The Thursday Murders Club Movie Filming Locations

I was wandering through a leafy English village last autumn, half-convinced I’d stumbled onto a film set. An elderly couple was bickering over a garden gate, and I swear I heard someone mutter, “It was the copper piping, you fool.”

That’s when it hit me: I was in the middle of a real-life Thursday Murder Club moment. The movie, based on Richard Osman’s beloved books, has turned this sleepy corner of the UK into a star in its own right.

So grab a cuppa—or something stronger—because we’re about to tour the spots where murder, tea, and pensioner shenanigans collide. You’ll never look at a retirement village the same way again.

The Real Coopers Chase: Where the Magic (and Mayhem) Happens

Let’s start with the heart of the story: Coopers Chase retirement village. In the books, it’s a fictional paradise of manicured lawns and suspicious deaths.

For the movie, the production team didn’t build a set—they found the real deal. They used a bona fide retirement village called Chartridge Park in Buckinghamshire. Yes, real pensioners live there, probably wondering why a camera crew keeps following the lady with the magnifying glass.

If you visit, don’t be surprised if you see a group of residents doing tai chi—or plotting their next move. The irony is thick enough to spread on scones.

Elizabeth’s House: A Cottage with a Body Count

Elizabeth, the unofficial leader of the murder club, lives in a gorgeous Georgian-style cottage. That’s actually Fritwell Manor in Oxfordshire, a private home that doubles as a film set.

The owners must love the chaos, because the garden was used for multiple “discovery of the body” scenes. I imagine they charge extra for the dramatic lighting. “Yes, we have a pond, but it also comes with a corpse prop—upgrade available.”

Pro tip: You can’t go inside (privacy, people), but the exterior is a beautiful example of English countryside architecture. Expect to see tourists doing their best “suspicious glance” poses.

The Village That Plays Fairhaven: Shepperton Studios Plays Tricks

You’d think the quaint village of Fairhaven is a real place, right? Wrong. Most of the high street scenes were filmed at Shepperton Studios—a massive lot where they built a temporary, perfectly aged English village.

It’s a bit of a cheat, but a clever one. The cobblestones are fake, the pub sign is painted foam, and the “antique shop” is a prop. But the feeling is real: that cozy, claustrophobic vibe where everyone knows your name—and your alibi.

For the purists, a few establishing shots were grabbed in the actual village of Penn in Buckinghamshire. So you can walk the real streets and pretend you’re solving a murder. Just don’t accuse the postman; he’s sensitive.

The Cemetery: Where the Dead (and Filmmakers) Rest

There’s a pivotal scene in a small, overgrown cemetery. The location? St. Mary’s Churchyard in Amersham. It’s the kind of place where moss grows on the tombstones and the air smells of damp earth and mystery.

The crew had to work around actual burials, which made for some awkward scheduling. “Sorry, Mrs. Higgins, can you postpone your flower arrangement? We need to film a dramatic confrontation near your husband’s grave.” Awkward.

Today, if you visit, you might see props left behind—a fake bouquet, a weathered notebook. Locals have started a betting pool on which one is a real clue. I’m betting on the umbrella.

The Pub: Where Rumors Flow Like Ale

Every English murder mystery needs a pub, and the Thursday Murder Club uses The King’s Head in Lacey Green. It’s a proper, 18th-century coaching inn with low beams and a fireplace that could warm a dead body—too soon?

The cast spent weeks there, filming scenes of the team sipping pints and bickering over motives. The pub owner told me that Helen Mirren once asked for “the quiet corner,” and the crew actually built a fake wall to give it to her. Royalty treatment, indeed.

If you pop in, order their fish and chips. I’m not saying it’s as good as solving a murder, but it’s close. Pro tip: sit in the corner booth. It’s where they filmed the big reveal—and the Wi-Fi is better.

The Lake: Where Drowning Meets Drama

One of the most memorable scenes happens at a mysterious lake. That’s actually Black Park in Wembley, a country park about 30 minutes from London. It’s famous for being a filming spot for everything from Harry Potter to Star Wars.

For this movie, they added a layer of artificial fog and a fake boat shed. I walked the path last month and found a crew member’s forgotten clipboard. It had notes like: “Make sure the corpse floats correctly.” Charming.

The park is now a pilgrimage site for fans. Bring your dog, but maybe skip the paddleboat. You’ll just keep hearing Bernard’s voice: “It’s always the quiet ones.”

Why These Locations Work (and Why You Should Visit)

The genius of these filming locations is that they’re banal. They look like the places your grandmother lives—which makes the murders feel delightfully Am-Dram and absurd.

Visiting them is like stepping into the book’s cozy world. You half-expect to see Ron (played by Pierce Brosnan) wave at you from a garden bench. Or Joyce (Celia Imrie) offer you a biscuit while hiding a bloody knife.

So grab a map, pick a spot, and go. Just remember: everyone over sixty is a suspect. And if someone offers you a cup of tea laced with hemlock? That’s just how they do things in Coopers Chase.