One Day has arrived on Netflix and scenes of the series based on David Nicholls' bestseller were filmed on location in Hertfordshire.

Starring Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall in the lead roles, One Day tells the story of Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew who, on 15th July 1988, speak for the very first time at their graduation.

Each episode of the 14-part limited series finds Dex and Em one year older, on this one particular date — St Swithin's Day — as they grow and change, move together and apart, experience joy and heartbreak.

Episodes of the decades-spanning love story based on the worldwide bestseller by David Nicholls are set in Rome, Italy, in Greece, and Paris, France. The island of Paros was used for Dex and Em’s Grecian holiday in Episode 4

Edinburgh features in the opening episode at Emma and Dexter's graduation. The pair later climb Arthur's Seat in the Scottish city and the series then catches up with them on July 15 in the years ahead.

Closer to London, two episodes of the romantic drama were partly filmed on location in Hertfordshire.

Watford Observer: Eleanor Tomlinson as Sylvie and Leo Woodall as Dexter in a scene from episode 10 of One Day.Eleanor Tomlinson as Sylvie and Leo Woodall as Dexter in a scene from episode 10 of One Day. (Image: Matt Towers / Netflix)

Eagle-eyed Netflix viewers will recognise Benington Lordship Gardens in episode nine of One Day.

Fans can see Old Hatfield in the following chapter of the bittersweet love story that is sure to be a hit ahead of Valentine's Day. 

Watford Observer: St Etheldreda's Church in Old Hatfield.St Etheldreda's Church in Old Hatfield. (Image: Alan Davies)

 

Hertfordshire filming locations of One Day

1. Benington Lordship Gardens

Watford Observer: Leo Woodall plays Dexter and Eleanor Tomlinson plays Sylvie in One Day.Leo Woodall plays Dexter and Eleanor Tomlinson plays Sylvie in One Day. (Image: Matt Towers / © 2022 Netflix)

Viewers binge watching on Netflix will spot Benington Lordship near Stevenage in episode nine of One Day.

It's July 15, 1996 and Dexter Mayhew (Leo Woodall) wants to impress his new girlfriend's parents at their family estate, but things don't quite go to plan.

Benington Lordship doubles for the Cope family's residence in the Cotswolds.

Poldark star Eleanor Tomlinson plays Dex's girlfriend Sylvie, while her parents Lionel and Helen are played by Toby Stephens and Joely Richardson respectively.

Watford Observer: Joely Richardson in episode nine of Netflix series One Day.Joely Richardson in episode nine of Netflix series One Day. (Image: Matt Towers / Netflix)

Of One Day, Benington Lordship posted on Instagram: "A weekend scene was filmed at Benington Lordship which a review described as ‘an excruciating evening at a country house that rivals anything in ‘Saltburn’ for social awkwardness’ (The Times). Enjoy!"

Well known for its annual August bank holiday weekend chilli festival, Benington Lordship is often used for film shoots for television.

Watford Observer: Behind the scenes of filming Episode 9 of Netflix series One Day.Behind the scenes of filming Episode 9 of Netflix series One Day. (Image: 2022 Netflix)

Watford Observer: Behind the scenes of filming Episode 9 of Netflix series One Day.Behind the scenes of filming Episode 9 of Netflix series One Day. (Image: Netflix)

Among the productions to have filmed on location at Benington Lordship are Just William for BBC, series 1 and 3 of Channel 4 drama Humans, and BBC's Summer of Rockets, which also starred One Day's Toby Stephens. 

While a private family home, Benington Lordship Gardens does open its garden on selected dates throughout the season. 

Watford Observer: Toby Stephens as Lionel in One Day.Toby Stephens as Lionel in One Day. (Image: Matt Towers / Netflix)

The gardens are opened every year in February when they are carpeted in a spectacular display of naturalised snowdrops around the remains of the Norman keep and surrounding moat.

You can see the snowdrops this month until Sunday, February 25, 2024.

For Benington Lordship's opening dates, visit https://beningtonlordship.co.uk 

 

 

2. St Etheldreda's Church, Old Hatfield

Watford Observer: Scenes of Netflix series One Day were filmed at St Etheldreda's Church in Old Hatfield.Scenes of Netflix series One Day were filmed at St Etheldreda's Church in Old Hatfield. (Image: Alan Davies)

Episode ten of One Day centres on the wedding of Emma's university friend Tilly, played by Amber Grappy, to Graham.

Set somewhere in Somerset, it's now July 15, 1997 and Netflix viewers will see Ambika Mod's character Emma drive up what is in real life Church Street in Old Hatfield in a red car.

Tilly and Graham's wedding was filmed in St Etheldreda's Church in Old Hatfield.

The historic parish church sits just outside the walls of Hatfield House at the top of Fore Street.

Watford Observer: Scenes of Netflix series One Day were filmed inside St Etheldreda's Church in Old Hatfield.Scenes of Netflix series One Day were filmed inside St Etheldreda's Church in Old Hatfield. (Image: Alan Davies)

The church has appeared on screen before in Agatha Christie's Poirot, starring David Suchet.

The 2010 episode Hallowe'en Party includes scenes shot on location in Old Hatfield as the moustachioed sleuth visits St Etheldreda's Church, doubling for a church in the village of Woodleigh Common, East Sussex.

It also featured in movie The Favourite starring Olivia Colman and Emma Stone, and 2017 movie Breathe starring Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, and Hugh Bonneville.

Watford Observer: St Etheldreda's Church in Old Hatfield seen from the grounds of Hatfield House.St Etheldreda's Church in Old Hatfield seen from the grounds of Hatfield House. (Image: Alan Davies)

Major British politicians are also buried in the church. Hatfield House's Robert Cecil has a monument, designed by Maximilian Colt, in the Salisbury Chapel.

The 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, who was three times Prime Minister to Queen Victoria, has a cenotaph dedicated to his memory near the sanctuary.

Lord Melbourne and his wife Lady Caroline Lamb, of Brocket Hall, are also buried in the church. 

Watford Observer: The Old Palace seen from St Etheldreda's Church in Old Hatfield.The Old Palace seen from St Etheldreda's Church in Old Hatfield. (Image: Alan Davies)

 

3. The Old Palace at Hatfield House

Watford Observer: Scenes of Netflix series One Day were filmed at the Old Palace in Hatfield.Scenes of Netflix series One Day were filmed at the Old Palace in Hatfield. (Image: Alan Davies)

Just a stone's throw away from St Etheldreda's Church is the Old Palace at Hatfield House.

The reception following Tilly's wedding in One Day takes place inside the historic Old Palace, with Emma giving a speech with Dexter among the watching guests. Scenes were filmed here in January last year.

Watford Observer: Ambika Mod as Emma, Adam Loxley as Graham, and Amber Grappy as Tilly at the wedding in episode 10 of One Day.Ambika Mod as Emma, Adam Loxley as Graham, and Amber Grappy as Tilly at the wedding in episode 10 of One Day. (Image: Matt Towers / Netflix)

The pair later leave the Old Palace reception together for a talk and walk through the Lime Walk in the West Garden of Hatfield House.

The episode also features Dex and Em walking through a maze.

There is a maze in the private East Garden of the Hatfield House estate. 

Hatfield House was also a filming location for both Bridgerton and spin-off Queen Charlotte.

Watford Observer: Leo Woodall and Ambika Mod as Dexter and Emma share a tender moment in the maze.Leo Woodall and Ambika Mod as Dexter and Emma share a tender moment in the maze. (Image: Matt Towers / Netflix)

Watford Observer: Behind the scenes of filming Netflix series One Day in the maze.Behind the scenes of filming Netflix series One Day in the maze. (Image: Netflix)

The Old Palace was built around 1485 by the Bishop of Ely, John Morton.

Henry VIII acquired the Palace from the Bishop of Ely in 1538 and used it as a nursery for his three children, most famously for Elizabeth. 

It was in the Banqueting Hall of the Palace that Queen Elizabeth I held her first Council of State after ascending to the throne in 1558.

Watford Observer: The Old Palace at Hatfield House.The Old Palace at Hatfield House. (Image: Alan Davies)

The Princess Elizabeth grew up on the Hatfield Park estate and was later effectively kept under house arrest at Hatfield.

She became queen at the age of 25 — hearing the news whilst sitting under an oak tree in Hatfield Park.


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Watford Observer: Behind the scenes of filming Netflix series One Day in the Old Palace at Hatfield House.Behind the scenes of filming Netflix series One Day in the Old Palace at Hatfield House. (Image: 2022 Netflix)

As well as the Old Palace being a popular wedding venue, the estate is a regular filming location for movies and TV series. 

Tim Burton's 1989 Batman movie starring Michael Keaton was filmed at Hatfield House, with the Hertfordshire stately home doubling for Wayne Manor. 

The Jacobean mansion has also featured in films as diverse as Fast and Furious 9, The Favourite, Enola Holmes, Rebecca, Shakespeare in Love​​, Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes and its sequel Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, and Angelina Jolie's two Lara Croft films, Tomb Raider and The Cradle of Life.

Even Hot Fuzz and Band of Brothers were filmed in the grounds.

Scenes of Netflix series Bridgerton and The Crown have also been shot at Hatfield House. The Hertfordshire mansion was used for all three series of The Great starring Elle Fanning, and will be seen next month in Sky Atlantic's forthcoming series Mary & George.

All episodes of One Day are available now to stream on Netflix.

Watford Observer: Leo Woodall and Ambika Mod with copies of the One Day book.Leo Woodall and Ambika Mod with copies of the One Day book. (Image: Robert Viglasky/Netflix)

 

MAJOR FILMING LOCATIONS OF ONE DAY

Episode 1

EMMA'S TENEMENT: Emma's university flat was filmed at Viewforth, Edinburgh.

ARTHUR'S SEAT: Arthur’s Seat, Holyrood Park, Edinburgh.

Episode 2

International filming took place in Rome, Italy.

Episode 3

PRIMROSE HILL: Primrose Hill, London.

KING’S CROSS TUBE STATION: King’s Cross Underground Station, London.

LOCO CALIENTE: Emma's part-time job was filmed at Old Suffolk Punch, London.

Episode 4

International filming took place on the Greek island of Paros.

Episode 5

TRAIN STATION: Worplesdon Station, Woking, is the train station near Dexter's
parents.

BRIXTON NIGHTCLUB: FIRE Nightclub, London.

FORELLI'S RESTAURANT: Emma's date venue with Ian was filmed at Smith & Wollensky, The Adelphi, London.

Episode 7

THE PACIFIC: Quaglino’s, London, was used for Dex and Em's dinner venue.

Episode 9

COPE RESIDENCE: Benington Lordship Gardens in Hertfordshire was used for Sylvie's family home.

Episode 10

CHAPEL & WEDDING VENUE: Tilly's wedding venue was filmed at Hatfield House, Hertfordshire and the neighbouring St Etheldreda's Church.

Episode 11

SYLVIE'S HOTEL ROOM: The Savoy Hotel, London.

NATURAL STUFF: Callum's sandwich shop (that Dexter works at) is Maoz, London.

Episode 12

International filming took place in Paris, France.

Episode 13

PIZZA RESTAURANT: Dexter, Emma and Jasmine eat at Bella Roma, London.

CAFÉ BELLEVILLE: Maison Bleue, London, was used for the café Dexter owns and runs.

Episode 14

UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH: The Old College, Edinburgh, was used for the flashback sequence of Dex and Em.