It’s been the longest few months of our lives, but Rivals is finally back – promising more scandal, shoulder pads and smouldering glances than ever before. Will Rupert Campbell-Black behave himself? Will Declan and Maud survive the chaos of Rutshire? And will we ever emotionally recover from it all?
In case you’ve been living under a rock, the series – based on Dame Jilly Cooper’s bestselling novel – follows the cut-throat world of television, polo and power in 1980s Britain. With household names such as David Tennant, Katherine Parkinson, Danny Dyer and Poldark’s Aidan Turner, it has rapidly become one of the most deliciously addictive dramas (with a side serving of Jilly Cooper humour) on television.
Any true Rivals superfan knows one episode a week simply isn’t enough. Sadly, Disney+ has other ideas: season two is being drip-fed in weekly instalments, meaning we’re being forced to savour every scandalous glance, power play and polo match in painfully small doses.
So while we wait for the next fix of Rutshire drama, we’re keeping the fantasy alive by revisiting the gloriously decadent filming locations behind the show – from manicured gardens to country estates and glamorous harbour towns to honey-stone villages worthy of a Jilly Cooper plotline. The Cotswolds have never looked so scandalous.
Inside the world of Rutshire
Rivals is set in the fictional county of Rutshire – Dame Jilly Cooper’s famously glamorous corner of the English countryside inspired by the Cotswolds. The rolling hills, honey-stone villages and sprawling country estates of Gloucestershire and Somerset provide the backdrop for the Disney+ adaptation, with Tetbury standing in for the fictional village of Cotchester.
It’s also close to the real-life village of Bisley, where Dame Jilly Cooper lived for more than 40 years.
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Season two also appears to broaden the world of Rutshire even further, with additional filming taking place in Bristol, Corsham in Wiltshire, Monmouthshire in Wales and several newly reported locations across the West Country.
The grand country houses behind Rivals
Perhaps the most memorable house in Rivals is The Priory, home to the O’Hara family. In real life, it’s Chavenage House near Tetbury – a magnificent Elizabethan manor that has remained virtually unchanged for more than 400 years.
The house became one of the defining visual backdrops of the first season. The Grade I-listed Cotswold stone property was transformed into Declan O’Hara’s home, complete with many of the house’s original details, including ashtrays and old cheque books.
Penscombe Court and The Falconry
Rupert Campbell-Black’s Penscombe Court is actually Ammerdown House in Somerset, a grand Georgian country house designed by architect James Wyatt in 1788. The Jolliffe family still owns the house and grounds today, while the converted stables now operate as a retreat and conference centre. Although visitors can’t enter the house itself, guests are free to explore the grounds. Sadly, Rupert himself is not included.
Meanwhile, Tony and Monica Baddingham’s beautiful home, The Falconry, is Neston Park near Corsham in Wiltshire. The Grade II-listed estate sits within 2,000 acres of private land and dates back to 1790.
Tetbury, Corsham and the real-life Cotchester
For filming, Tetbury was transformed into the glossy, shoulder-padded excess of 1986, with shop fronts and signage redesigned to recreate the atmosphere of Eighties Rutshire.
Berkeley House, at 16 The Chipping, stood in for Cameron Cook’s home, Hamilton Terrace – and yes, you can rent it yourself if you fancy living out your own Rivals fantasy. Affairs and oversized blazers optional.
Beaufort Polo Club, Gloucestershire
It wouldn’t be Rivals without polo. Crews were reportedly spotted filming at Beaufort Polo Club near Tetbury, making it a fitting real-life backdrop for Rupert Campbell-Black’s glamorous world of horses, scandal and very expensive knitwear.
Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire
Another reported location is Berkeley Castle, the dramatic medieval fortress still occupied by the same family after almost 900 years. Its grand interiors and sweeping grounds feel tailor-made for Rutshire intrigue.
Woodbank House, Monmouthshire
The beautiful Woodbank House in Llanhennock, South Wales, reportedly serves as Freddie and Valerie’s home in season two. Originally a 19th-century cottage, it has since been transformed into an elegant country house and boutique events venue.
Cranmore Station, Somerset
According to local reports, filming also took place at Cranmore Station on the East Somerset Railway, adding another layer of nostalgic Eighties atmosphere to the series. All that’s missing is a red Porsche and a questionable moustache.
