I don’t know about you but I’ve been seeing Saltburn everywhere since it hit the big screen and have consequently had Sophie Ellis-Betor’s absolute bop of Murder on the Dance Floor in my head for days on end now since the movie gave the banger a revival in that scene.
The film has also given rise to the new ‘Saltburn house trend’ where people show off their huge homes that resemble the Saltburn house as they dance around to the 2000s hit and flex their lavish mansions and stately homes, with many saying they’re missing the point of the film. For fans of the film, you’ll be happy to know that the house where the Catton family reside is real and is only a two-hour drive from London.
Where is the house?
Saltburn was filmed at Drayton House in Northamptonshire, a Grade I listed country house southwest of the village of Lowick that according to writer/director Emerald Fennell hadn’t ever been photographed let alone filmed.
In fact, this was what attracted Fennell to the property as she told Vanity Fair that the location had to be unfamiliar to the audience but also work as the main location where interior shots could be filmed. Who needs a soundstage when you’ve got a 14th-century estate at your disposal? “It was important to me that we were all in there together, that the making of the film in some way had that feeling of a summer where everyone loses their mind together,” she said.
The privately owned manor was built around 1300 although the site dates back to 300 years before, passing only by inheritance since it was last sold in 1361. Drayton House has 127 rooms many of which were used in film along with the pond, chapel and gardens. Typically, English heritage laws don’t allow any alterations or painting or any moving about of furniture but as the house was private, the owners were able to be persuaded allowing the crew to have free reign and change any decor as needed.
Is it open to the public? How do I visit?
As part of the agreement to use Drayton House, no member of production was allowed to disclose the name or location of the house although eagle-eyed viewers have been able to recognise the Catton family house as Drayton House with some fans already beginning to visit the location. Be warned though as the house is not open to the public so you’ll only be able to get a view of the stunning estate from the public footpath that goes right alongside the grounds where you can gawk at the house from.
This handy TikTok by Be Better Known shows you exactly the route which will land you as close as possible to the house from Lowick Village where you’ll start at The Snooty Fox pub and make your way down a few roads to get to the public footpath.
