Where is The Great British Bake Off filmed? How to visit the Welford Park location

The Great British Bake Off finally returned to our screens in August, and we are thoroughly enjoying what this year’s hopeful bakers are serving up to the judges each week.

Even after the show got a new home on Channel 4, the iconic GBBO tent hasn’t changed its location. In fact, it is situated on the same grounds where it has been erected in previous years.

Fittingly for such a quintessentially British show, the filming location is on the quintessentially British estate of Welford Park, nestled in the heart of Newbury, Berkshire.

The property’s picture-perfect grounds are once again providing the backdrop for filming during the ten-week competition, as the bakers battle it out to be crowned the UK’s best baker.

Meanwhile if you’re feeling inspired to indulge while watching the series, then make sure to check out our round-up of the best afternoon tea spots across the UK – and they’re surprisingly budget-friendly.

Where is Welford Park?

Welford Park Estate is located in the heart of Newbury, Berkshire.

It’s no wonder that the production crew repeatedly returns to the estate to film the series.

The grounds boast some seriously breathtaking grounds: think picturesque gardens, parkland, an apple orchard, a wild flower meadow, woodland and farmland.

Then of course that’s not mentioning the fact that the property also offers everything a cast and crew would need, from a green room to catering for a full crew (that’s if the GBBO crew aren’t full of cake at the end of the day!).

Can you stay on the estate?

The property is a private home so unfortunately you can’t stay overnight, but there are plenty of brilliant (and budget-friendly) hotels just a stone’s throw away from the estate in Newbury.

In fact, the contestants themselves don’t stay at Welford Park either, but usually are put up in some of the best local hotels.

Newbury is a great staycation destination : not only is there plenty of classic British countryside waiting to be explored, but there are also great pubs and restaurants that make a cosy evening after a day of adventures.

Best things to see and do in Welford Park

While you can’t visit the GBBO tent itself – it’s only up for the ten weeks of filming – there are loads of other things to see and do if you are heading to Welford Park.

Most notable are the spectacular Snowdrop Gardens which never fail to draw in the crowds during February and March – but you’ll need to buy a ticket!

The park opens at 11am with last entry at 4pm, from Wednesday to Sunday – but it’s always closed on Mondays and Tuesdays so if you’re making a long weekend of it, try and go on the actual weekend days.

When is it filmed?

Every April the tent is put up for 10 weeks of intense baking – it takes a weekend to film each episode and takes place over ten weeks from April to June.

Filming always happens over the weekends so that contestants can continue their day jobs from Mondays to Fridays.

During filming they stay at nearby hotels, arriving at 9am on the Saturdays ready and raring to go!

Julie Delahaye