Where Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Filmed

Remember that flying car? The one that defied logic, gravity, and the taxman? That was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. But where did this magical machine actually get its wings? Buckle up. We’re going on a location safari.

That Iconic Castle Car Collection

The most jaw-dropping scene—the car collection inside the castle—wasn’t a set. It was real. Filmed at Penshurst Place in Kent, England. The same medieval manor has hosted royalty, but nothing compares to seeing it stuffed with toy cars and a flying automobile.

Fun fact: The crew used the actual Great Hall. They hauled in forty vintage cars just for that one scene. Imagine the insurance bill!

That grand staircase? That’s the real staircase where Lord Scrumptious stomped down. You can visit it today. Just don’t expect Dick Van Dyke to pop out.

The Beach… That’s Actually a Beach!

The seaside town of Sandwich Bay in Kent starred as the beach escape. Yes, they really built a giant cardboard box on the sand. That’s where the kids pretended to hide from the evil child catcher.

But here’s the kicker: The tide was a constant nightmare. They had to film everything in four-hour windows. If the water came in, the box floated away. Talk about pressure!

Today, the beach is calm. No child catchers. Just seagulls and confused tourists looking for a flying car. Bring a picnic. You’ll see the sand dunes, but the magic is in your head.

The Windmill & The Bomb Burp (Yes, Really)

That bumbling explosion where Caractacus Potts burps smoke? Filmed at Bekesbourne Windmill near Canterbury. It’s a real working mill from 1865. The crew loved it because it looked like a giant toy.

They painted it bright white and added false windows. The burp came from a hidden smoke machine. No windmills were harmed in the making of this movie. But the actor playing the baron got a face full of soot. Comedy gold.

You can still see the windmill today. It grinds grain. It does not burp. Sad, but true.

The Castle of Vulgaria… Is a Castle of France!

The evil kingdom of Vulgaria wasn’t in England. It was in Bavaria, Germany. Specifically, Neuschwanstein Castle. You know, the one that inspired Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle. But wait—there’s a plot twist.

They only filmed exteriors there. The interiors? Built on a soundstage at Pinewood Studios. So all those creepy dungeons and the child-catching lair were wood, paint, and imagination. The real castle is pure fairy tale.

Here’s the funny bit: The film crew had to bribe the local authorities to close the bridge. Why? Because tourists kept photobombing the shots. “Excuse me, sir, could you not wave while Dick Van Dyke is flying?”

The Junkyard: Where Magic Was Born

Remember Potts’ workshop where Chitty was rebuilt? Filmed at Pinewood Studios on the 007 Stage. Yes, that James Bond stage. The same place where they built submarines and explosions.

But the junkyard itself was a mountain of real junk. The crew spent weeks collecting old car parts, pianos, and bathtubs. They even hauled in a real steamroller. It wasn’t just set design. It was archaeology of oddness.

One prop master said they found a Victorian toilet in the pile. They kept it in the shot because it looked “authentic.” That’s how you build a legend—one porcelain throne at a time.

The Race That Almost Wasn’t

The big car race at the end? Filmed on private land near Syndale Park in Kent. The track was a dirt field turned into a racetrack. The real challenge? The cars kept breaking down.

Not Chitty, but the stunt cars. They had to repair them between takes with duct tape and prayer. One scene shows a car flipping. That was an accident. They kept it in because it looked hilarious. Classic movie magic.

The final crash? Real. They built a fake car just to blow it up. The crew cheered. The insurance adjuster cried.

The Potato Field: Where Dreams Go to Farm

That scene where the family eats potatoes after the explosion? Filmed in a real potato field outside Wrotham, Kent. The farmer was paid a fortune. He also had to let them plow his field into a mess for the explosion.

The kids playing Jemima and Jeremy were told to really eat cold potatoes. They hated it. The director made them do it seven times. That’s why they look so miserable. It’s not acting. It’s potato trauma.

The field today is still a farm. No explosions. No singing potatoes. Just cabbages and the occasional cow. But if you squint, you can hear the “Toot Sweets” song. I promise.

Why It All Matters

These places aren’t just film locations. They’re time machines. You can drive to Kent, stand on a beach, and imagine you’re in 1968. The windmill still stands. The castle still towers. The potato field still grows tubers.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was silly, absurd, and wonderfully naive. It believed a car could fly if you loved it enough. The real locations prove that magic doesn’t need CGI—it just needs a windmill, a big castle, and a bunch of very brave stunt drivers.

So next time you watch the film, don’t just see the movie. See the real world behind it. And maybe, just maybe, plan a road trip. Bring a box of chocolate. Avoid the child catcher. And if you see a flying car? Well, call me.