3rd September 2026
UK Filming Locations That Can Double for Other Countries
You don't always need to take a production overseas to create an international setting. With the right architecture, landscape and carefully chosen angles, UK filming locations can convincingly double for destinations around the world.
From contemporary houses that could be in Los Angeles to Mediterranean-style villas, European streets, rugged coastlines and rural landscapes, the UK offers an enormous variety of looks within a relatively small area.
At Amazing Space Locations, we represent thousands of filming and photoshoot locations across London and the UK, including private houses, country estates, farms, industrial spaces, commercial properties and unusual architectural locations.
So, if your brief says California, France, Italy or somewhere altogether harder to define, what should you be looking for?
LA & California-Style Filming Locations in the UK
Los Angeles is one of the most requested international looks, particularly for commercials, fashion, music videos and lifestyle shoots.
The key isn't necessarily finding a house that is an exact replica of a Californian property. Instead, look for the visual features we associate with the location.
A convincing LA-style filming location might include:
- Contemporary architecture
- Floor-to-ceiling glazing
- Outdoor swimming pools
- Palm or architectural planting
- Large open-plan interiors
- Minimalist styling
- Strong indoor/outdoor living
- Terraces and landscaped gardens
- Clean, modern exterior lines
With careful framing, a modern house in London, Surrey, Kent or elsewhere in the South East can create a surprisingly convincing California look.
Mediterranean & Southern European Locations
For productions looking for Mediterranean-style filming locations in the UK, architecture, planting and exterior finishes can completely change the sense of place.
White or rendered exteriors, terracotta, courtyards, stone terraces, outdoor pools and mature planting can help create the impression of Spain, Italy, Greece or the South of France.
Country properties can also work particularly well, especially where the surrounding landscape can be tightly controlled within the shot.
The advantage is obvious: productions can potentially achieve an overseas look without international travel, while keeping crew, equipment and production logistics within the UK.
Can London Double for Other Cities?
Absolutely.
London contains an extraordinary mixture of architecture, which makes it possible to create many different looks within the capital.
Period townhouses, Georgian terraces, grand civic buildings, modern glass architecture, industrial areas, warehouses, brutalist buildings and contemporary developments can all give productions very different visual identities.
Sometimes it's less about recreating a specific city and more about finding a location that doesn't immediately read as London.
For interiors, this becomes even easier. A carefully selected apartment, hotel, restaurant, office or private house may provide very few clues about its actual geographical location.
American-Style Houses in the UK
Productions looking for an American house filming location in the UK often need particular architectural details.
Large detached houses, open-plan kitchens, wide driveways, generous gardens, timber-clad properties and contemporary homes can all create a more American feel.
The surrounding environment matters too.
Parking, neighbouring properties, road markings, garden styles and visible architecture can quickly give away the real location, so it's worth considering not only the house but everything likely to appear within the frame.
For interior scenes, however, the possibilities are much broader.
Rural Locations That Don't Look Like the UK
The British countryside is remarkably diverse.
Depending on the landscape and how it's shot, farms, lakes, woodland, beaches, country roads and open countryside can potentially create settings that feel far removed from the stereotypical English landscape.
A rugged landscape might suggest somewhere much more remote, while the right farm buildings and open land could help create a North American or European rural setting.
Large rural locations can be particularly useful because they give productions greater control over what appears in shot.
Amazing Space represents rural locations including farms, country estates, lakes, woodland and large private grounds across the UK.
Industrial Locations for International Shoots
Warehouses, factories, power stations, tunnels, concrete structures and industrial sites can be surprisingly geographically anonymous.
That's exactly what can make them so useful.
A raw concrete space could become somewhere in Eastern Europe. A vast warehouse could become an American factory. A modern industrial building might represent almost anywhere.
Industrial locations also tend to offer scale and visual impact, making them popular for feature films, television dramas, commercials, fashion shoots and music videos.
Amazing Space represents everything from working industrial sites to empty warehouses and unusual heritage buildings across the UK.
What Makes a Good International Location Double?
Finding a convincing location double isn't just about spotting a property that looks vaguely similar.
It's worth considering:
Architecture – Does the style belong convincingly in the country or region you're recreating?
Landscape – What can be seen beyond the immediate location?
Planting – Trees and plants can instantly establish or undermine the illusion.
Roads and neighbouring buildings – Are there recognisably British details within shot?
Interior styling – Kitchens, bathrooms, windows, switches and fittings can all give geographical clues.
Space for production – Can the location accommodate the crew, equipment and vehicles required?
Multiple shoot areas – Can several scenes or looks be achieved at the same property?
A good location agency can help identify these details before a production spends time arranging a recce.
How Do I Find a UK Location That Looks Like Another Country?
Start with the visual characteristics you need rather than just the country name.
Instead of searching only for "Italian filming location", for example, think about what makes your reference image feel Italian:
Is it the stone? The shutters? A courtyard? Cypress-style planting? Terracotta? A swimming pool? A particular type of kitchen?
The more visual information you can provide, the easier it is for a location agency to identify suitable properties.
Reference images are particularly helpful.
At Amazing Space, you can search the location library using geography, setting, architectural style and individual features, or send the team your brief and reference images for suggestions. The Amazing Space search already allows productions to narrow locations using attributes such as architectural style, specific features, setting and geography.
Find an International-Looking Filming Location in the UK
Whether your production needs LA in London, a Mediterranean-style house, an American family home, European architecture or a landscape that could be somewhere entirely different, there may be no need to travel as far as you think.
Amazing Space represents a wide range of film, TV, commercial and photoshoot locations across London and the UK, from contemporary houses and swimming pools to farms, country estates, warehouses and unusual architectural properties.
Browse our UK filming locations, or send us your brief and reference images and we'll help you search for a location that can create the look you're after.
Can the UK double for Los Angeles in film and TV?
Yes. Modern UK houses with contemporary architecture, swimming pools, large areas of glazing and suitable landscaping can provide an LA or California-style setting for film, TV, commercials and photoshoots.
Can I find Mediterranean-style filming locations in the UK?
Yes. UK properties with rendered exteriors, courtyards, stone terraces, pools and Mediterranean-style planting can potentially double for locations in Italy, Spain, Greece and Southern France.
Where can I find American-style houses for filming in the UK?
American-looking properties can be found across London, the South East and elsewhere in the UK. Look for detached houses, wide driveways, open-plan interiors, contemporary architecture and landscaping that doesn't immediately identify the location as Britain.
How do I find a filming location that looks like another country?
Send your location agency reference images alongside details of the architecture, landscape, interiors and key features required. Searching by visual characteristics rather than country alone can uncover more suitable options.