this lavish castle estate!
Liverpool locations from House of Guinness
Liverpool takes a starring role in House of Guinness – and for good reason. This city’s grand architecture and industrial bones make it the perfect stand-in for 19th-century Dublin. Plenty of the action unfolds across the English city’s most famous landmarks. But best of all, these locations are open to explore. Yes, you can wander the same halls, docks and gardens that brought the Guinness legend to life.
House of Guinness filming locations in Liverpool include:
- The magnificent St George’s Hall – with its marble halls and sweeping steps, which hosts some of the show’s biggest moments from protests to political rallies.
- The Stanley Dock Tobacco Warehouse transforms into the bustling St James’s Gate Brewery, where barrels and workers get busy.
- A short stroll away, the Sefton Park Palm House adds a lush touch of Victorian glamour for those quieter, candlelit encounters.
- Croxteth Hall, on the city’s edge, plays the part of the Guinness family’s grand Dublin mansion with its stately rooms and sweeping lawns.
- Local favourites like The Vines pub and nearby Georgian Quarter streets pop up throughout.
How to visit Liverpool’s House of Guinness Locations
- Guided Tours at St George’s Hall or Croxteth Hall: Liverpool City offers 30- to 90-minute guided tours to see the Great Hall, courtrooms, prison cells and more.
- You can easily walk the Stanley Dock area, exploring the exterior. There are a few local walking tours that dive into Victorian crime stories too!
- Best way to go with Trafalgar: The Real Britain tour includes a stop in Liverpool, where if you’re not keen to join a Beatles-themed Optional Experience, you could use your free time to seek out these filming locations.
READ NEXT: A brief history of Ireland’s national drink, Guinness
Manchester filming locations
Just an hour’s drive from Liverpool lies Manchester, a city that plays a versatile role in House of Guinness – doubling for everything from grand Dublin interiors to bustling 19th-century New York streets. Much of the filming took place at Space Studios Manchester where filmmakers were able to recreate period interiors and lavish ballroom scenes.
But beyond the studio…
- The city’s Northern Quarter was transformed into Gilded Age New York – with its red-brick facades and cobbled lanes making the perfect period backdrop.
- Some exterior shots made the most of the preserved Victorian architecture in nearby Stockport and Little Underbank.
These locations are all easy to explore when in Manchester.
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Broughton Hall, Yorkshire
Nestled on a vast estate in the Yorkshire Dales, Broughton Hall provided the elegant backdrop for the show’s St Anne’s House – the Guinness family’s country retreat in House of Guinness. The property’s stately rooms and manicured gardens offer that slice of grandeur of aristocratic life. Broughton Hall is still privately owned, making it trickier to visit – but it does open for exclusive stays, retreats and events.
Snowdonia National Park, Wales
The breathtaking landscapes of Gwynedd in Snowdonia National Park stood in for rural Ireland in House of Guinness, particularly the fictional village of Cloonboo. Its rugged hills, misty valleys and stone cottages perfectly evoke the hardship, wilderness and beauty of 19th-century Ireland. Naturally, a national park is open to visitors! So if you go you can hike these cinematic landscapes and explore trails around Beddgelert, Llanberis and Snowdon.
Why wasn’t House of Guinness filmed in Ireland?
You’d think they would film at the Guinness brewery in Dublin – but the modern, working brewery is not convincing for the timeline. While the whole story is set in Dublin and County Mayo, production moved to the UK. Here historic architecture, like Liverpool’s St George’s Hall and Wales’s Penrhyn Castle, could convincingly double for 19th-century Ireland.
The UK also offers strong filming infrastructure and tax incentives. Plus established studios in Manchester and Liverpool make it easier and more economical to recreate Ireland’s grandeur. It can be a challenge to close real Irish heritage sites!
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That’s our guide to the best House of Guinness filming locations. Have you been to any? Leave us a comment…