Search
Design

Discover the Historic Homes and Countryside Locations Featured in Sense and Sensibility 

London’s famed National Gallery also makes an appearance in the screen adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic 1811 novel

By Mary Elizabeth Andriotis
woman in a field wearing a dark jacket and light dress with trees and a large house in the background
Esmé Creed-Miles stars as Marianne Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility. Photo: Courtesy of Focus Features / © 2026 FOCUS FEATURES LLC

Period drama enthusiasts are in for a treat with the new Sense and Sensibility, which premieres in U.S. theaters on October 16. The Jane Austen film adaptation stars Daisy Edgar-Jones and was shot at various English country houses. Fortunately, many of these sites are open to the public and are certainly worth the trip. Explore the scenic locations below. 

A vintage living room with people in period clothing, ornate furniture, large windows, and dramatic lighting.
Daisy Edgar-Jones stars as Elinor Dashwood, Esmé Creed-Miles as Marianne Dashwood, Bodhi Rae Breathnach as Margaret Dashwood and Caitríona as Mrs. Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility. Photo: Courtesy of Focus Features / © 2026 FOCUS FEATURES LLC

Kingston Russell House

The Dashwood family home, known as Norland Park, is portrayed by the Kingston Russell House, which had never been used as a filming location before this adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. Located in Dorset, England, the present dwelling dates back to the late 1600s. Today, the home remains a private residence but occasionally opens its doors for organizations like the Georgian Group. 

Two women dressed in historical clothing listen to a man in black outside a stone building.
Bodhi Rae Breathnach stars as Margaret Dashwood and Caitríona Balfe as Mrs. Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility. Photo: Courtesy of Focus Features / © 2026 FOCUS FEATURES LLC

Ditsworthy Warren House

Standing in as Barton Cottage, a humble abode that the Dashwoods move to, is the Ditsworthy Warren House, which also appeared in Steven Spielberg’s 2011 film War House. This Grade II listed building was originally built for the keeper of Ditsworthy Warren, the largest rabbit warren in all of England. It’s believed that the dwelling was built in the late 16th century or early 17th century. The home, which is not open to the public, is located within Dartmoor National Park.

Aerial view of a historic manor surrounded by lush gardens and a moat in a scenic countryside landscape.
Broughton Castle. Photo: Courtesy of Broughton Castle

Broughton Castle 

Broughton Castle takes the role of the exterior of Barton Park, the home of Sir John Middleton. Fortunately, this home is open to the public, typically from April through September. The main parts of this fortified and moated manor house were built in 1306, while the gatehouse was constructed in the early 1400s. Most of the existing structure dates back to the 1550s. Broughton has remained in the Fiennes family since 1377. 

Aerial view of a historic castle with towers, surrounded by lush greenery and spacious grounds under a clear blue sky.
Knebworth House. Photo: Supplied by Knebworth House

Knebworth House

The Grade II-listed Knebworth House also serves as Barton Park, mainly for its interiors and as part of its grounds. Today, the historic dwelling is home to the family of Baron Cobbold of Knebworth. Since 1974, the property has served as home to the Knebworth Festival, an open-air concert that has featured musical acts such as the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Oasis, Led Zeppelin, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, Paul McCartney, the Beach Boys, Phil Collins, Pink Floyd, and Queen, who played their last concert with Freddie Mercury here. Additionally, the house itself is open to the public on select dates from March to September. 

Street view of a row of historic stone buildings with columns and black iron railings under a cloudy sky.
The Stone Buildings at Lincoln’s Inn. Photo: Ben Stevens

Stone Buildings at Lincoln’s Inn

When two of the Dashwood sisters visit London, they stay at Mrs. Jennings’s townhouse. The Stone Buildings at Lincoln’s Inn serve as the exterior of the home. The inn is also known as the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, and it is one of four Inns of Court in London. In order to be a practicing lawyer in England and Wales, you must be a member of one of these four inns. This particular inn is the largest, as it covers 11 acres. The public can access select outdoor areas during business hours. 

Woman in period attire with a large hat sits at a table in a historical room, conversing with others off screen.
Fiona Shaw stars as Mrs Jennings in Sense and Sensibility. Photo: Alex Bailey / © 2026 FOCUS FEATURES LLC

Rainham Hall

The Georgian interiors of Mrs. Jennings’s aforementioned townhouse can be found at Rainham Hall. Currently, the historic property, which is run by the National Trust, is exhibiting costumes, props, and more from Sense and Sensibility until December 19. This Grade II-listed home was built in 1729 for Captain John Harle, and it opened to the public in late 2015. It is a work of Dutch domestic Queen Anne-style architecture. 

Two people looking thoughtfully out a window with curtains in the background.
Daisy Edgar-Jones stars as Elinor Dashwood and Esmé Creed-Miles as Marianne Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility. Photo: Courtesy of Focus Features / © 2026 FOCUS FEATURES LLC

Penshurst Place

A sizable dance sequence in Sense and Sensibility was shot at Penshurst Place, a circa-1341 English country house. It is one of the most complete existing structures of 14th-century domestic architecture in England. Penshurst was built for Sir John de Pulteney, a London entrepreneur who served as the Lord Mayor of London four times. It is also the ancestral home of the Sidneys, and it was the birthplace of Elizabethan poets, siblings Mary Sidney and Philip Sidney. Part of the historic dwelling is typically open to the public from mid-February through early November.

Grand gallery with classic paintings, high ornate ceiling, wooden floor, and benches down the center aisle.
The National Gallery. Photo: © National Gallery, London
Elegant architectural hallway with arched ceiling, large windows, and stone walls casting intricate shadows down the stairs.
Sainsbury Wing staircase at The National Gallery. Photo: © National Gallery, London

Although not a house, the National Gallery undoubtedly deserves a mention as one of Sense and Sensibility’s eye-catching filming locations. It stands in as the Royal Academy of Arts, a scenic stop during the Dashwoods’s visit to London. The famed art museum was founded in 1824 and is home to upwards of 2,300 paintings, dating from the mid-1200s to 1900.

Tags: