Hampstead filmed at Cliveden

The exterior of Ferry Cottage in Berkshire near the Cliveden estate — The exterior of Ferry Cottage near the Cliveden estate | © National Trust Images/John Miller

Hampstead is a 2017 British romantic comedy-drama film about American widow Emily Walters (Diane Keaton) and Donald Horner (Brendan Gleeson), a man living wild on Hampstead Heath taking on developers who want to destroy his home. Award-winning actor Diane spoke to the National Trust about her experiences filming at London’s Hampstead Heath, and Trust properties Cliveden and nearby Ferry Cottage.

The story of Hampstead

Academy Award® winner Diane Keaton and BAFTA nominee Brendan Gleeson spent the summer of 2016 in London and Berkshire shooting romantic comedy-drama Hampstead. Diane plays American widow Emily Walters who helps the reclusive Donald Horner, played by Brendan, defend his ramshackle hut and the life he has been leading on Hampstead Heath for 17 years.

Where are the filming locations?

Much of the action takes place on the 320-hectare Hampstead Heath and in Hampstead village, in London, but the special places in our care, Cliveden in Buckinghamshire and Ferry Cottage near Maidenhead in Berkshire, are also brought to the big screen.

Diane Keaton on Ferry Cottage

Diane particularly enjoyed the experience of filming at the riverside setting of Ferry Cottage, which is available to rent for a holiday cottage.

She explained: 'The cottage that we shot in was lovely, next to the river. I’d like to own it and spend some time there. But unfortunately I will not be able to buy it, so all the best for the public. It’s fabulous, everybody should go; it couldn’t have been more idyllic.'

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Diane Keaton: filming Hampstead on location

Watch actor Diane Keaton talking about her experience at the filming location of Ferry Cottage.

Conservation work

The idyllic atmosphere Diane describes was something Ferry Cottage’s designer, Victorian architect George Devey, was famous for and has been carefully maintained by the Trust’s conservation work.

The appearance of the cottage, with its English bond brickwork and timber framing remains much as it was when designed by George, who specialised in idealised, domestic and leisure buildings in equally idealised settings, such as Ferry Cottage on the banks of the River Thames.

Stay at Ferry Cottage

Today, up to four guests can enjoy staying at Ferry Cottage, and its neighbour New Cottage, which also sleeps four. Every stay helps the Trust continue to maintain the special spirit of the cottages and other places in its care.

Book your stay at Ferry Cottage.

Boats on the River Thames at Ferry Cottage, in Berkshire — Boats on the River Thames at Ferry Cottage | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Supporting special places

As well as showing off beautiful locations, filming directly benefits the places in our care that star in the production. The income from location fees goes straight back into conservation work to care for historic houses and landscapes, so that we’ll all be able to see them both on screen and in real life for years to come.