Downton Abbey BTS clip reveals how racing scenes were filmed – 200 miles away from the real Royal Ascot

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Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is now available to rent or buy online, just over a month after its release in UK cinemas. To mark the digital release, we’re sharing a special behind-the-scenes clip showing how the movie’s exciting racing scenes were filmed.

Despite being set at Royal Ascot, the filming for these scenes didn’t actually happen there. Instead, production took place over 200 miles away at Ripon Racecourse in North Yorkshire.

The video shows the film crew working, and features interviews with the actors. Michelle Dockery, who plays Lady Mary, explains they’re filming the Ascot scenes, but the location is actually Ripon.

The trip to the races is a key moment in the film, bringing the family together for a really fun and exciting day.

Alessandro Nivola, new to the film series, plays the character Gus Sambrook, a financial advisor with a bit of a questionable side. He explains that the beautiful, historic racetrack used in the film is standing in for Royal Ascot, which has been updated since the time period the movie portrays.

Production designer Donal Woods explained the decision to film elsewhere, noting that the modern Ascot Racecourse now resembles a large airport terminal and has become a massive, towering structure.

He explained that Ripon Racecourse still retains many of its original architectural details, which meant they didn’t need to rely heavily on computer-generated imagery or green screens. Because it’s a relatively peaceful course, and they were filming during the flat-racing season, they had six days – four for filming and two for preparation – to build the physical set representing Royal Ascot, and needed that dedicated time to do so.

The film, which concludes the beloved historical drama after six seasons on television and two earlier films, has been well-received by both dedicated fans and critics alike.

We enjoyed the experience, describing it as a heartwarming revisit with familiar characters. We also appreciated the moving tribute at the end to Dame Maggie Smith, the beloved actress who portrayed Lady Violet Crawley and recently passed away.

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2025-10-13 21:04