If you loved the Wicked movie and want to know where it was filmed, you're in the right place.
Tracking down filming locations can be confusing, especially when a movie mixes massive studio sets with real outdoor spots.
This guide covers every major location used in the production, from the rolling fields of Norfolk to the studios of Hertfordshire.
You'll find out what was built, what was real, and which places you can actually visit.
Having followed film location coverage closely over the years, this guide cuts through the noise and gives you only what matters.
Whether you're planning a visit or simply curious about the magic behind the movie, everything you need is right here.
Where Was Wicked Filmed?
The 2024 Wicked film was shot almost entirely in the United Kingdom, with director Jon M. Chu chose England as the production base.
The team worked across Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Buckinghamshire, and East Sussex, using a mix of purpose-built studio sets and real outdoor locations.
No major sequences were filmed in the United States or elsewhere. While the story is set in the fictional land of Oz, the physical world was built and shot entirely on British soil.
A significant portion of Oz was constructed as real, physical sets rather than green screen replacements.
The production used 17 soundstages across three studios, as well as four major backlot sets. Two of those sets were each as large as four American football fields.
Emerald City, Shiz University, and several iconic roads and plazas were all full-scale builds, with CGI used only to extend and improve what was already physically there.
Complete List of Wicked Filming Locations
The film used several key locations across England. Here is a breakdown of each one.
Sky Studios Elstree, Hertfordshire
Wicked was the first production to film at Sky Studios Elstree in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.
This facility offered 14 large, modern soundstages that could house the massive interior sets built for the film.
Several key scenes involving elaborate production design were filmed here, including the Emerald City sets.
Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, Hertfordshire
Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, best known as the home of the Harry Potter film series, was another major filming base.
The studio's extensive backlot space and indoor stages were used to build and film some of the most ambitious sets in the movie.
Leavesden has the infrastructure needed to handle a production of this size.
Elstree Studios, Hertfordshire
Elstree Studios, one of the most historic film studios in Britain, also played a role in the production.
The studios provided additional soundstage capacity, helping the production team manage multiple large builds running simultaneously.
Ivinghoe, Buckinghamshire
The village of Ivinghoe and its surrounding countryside in Buckinghamshire were used for certain outdoor sequences.
Both Shiz University and Munchkinland were constructed on farmland overlooking the Grand Union Canal, northeast of Ivinghoe.
The open landscape offered natural backdrops that could be dressed and extended to fit the world of Oz.
Belmont Nurseries, Norfolk
Belmont Nurseries near King's Lynn in Norfolk is where the famous tulip field scenes were filmed.
The production team worked with the nursery to plant and grow millions of tulips specifically for the movie.
This was a real agricultural location transformed into one of the film's most visually striking sequences.
Cuckmere River and Seven Sisters Country Park, East Sussex
The Cuckmere River valley and the Seven Sisters Country Park on the East Sussex coast provided sweeping natural landscapes used in several outdoor scenes.
The chalk cliffs and open grasslands of this area gave the filmmakers dramatic, wide-open terrain to work with.
Where the Most Famous Wicked Scenes Were Filmed
Some of the most talked-about moments in the film have specific real-world locations behind them.
Munchkinland and the 9 Million Tulip Fields
The Munchkinland sequence features a vast field of tulips that stretches as far as the eye can see. This was filmed at Belmont Nurseries in Norfolk.
Around nine million tulip bulbs were planted across roughly twenty acres to create the look. Local flower farmer Mark Eves worked alongside location manager Adam Richards to make it happen.
The production worked closely with the nursery over multiple growing seasons to get the timing and bloom right. It is one of the most ambitious practical flower sequences ever put on film.
Shiz University and Its Riverside Entrance
Shiz University was built as a full-scale practical set. The riverside entrance, where students arrive by boat, drew on L. Frank Baum's original writing about Oz being connected by waterways.
The look of the university draws on Gothic and Victorian styles, and the physical build gave actors a real environment to move through rather than acting in front of blank screens.
The Emerald City
The Emerald City was constructed across the backlots at Leavesden and Elstree. The streets, archways, and buildings were built as genuine physical structures.
The green color palette was achieved through set dressing, lighting, and costume rather than post-production effects alone.
Walking through the Emerald City set was reportedly a surreal experience even for the crew.
The Yellow Brick Road
The Yellow Brick Road was laid as a physical set piece across studio backlots.
The production team paid close attention to the texture, color, and scale of the road to make it feel like a real place rather than a prop.
Sections of it were built at multiple studios to allow different scene requirements.
The Wizard's Chamber and Other Interior Sets
The Wizard's chamber and various palace interiors were filmed on soundstages at Sky Studios Elstree and Leavesden.
Even the giant mobile face of the Wizard, played by Jeff Goldblum, was built as a real practical piece, as was the train to the Emerald City, which alone weighed 50 tons.
These large indoor stages allowed the production designers to build intricate environments with complete control over lighting and atmosphere.
How Wicked Brought the Land of Oz to Life
Bringing Oz to the screen in a way that felt real took enormous planning and craft.
Practical Sets Versus CGI
The production leaned heavily toward practical builds over digital replacement. Jon M. Chu made it clear early on that he wanted the cast to be in real environments.
Director of photography Alice Brooks had exceptional freedom because the sets were real, tangible spaces that could be lit and filmed from 360 degrees with minimal blue-screen work.
CGI was used to extend sets, fill in backgrounds, and add scale, but the core of most scenes was built and photographed for real.
This approach made performances feel more grounded and gave the film a physical weight that pure CGI often lacks.
The Massive Backlots and Studio Builds
The combined footprint of the Wicked production across its various studio locations was extraordinary. Multiple large-scale builds ran simultaneously at different facilities.
The production design team coordinated builds at Sky Studios Elstree, Leavesden, and Elstree Studios at the same time, which required precise logistical planning.
Backlot builds at Leavesden alone covered areas comparable to small town centers. Supervising location manager Adam Richards led the team that kept all of it running across four counties.
Production Design Highlights
Production designer Nathan Crowley led the team responsible for translating the visual world of Wicked into physical form.
Key design decisions included the layered green architecture of the Emerald City, the ornate gothic stonework of Shiz University, and the vivid yellow geometry of the brick road.
Crowley's team used historical architectural references alongside original concept art to build a world that felt both fantastical and grounded.
Can You Visit the Wicked Filming Locations?
If you want to see these places in person, some are accessible and some are not.
Which Locations Are Open to Visitors?
The outdoor locations, including Seven Sisters Country Park and the general Ivinghoe area, are publicly accessible.
The studio facilities are working production sites and are not generally open to casual visitors, though Warner Bros.
Studios Leavesden does run a public studio tour that covers the Harry Potter sets. Belmont Nurseries in Norfolk is a working farm business and does have some seasonal visitor access.
Visiting the Norfolk Tulip Fields
The fields are opened during the two weeks that tulips flower, typically in April and May, and tickets must be purchased in advance at the Norfolk Tulips website.
Dogs and drones are not permitted on site. It is worth checking their website or social media ahead of any planned visit since opening times and access change seasonally.
Exploring Seven Sisters Country Park
Seven Sisters Country Park is a National Nature Reserve in East Sussex and is open to the public year-round.
You can walk the chalk cliffs, follow the Cuckmere River, and take in the open downland that appears in the film.
The nearest villages with parking and amenities are Exceat and Litlington. The park is managed by East Sussex County Council and entry is free.
Can You Tour the Studios?
Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden offers the Making of Harry Potter studio tour, but this is focused on the Harry Potter productions.
There is no dedicated Wicked studio tour at present. Sky Studios Elstree and the original Elstree Studios do not have regular public tours.
If a Wicked experience or exhibition is announced in the future, it would most likely be hosted at Leavesden given its track record with public visitor experiences.
Tips for Visiting Wicked Filming Locations
A little planning goes a long way when visiting film locations in different parts of England.
- Visit the Norfolk tulip fields at Belmont Nurseries in April or May, and book tickets in advance through the Norfolk Tulips website to secure your spot.
- Head to Seven Sisters Country Park in late spring or early summer for the best walking conditions and more reliable weather along the chalk cliffs.
- The Hertfordshire studios sit close together, so you can cover Sky Studios Elstree, Elstree Studios, and Leavesden in one or two days.
- Norfolk and East Sussex are in opposite directions from London, so treat them as separate trips rather than trying to combine them in one day.
- Always check opening hours before you go, book studio parking in advance, and wear sturdy footwear for the Cuckmere valley if there has been recent rain.
Conclusion
Now you know exactly where Wicked was filmed, from the tulip fields of Norfolk to the grand studio backlots of Hertfordshire.
The production brought together real landscapes and massive physical builds to create Oz in a way that felt tangible and alive.
If you are planning a visit, start with the locations that are easiest to access and work from there. Have you already visited any of these spots, or are you planning a trip?
Drop a comment below and share your experience. If this guide helped you, pass it along to a fellow Wicked fan who would love to know where it all happened.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was any part of Wicked filmed outside the United Kingdom?
No. The entire production was filmed in England across studios and outdoor locations in Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Buckinghamshire, and East Sussex.
How long did filming for Wicked take?
Principal photography for Wicked lasted approximately nine months, running from late 2022 through mid-2023 across multiple locations.
Were real flowers used in the Munchkinland tulip scene?
Yes. Around nine million real tulips were grown at Belmont Nurseries in Norfolk specifically for this production sequence.
Did Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo film on location outdoors?
Yes. Both lead actresses filmed scenes at practical outdoor locations as well as on the large studio sets built across Hertfordshire.
Is Seven Sisters Country Park easy to reach by public transport?
Yes. Trains run from London Victoria to Seaford or Eastbourne, followed by a local bus or taxi to reach the park entrance at Exceat.
