The You Season 4 London Locations you can Visit
Having taken in New York, LA and suburban San Francisco in seasons one to three, Netflix’s OTT psychological satire, You, saw lead character Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley, Gossip Girl) hotfoot it to Paris at the end of the last series. But when season four dropped this month, the charming stalker turned serial killer quickly moves on to London on his “little European holiday”.
Joe is now masquerading as Jonathan Moore, a lecturer at Darcy College, and becomes the hunted rather than the hunter, embroiled in an Agatha Christie-esque murder mystery. On arriving in London “a city of art, theatre, books and the occasional douchebag,” as he describes it in his signature sardonic voiceover, Joe falls in with a young, rich and glamorous crowd that includes Simon Soo (Aidan Cheng) and his sister Sophie (Niccy Lin), offspring of a Chinese billionaire.
“Darcy College” is in reality Royal Holloway’s imposing campus in Surrey. Its grand library though is really Lincoln’s Inn in central London. Usually only accessible if you are a member of the England and Wales Bar, Lincoln’s Inn offers tours for the public but cannot always guarantee access to the library. Here are the other locations you can visit.
South Kensington
Joe, posing as Jonathan, lives in South Kensington, an expensive west London neighbourhood typicalised by white stucco townhouses and private garden squares. Our anti-hero is flat-sitting in real life Kynance Mews, a cobbled street so picture perfect he quips he’s living in a Hugh Grant film. The location is about a ten minute walk from the V&A, Natural History and Science museums. South Ken also has a number of appealing pubs including The Builder’s Arms on Kensington Court Place where Joe follows his latest obsession, Kate Galvin (Charlotte Ritchie).
Spitalfields
In episode one we see Joe strolling through Spitalfields, an arty area in East London. Walking along Brushfield Street he passes Spitalfields Market. There’s been a market on this site since 1666 and in its modernised incarnation it’s home to boutiques and restaurants as well as stalls. Joe then walks through Artillery Passage, a tiny lane of original Georgian shopfronts now including a number of shops and eateries. Commenting on the local hipsters and how drinking time starts early, he passes Commercial Tavern which has a telegenic corner location on Commercial Street and is known for its quirky interior. The pub is due to reopen in March following a refurbishment.
St Pancras International
Where Joe intercepts his season three obsession, Marienne, on her way back to Paris. Even if you’re not catching a train, St Pancras is worth a stop for its impressive Victorian architecture and “Europe’s longest champagne bar”. The station also features several contemporary sculptures and art installations.
Old Billingsgate
Simon Soo’s art exhibition opening is held at “The Clotho Gallery” – in reality Old Billingsgate, former home of the famous 19thcentury fish market. The building is now an events space but you can visit the Grade II listed exterior next to The Thames with its distinctive arched glass doors shown in several scenes in You. The riverside pedestrianised area in front has a great view of Tower Bridge – as depicted in the scene where Joe sits waiting for Simon with the bridge lit up in the distance behind him.
Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square
Lady Phoebe (Tilly Keeper)’s apartment was filmed at the Four Seasons hotel in the City. She appears to live at one of the Residences which are bookable for extended stays and some of which, like Phoebe’s, have terraces with views of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. The hotel includes the two Michelin starred restaurant La Dame De Pic by acclaimed chef Anne-Sophie Pic.
Seething Lane Garden
Next to Ten Trinity Square is this manicured garden where Gemma Graham-Greene (Eve Austin) and Princess Blessing (Ozioma Whenu)drink coffee. The diarist Samuel Pepys lived on Seething Lane in the 1660s and is said to have buried his collection of cheese and wines under this spot during the Great Fire of London. There’s a bust of Pepys in the garden which Gemma poses for a photograph in front of.
St Bartholomew The Great – SPOILER ALERT
This atmospheric medieval church tucked away on West Smithfield is the setting for Simon’s funeral. Commemorating its 900th anniversary this year (it’s the oldest surviving church in London) St Bart’s The Great was built by a jester in the court of King Henry I. The church is usually open to the public every day (between services on a Sunday).
Knebworth House
The group escape London for Phoebe’s country house, Hampsie, in reality Knebworth House in Hertfordshire about an hour from London. A gothic mansion with turrets and gargoyles, Joe remarks it looks like a cross between Downton Abbey and a vampire’s castle. In fact one previous custodian (Knebworth has been owned by the same family since 1490), Sir Edward Bulmer Lytton, penned the words “It was a dark and stormy night”.
The house and gardens re open to the public on March 19th (dates and times vary so check the website for details). Entry includes tours of the many lavish rooms full of heirlooms that feature in You including the Armoury Staircase, Banqueting Hall, Library (complete with the bookshelf concealed door) and the bedroom where Joe slept.
Primrose Hill
Joe and Kate have their Rom Com moment meandering through leafy north London enclave Primrose Hill which it takes its name from the nearby park with views of the city.
The couple can be seen strolling along the main thorough fare, Regents Park Road, which is lined with shops and restaurants. They then move along to the candy coloured residential Chalcot Crescent and Chalcot Square.
In another link with Hugh Grant, the road was a filming location for Paddington and Grant’s character’s flat was on the corner of Chalcot Square (below). The area is the home of many celebrities including Succession’s Brian Cox aka Logan Roy and Taylor Swift.
Chopstix & the City 