In the post we take a look at the Fawlty Towers Filming Locations. Fawlty Towers is a comedy genius sitcom written by John Cleese and Connie Booth for the BBC. Despite its success the sitcom only ran for a total of 12 episodes across two series were made.
The sitcom focuses on the goings on a Torquay hotel ran by Basil Fawlty (John Cleese) and his wife Sybil. Supported in running the hotel by maid Polly (Connie Booth) and Spanish Waiter Manuel.
The majority of the episodes were filmed at the former BBC Television Centre, Wood Lane, Shepard’s Bush. There were however a number of scenes filmed externally.
Fawlty Towers Hotel Location
Probably the most important external filming location was the building used which doubled as Fawlty Towers. Scene in the opening scenes as well as a number of episodes.
Wooburn Grange Country Club was used as the exterior of Fawlty Towers, on Bourne End, Buckinghamshire. Unfortunately, Wooburn Grange Country Club burned down completely in 1991 and the land has since ben redeveloped.
The Gourmet Night
Unfortunately Basil’s chef Kurt has had a few too many and unable to cook for Basil’s Gourmet night. To keep face and not disappoint his guests Basil arranges for a local restaurant chef, Andres, to secretly cook dinner for his guest.
In the episode we see Basil sneaking out and driving to Andres to pick up the food.
The external’s of this scene were filmed outside 294 Preston Rd, Wembley, Harrow HA3 0QA. As of 2024 this is currently a restaurant selling Chinese and Indian Cuisine called Wings.
As Basil heads back to Fawlty Towers, for the second time, with his guests meal his car breaks down. (Earlier in the episode he ignored Cybil’s advice to take the car to the garage and tried to fix it himself.) The below shows the scene of Basil hitting the car with a branch having broken down.
This famous scene was filmed on the edge of Mentmore Close and Lapstone Gardens in Harrow as show below.
A Touch of Class
In a Touch of Class we see Polly Visit Lloyd’s bank to fetch money for Basil who has been asked to cash a cheque by Lord Melbury.
This location was filmed on High Street Cookham, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 9SJ. This is no longer a bank and has not been for quite sometime now. It looks a little abandoned but has been unsed as a commerical business for different types of premesis. Oppostie, is where the police officer were staking out watching for Lord Melbury.
We then see Lord Melbury come out of Joseph Lambert’s Jewellers.
As of 2024, this premises was now home of Devine Flowers, 2, The Tarrystones, High Street, Cookham, SL6 9SQ
The Germans
Cybil is in hospital preparing for surgery on an ingrowing toe nail and Basil is left in charge of the hotel which is about to receive some German guest. At the start of the episode we see the outside of the hospital where Cybil is at.
This was filmed at Northwick Park Hospital, Watford Rd, Harrow HA1 3UJ. The hospital has had quite a bit of redevelopment work done in this time, but aspects of it as still the same.
Thank you
I hope you enjoyed reading this post on Fawlty Towers Filming Locations. If you know of any other locations used in Fawlty Towers, please comment below.