And when in the year do they film it?
The Great British Bake Off is back on our screen for 2023, bringing us a host of technical challenges in the search for a new winner. The baking show has brought a gaggle of eager bakers into the infamous tent for this year, with the first episode already proving memorable. Noel Fielding has been joined by new host Alison Hammond, who viewers have already praised as the ‘perfect addition’ to the beloved show.
It's the ultimate comfort watch, and the perfect start to cosy season. Each series we feel soothed by the familiar rhythms of the show and the cheering antics in the tent, which is always pitched in a idyllic location. But where is Bake Off filmed?
Where is The Great British Bake Off tent?
Although the tent is looking all-so-familiar, the location of the show has changed drastically over the years.
The show has been filmed in many a location – including a youth hostel which saw Mary Berry catch bed bugs – before finding its home at Welford Park in Berkshire. The show remained there until the pandemic hit, where they left to film in Down Hall Hotel in Essex.
Whilst filming at the Essex hotel and spa, contestants and producers would stay on-site in order to maintain their ‘covid bubble’ and minimise the risk of outbreaks halting filming. But once protocols relaxed, the show was able to relocate its tent back to the stunning grounds of Welford Park.
The iconic Bake Off tent. Credit: Channel 4
And the rural location is famous for far more than some impressive bakes. The Grade 1 listed building has been privately owned by the same family since 1619, once being the site of a monastery before becoming Henry VIII’s deer-hunting lodge.
The Bake Off tent itself is a temporary structure, meaning it’s only utilised during the filming of the series rather than standing all year round. And with Welford Park itself being privately owned, it’s not so easy for Bake Off fans to enter the estate.
However, never fear. If you fancy taking in the sights of Berkshire, the estate does host a number of events each year where doors are open to the general public.
So if you fancy a Bake Off day out, it could very well be on the cards!
When is The Great British Bake Off filmed?
Although we use Bake Off as the perfect indicator that autumn is upon us, the sunnier vibes onscreen don't quite scream cosied up under the blankets with a cuppa. Rather than the rainy October days that many of us are facing, viewers watching new episodes can’t help but notice that the bakers on screen are basking in some glorious sunshine as they take on the Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith's challenges.
Bake Off is filmed over 10 weeks (giving contestants lots of time to practise their bakes), and those lucky enough to find themselves in the tent are asked to make sure their schedules are clear for up to 21 days between those months.
And it’s no easy feat when you’re battling to be star baker. The days are said to be extremely long, with filming taking up to 16 hours in one go.
It’s clear that the show is not filmed and broadcast live. In fact, it’s actually prerecorded and filmed months before, between April and June. So when they're sweltering in the tent, you're likely witnessing a heatwave from earlier on in the year.
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FAQs
The Great British Bake Off is filmed in the grounds of the Welford Park Estate in Berkshire.
Where is Bake Off filmed in 2024? ›
The Great British Bake Off is filmed at Welford Park in Berkshire and has been since series five of the show in 2014 (not including the two-year Covid period), according to Country & Town House. The white marquee, known as the Bake Off Tent, is pitched near the Welford Park House and the round-tower church.
Where do the bakers sleep on the Great British Baking Show? ›
Do They Stay at the House Where the Tent Is Located? No. The contestants stay at a nearby hotel during the weekends and travel to the tent via minibus during competition days before returning home during the week, Quinn told Cosmopolitan. The judges and hosts are put up in a hotel, though a different one.
Where is The Great British Bake Off filmed? ›
The Great British Bake Off is filmed at Welford Park in Berkshire, with the white marquee pitched up alongside the beautiful Grade-I Listed Welford Park House and its pretty round-tower church.
Why is the Great British Baking Show filmed in a tent? ›
The goal was to have viewers and bakers alike feel as though they were immersed in a village fête — similar to a farmer's market but with games and tea — where all around them an assortment of jams and baked goodies were being sold and indulged in.
How far ahead is bake-off filmed? ›
The show is filmed over a 10-week period between April and June, with contestants spending up to 16 hours a day filming. They manage to package up a whole session of baking into one hour, which means that a lot of it ends up on the cutting room floor.
Do they film bake-off in one day? ›
The three challenges take place over two days, and the filming takes up to 16 hours a day.
Where do Great British Bake Off contestants live? ›
Bakers have lives in between filming
That's because contestants don't live in the historic estate that Bake Off is filmed at for weeks at a time. Instead, they go home during the week to live their lives and work day jobs as normal.
Can you visit the Bake Off tent? ›
While you can't visit the GBBO tent itself – it's only up for the ten weeks of filming – there are loads of other things to see and do if you are heading to Welford Park. Most notable are the spectacular Snowdrop Gardens which never fail to draw in the crowds during February and March – but you'll need to buy a ticket!
Where is the Great British Baking Show the Professionals filmed? ›
| Bake Off: The Professionals |
|---|
| Production locations | Welbeck Abbey, Nottinghamshire, UK (2016) Firle Place, East Sussex, UK (2017–present) |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Production company | Love Productions |
| Original release |
18 more rowsThe contestants are not paid for being on the show, though they are given a modest stipend so they can practice their bakes at home. But the stipend apparently doesn't go very far. If you need to practice your bake multiple times at home, the cost of ingredients can get surprisingly expensive.
What happens to the food on Great British Bake Off? ›
What happens to the leftover food on the Bake Off? You will be happy to know that the goodies do not go to waste, as the leftover baked goods are shared between the crew and the bakers themselves.
Why does everyone wear the same clothes on The Great British Baking Show? ›
The Great British Bake Off is usually filmed over the course of two days per episode, because of this, producers are very strict on having contestants wear the exact same clothes to avoid any mishaps with continuity and to make it easier to edit together.
Can you visit the bake-off tent? ›
While you can't visit the GBBO tent itself – it's only up for the ten weeks of filming – there are loads of other things to see and do if you are heading to Welford Park. Most notable are the spectacular Snowdrop Gardens which never fail to draw in the crowds during February and March – but you'll need to buy a ticket!
Will there be a Junior Bake Off 2024? ›
Do you have a passion for pastry? Then you could be baking in the famous white tent in 2024! If you, or someone you know, are aged 9-12 and love baking, apply for the next series of Junior Bake Off. We're looking for talented home bakers to impress our judges.
Does anyone live in Welford Park? ›
He left Welford to the daughter of his sister. This was Aline who had married John Puxley in 1947. Aline and John resided at Welford until 1997 when she gifted the house to her son James who currently lives in the house with his wife and a son and a daughter.
Who owns Welford Park Estate? ›
The Puxley family, owners of the estate, generously share the house's history and grounds with visitors and guests at special events throughout the year. In late winter, Welford Park hosts an event each year inviting visitors to view their stunning collection of snowdrops.
