The Thursday Murder Club Filming Locations

There’s something quietly thrilling about walking through a movie set, especially one where the stakes are low and the tea is high. The Thursday Murder Club series, adapted from Richard Osman’s beloved books, has turned the sleepy English countryside into a star of its own. If you’ve ever dreamed of solving a cozy crime while nibbling on a scone, these filming locations are your next weekend escape.

Welcome to Coopers Chase… or is it Fairhaven?

The fictional retirement village Coopers Chase is the heart of the story, but in real life, it’s a patchwork of charming spots. Frensham in Surrey and the Hamble Valley in Hampshire share the workload, with their leafy lanes and quiet ponds setting the scene. The key visual anchor is Frensham Great Pond, where the characters often stroll and plot. Pro tip: Visit on a weekday morning to have the view almost to yourself—it’s pure, unguarded British beauty.

Another key backdrop is the Old Manor House in Frensham, which doubles as the club’s meeting spot. It’s not open to the public, but the exterior is a perfect Instagram stop. Imagine the cast’s laughter echoing behind those stone walls—it’s easy to feel like you’re in on the joke.

The Pub That Steals the Show

No British murder mystery is complete without a pub, and the Thursday Murder Club relies on The Star Inn in Liphook, Hampshire. This 400-year-old coaching inn is where the gang drowns their sorrows and celebrates small victories. Order a pint of local ale and a plate of fish and chips—it’s the same meal the characters would share.

Fun fact: The pub’s real-life landlady was thrilled when the crew arrived, but she had to keep the filming schedule a secret for months. Locals still joke about the day a fake corpse was discovered in the beer garden. It’s that blend of reality and fiction that makes the location so magnetic.

Where the Dead Bodies (Don’t) Really Happen

The murder scenes themselves are shot across a handful of private estates and public parks. Bramshott Common in Surrey provided the haunting woodland for a key death scene—mossy, ancient, and eerily quiet. Bring a map, because the trails are easy to wander off. Just don’t expect a body to turn up; the only thing buried here is your phone signal.

For the cemetery scenes, the production used St. Mary’s Church in Frensham Vale. It’s a tiny, 12th-century church with a graveyard that feels straight out of a gothic fairy tale. If you go, look for the old yew tree—it’s the same one where a character has a dramatic confrontation in the first season.

Inside the Characters’ Homes

Joyce’s cozy bungalow, with its floral curtains and cluttered kitchen, was filmed at a private residence in Chiddingfold, Surrey. The owners kindly let the crew redecorate, and they kept a few props as souvenirs. It’s a private home, so admire from the road and don’t knock—unless you want to be part of your own mystery.

Elizabeth’s more upscale home was shot at Frensham Heights School, a stunning Arts and Crafts building. The school’s library stood in for her study, complete with fake books and a hidden safe. During filming, students were warned not to touch the “crime scene” evidence—a rule they mostly followed.

Travel Tips for the Murder Club Enthusiast

First, rent a car. These locations are spread across Surrey and Hampshire, and public transport is sparse—fitting for a mystery, but frustrating for your itinerary. Second, pack a raincoat. English weather doesn’t care about your filming location bucket list. Third, visit during the off-season (October to March) to avoid crowds and get that moody, misty filter on your photos.

Bring a notebook. You might not solve a murder, but you’ll want to jot down pub names, bookshop finds, and the best scone in town. I recommend The Bakehouse in Haslemere for a proper clotted cream experience.

Cultural Clues and Real-Life Echoes

Richard Osman, the author, actually lives in the same area—he’s been spotted having coffee in Farnham. The book’s humor feels so authentic because it’s drawn from real pensioners’ groups in Surrey. Local community centers even host “Thursday Murder Club” trivia nights now. It’s a full circle moment: fiction inspiring reality, and reality feeding back into the story.

A fun little fact: The production team deliberately avoided using any location that looked too “aspirational.” They wanted the settings to feel lived-in, slightly faded, and deeply human. That’s why the gas stations and corner shops in the show look like your own neighborhood—because they are.

The Final Page: A Reflection

Standing by Frensham Great Pond on a grey afternoon, I realized the Thursday Murder Club isn’t really about death. It’s about connection—the kind that happens over bad coffee, good gossip, and a shared purpose. In our own daily lives, we can get stuck in the smallness of routine. But these locations remind me: every corner has a potential story, every park bench a conversation waiting to happen.

So next time you’re feeling restless, take a drive to the nearest village. Order a tea, walk a muddy path, and pretend you’re looking for clues. You don’t need a dead body to find a little bit of magic. You just need good company and a willingness to see the ordinary as extraordinary.