Step inside The Thursday Murder Club set: how to explore Coopers Chase in real life

If you’ve been watching the new film and wondering “where is The Thursday Murder Club filming location?”, you’re not alone. Fans of Richard Osman’s cosy-crime series have been quick to ask whether Coopers Chase is a real place – and the good news is, it is. The production brought the retirement village to life at Englefield House in West Berkshire, a grand Elizabethan mansion with sweeping gardens and a fascinating history. Not only was this the real Coopers Chase set, but it’s also a house with royal connections (Pippa Middleton’s wedding reception was held here) – and on certain days, you can even visit it yourself.

Where was The Thursday Murder Club filmed?

The main filming location for Coopers Chase is Englefield House, a Grade II* listed mansion just west of Reading. Surrounded by parkland, woodland and a deer park, it was the ideal choice for bringing Osman’s fictional retirement village to life. Built in the late 1500s, the house has been lovingly preserved by the Benyon family, who still own the estate today.

Thursday Murder Club director Chris Columbus, best known for Harry Potter and Home Alone, has described Coopers Chase as a 'Hogwarts for grown-ups' – and it’s easy to see why. From its sweeping driveway to its fairytale gardens, Englefield gives the film the perfect mix of grandeur, warmth and English eccentricity.

Chris said the production team discovered the property on the second day of location scouting, adding that the 'visually stunning manor' had the right layout for the retirement home.

In the book, Osman described Coopers Chase as a stately home located below a church and cemetery.

"When I read that, I realised, 'OK, I'm never going to find that,'" Columbus said. "I'm going to have to digitally add the cemetery to whatever location we found."
However, on day two of location scouting, they came across Englefield House, which had everything they needed to recreate Osman's Coopers Chase.

 "The Englefield House sits on a hill, and below it, is a church with a cemetery. It felt, somehow, spiritually meant to be," he continued adding, "We could shoot this location, as it was, without the use of any CGI."

Can you visit Englefield House, the real Coopers Chase set?

Yes! Sort of. Englefield House is a private family home, so the mansion itself isn’t generally open for tours. But the gardens are open to the public every Monday throughout the year (bank holidays included). From April to October they welcome visitors from 10am to 6pm, and in the winter months (November to March) from 10am to 4pm.

Admission is refreshingly old-fashioned: just £5, popped into the honesty box at the gate. Children go free, and so do RHS and NGS members. There’s no need to book ahead, though large groups are asked to arrange visits in advance.

Once inside, you’ll find landscaped lawns, ornamental borders, water features and, of course, those sweeping views back towards the grand house – exactly as seen in the film. It’s as close to walking through the pages of Osman’s novel as you can get.

A starry wedding connection

Englefield isn’t just famous on screen – it’s made society headlines too. In May 2017, Pippa Middleton tied the knot with hedge-fund manager James Matthews at St Mark’s Church, which sits within the Englefield estate. Guests, including Prince William and Kate Middleton, the now Prince and Princess of Wales headed to Englefield House for a champagne toast after the ceremony. Later, the party continued at the Middleton family home in Bucklebury, but Englefield provided that essential touch of grandeur for the big day.

Englefield House on screen

Englefield isn’t new to the spotlight. As well as being the Thursday Murder Club filming location, it has appeared in a string of major productions:

Its versatility makes it a favourite with directors. It offers stately exteriors, lavish gardens, a deer park, and even a church, all within easy reach of London.

A house with history

Beyond the film glamour, Englefield is a piece of living history. The estate has been in the Benyon family for generations, with links stretching back to the Anglo-Saxon era (the name Englefield means “Field of the Angles”). Richard Benyon, a former MP and now a peer, is the current custodian, ensuring the estate continues to thrive both as a working property and as a cultural landmark.

Inside, the house holds treasures like furniture from Richard Benyon, an 18th-century East India Company governor. Though these aren’t open to the public, they’re a reminder that Englefield isn’t just a film set – it’s a home with centuries of stories within its walls.

Planning your Thursday Murder Club day out

If you fancy a taste of the Coopers Chase lifestyle, here’s how to make the most of your visit:

Why Englefield makes the perfect Coopers Chase

Coopers Chase in Osman’s books is warm, sociable and a little mysterious – exactly what Englefield House delivers on screen. Its mix of cinematic beauty, public access and rich history makes it more than a backdrop: it’s a character in its own right.

So whether you’re a superfan asking “where was The Thursday Murder Club filmed?” or just love a good stately-home day out, Englefield House should be high on your list. Who knows – you may even be inspired to start a murder club of your own.

Claire Tapley is a digital editor for Yours.co.uk. She is a journalist with over 18 years' experience writing for women over 50. Before moving to Yours.co.uk, she was deputy editor of Yours magazine for nine years. She is extremely passionate about all things health-related, specifically fitness and healthy eating. She has a huge amount of knowledge on all areas that interest women over 50, including TV, health, well-being, finance, food, tech, beauty, and fashion.