Apple TV+ has brought THE BUCCANEERS back for a dazzling second season. Set against the rich backdrop of the 1870s, the series captures the journey of five ambitious and wealthy American women who leave behind New York for the elite world of English high society. Cultural clashes and societal expectations shape their personal and romantic problems, making for a stunningly beautiful and emotionally engaging experience.
Katherine Jakeways based her historical drama on Edith Wharton’s unfinished 1938 novel The Buccaneers, which she wrote after she died. Aisha Boe plays Conchita, Aubri Ibrag plays Lizzy, Josie Totah plays Mabel, and Imogen Waterhouse plays Jinny. Kristine Froseth plays Nan St. George. The cast also includes Matthew Broome, Josh Dylan, Barney Fishwick, Guy Remmers, Mia Threapleton and Christina Hendricks.
With eight episodes in its sophomore run, Season 2 continues to blend grandeur and intimacy, expanding the geographical scope of the show while staying true to its period roots. The filming journey of The Buccaneers is just as fascinating as the drama it portrays onscreen.
WHERE WAS THE BUCCANEERS SEASON 2 FILMED?
The setting may include grand ballrooms and coastal retreats from New York to Italy but most of the filming for The Buccaneers Season 2 took place in Scotland. Filming began in May 2024 and lasted for around 24 weeks. As with the first season, a few scenes were also filmed in Europe, notably in Croatia, which doubled as an Italian seaside town.
SCOTLAND: THE HEART OF PRODUCTION
Culzean Castle, Ayrshire
Used to portray the seaside exterior of Tintagel Castle, Culzean Castle stands majestically on the Ayrshire coast. This 18th-century mansion was once the home of the Marquess of Ailsa. It is famous for its romantic setting on a clifftop and stunning views of the sea. With the help of computer graphics, Culzean now looks like a castle from a fairy tale by the ocean.
Hopetoun House, Near Edinburgh
Much of the interior scenes of Tintagel Castle were filmed here. Designed by Scottish architects Sir William Bruce and later expanded by William Adam, Hopetoun House is an architectural gem. It doubles beautifully for the opulent spaces of 1870s English nobility.
Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfries and Galloway
This side of Tintagel Castle faces the land. It is called the “Pink Palace” because of its red sandstone. This estate from the 1600s has 120 rooms, many of which are decorated in a Renaissance style and huge gardens that are used in many important scenes in the second season.
Gosford House, East Lothian
As Closson Mansion, a grand home that shows off wealth and status, Gosford House is an important part of both seasons. The elaborate interiors and large grounds give the stories a lot of depth.
Newhailes House, Musselburgh
This grand house is used again as the interior for Brightlingsea Terrace and other fancy London homes. The Victorian-era story feels more real thanks to the old furniture and Georgian details that have been kept.
Edinburgh
The historic streets of Edinburgh, with their stone facades and Georgian architecture, serve as a backdrop for various scenes depicting 19th-century London. The capital city adds a layer of charm and period-accurate ambiance.
Glasgow
Glasgow is used once again to double for 1870s New York City. Notable locations include Glasgow City Chambers, where the debutante ball was filmed, and 250 St. Vincent Street, which stands in as the exterior of the St. George family home. The city’s grand civic architecture and adaptable urban landscape make it a fitting stand-in for Manhattan of the Gilded Age.
For a scene, Mitchell Library was turned into a courthouse in New York. To take the Charing Cross location back in time, horses and carriages, old street signs and postboxes, and other things were brought in. People dressed in clothes from the late 1800s were also seen hanging out.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Glasgow
Another notable addition to The Buccaneers Season 2 filming locations is Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow. On August 20, 2024, cast, crew, and extras were spotted filming overnight outside the iconic building, enduring Scotland’s unpredictable weather. The museum was impressively transformed into the Grand Opera House for a major sequence, complete with decorative golden lampposts, floral arrangements, and opera posters.
Locals caught a glimpse of the elaborate shoot, which lasted through the night, even as the team battled heavy rain and a Met Office yellow weather warning. Despite the conditions, the production continued, with actors and crew wearing protective coverings between takes. Kelvingrove’s stunning architecture added grandeur to the scene, making it a perfect backdrop for high society drama.
Geilston Gardens, Argyll and Bute
Featured in Season 2, this tranquil garden near Helensburgh showcases vibrant flora and offers a serene counterpoint to the grandeur of the ballrooms and castles.
Greenock, Inverclyde
This town near Glasgow adds variety to the visual language of Season 2. Its waterfront areas and historic buildings provide different textures, adding depth to the settings explored by the characters.
CROATIA: STANDING IN FOR ITALY
Istria Peninsula
In Season 2, the characters visit a fictional Italian coastal town named Porto Salvo. These sequences were actually filmed on the Istria Peninsula in Croatia. This area, with its Venetian history, offers Italianate architecture, white marble stonework, cypress trees, and a deep-blue Adriatic Sea—all of which matched the Italian aesthetic the show needed.
Production designer Markéta Kořínková explained that Istria’s historical ties to Venice made it a natural choice to recreate the look and feel of an Italian town from the 1870s. Towns like Rovinj, Pula, and Motovun are likely filming spots within the peninsula, with their narrow streets, Roman ruins, and rustic seaside charm. Whether it’s a romantic stroll through cobblestoned alleyways or a dramatic confrontation on a sunlit piazza, the Croatian coastline delivers the Mediterranean elegance the script demanded.
RETURNING LOCATIONS FROM SEASON 1
To maintain continuity, several iconic sites from Season 1 make a return:
• University of Glasgow Cloisters – Location for the elegant Tintagel ball.
• St Abb’s Head – Doubles for the rugged Cornish coastline.
• Seacliff Beach, North Berwick – The site of Nan and Theo’s memorable meeting.
• Carolside House and Gardens – Used for the vacation home at Runnymede in Surrey, complete with exquisite rose gardens and 18th-century architecture.
FILMING STUDIOS AND PRODUCTION BASE
Both seasons of The Buccaneers were primarily based at Pyramids Studios in West Lothian, Scotland. The studio housed interior sets and supported the large-scale production with its expansive soundstages and proximity to filming locations throughout the region.
THE BUCCANEERS S2 WRAPS FILMING
The last day of filming for Season 2 of THE BUCCANEERS was November 2024. This was the last day of a 24-week filming schedule that took place in many places in Scotland and along the beautiful coast of Croatia’s Istrian Peninsula, which was used to film a fake Italian beach town.
THE BUCCANEERS SEASON 2 TRAILER
From Scotland’s regal estates and ancient gardens to the sun-drenched coast of Croatia, the filming locations of THE BUCCANEERS Season 2 play a pivotal role in immersing viewers in the Gilded Age world. The show’s commitment to authentic architecture, historic towns, and natural landscapes helps maintain the visual splendor that fans have come to adore.
Whether it’s a debutante’s ball in Edinburgh, a secret rendezvous at a beach in East Lothian, or a romantic escape in a faux-Italian port, the carefully chosen locations enrich every storyline and character arc.
Stay tuned to netfilming.com for more updates, behind-the-scenes features, and filming locations of TV series.
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