The popular series Rivals has captivated audiences with its polished depiction of Rutshire, yet the true standouts are the actual backdrops lending authenticity to the drama.

Large portions of Jilly Cooper’s adaptation were shot across the South West and South Wales, with two notable Welsh estates serving as primary settings. Local inhabitants have taken delight in watching their communities portrayed on screen.

In the prosperous Cardiff suburb of Lisvane, the property known as Foxfield represents Bella Vista, the residence of self-made tech entrepreneur Freddie Jones and his spouse Valerie.

The impressive entrance hall, adorned with a bespoke staircase crafted from American white oak, has emerged as one of the programme’s most iconic visuals.

Across the border in Monmouthshire, the estate called Woodbank House in Llanhennock also plays a significant role.

The historic manor, positioned overlooking the Usk Valley, contributes to the production’s atmosphere of extravagance and intrigue.

Beyond Wales, the production extensively utilises the Cotswolds region and additional areas.

Chavenage House in the vicinity of Tetbury serves as The Priory, where the O’Hara family resides, while Tetbury itself was redesigned to represent the fictional settlement of Cotchester.

Berkeley House was transformed into the dwelling of American entertainment executive Cameron Cook, and Ammerdown House in Somerset was dressed to portray Rupert Campbell-Black’s home, Penscombe Court.

Various sites throughout Wiltshire, encompassing Neston Park and Corsham, assist in realising Cooper’s fictional county of Rutshire.

Corsham’s Georgian-era main street was reimagined as Cotchester’s primary commercial avenue.

City-based sequences were filmed in Bristol, with The Bottle Yard providing studio facilities.

Aerospace Bristol and its Concorde aircraft featured in one of the opening episodes, while the Harbour Hotel, Cosy Club, Queen Square, and thoroughfares near St Nicholas Market appear throughout the series.

At greater distances, Berkeley Castle and the Beaufort Polo Club were selected for the upper-crust social gatherings essential to the narrative.

The complete catalogue of filming sites paints a far more expansive portrait of Cooper’s Rutshire than merely the Cotswolds alone.

For Welsh audiences, awareness that two of the programme’s most striking estates lie in their immediate region brings additional enthusiasm.

Though the glamour and melodrama are entirely fictional, for residents of Lisvane and Llanhennock, television exposure has woven itself into local routine.

As the show maintains its audience appeal, attention on these parts of Wales and the West looks set to intensify.

For numerous locals, witnessing recognisable roads and countryside appearing on national broadcasts underscores just how suitable their environment is for filmmaking.