Where was Band of Brothers filmed?

In the pilot episode of Band of Brothers, viewers are introduced to the quaint English town of Aldbourne, where Easy Company spent eight crucial months preparing for D-Day. A significant part of the narrative focuses on the Barnes family, who welcomed Major Dick Winters into their home, an experience that had a profound impact on his perspective of the war.

Like many others in the series, this scene was filmed not in Aldbourne but in the charming village of Hambleden in Buckinghamshire, England. The production team chose Hambleden for its picturesque and quintessentially English scenery, making it an ideal stand-in for Aldbourne. This beautiful village, with its historic charm, has also been featured in other productions, including the 1968 British film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

A trip to Hambleden provides enthusiasts of Band of Brothers the opportunity to immerse themselves in the cinematic universe of Easy Company. They can tread the same paths that Major Dick Winters and his squad did, at least in the context of the series.

Located in south-west Buckinghamshire, Hambleden is approximately four miles west of Marlow. To reach this location from London, you can take a train to Marlow and then a local bus or taxi to Hambleden. Alternatively, it's about a one-hour drive from central London.

In the gripping "Day of Days" episode of Band of Brothers, viewers are transported back to June 6, 1944, as Easy Company embarks on a dangerous parachute drop into Normandy. However, the mission doesn't go smoothly, and many companies are scattered, landing miles away from their designated drop zones.

This iconic episode was filmed at North Weald Airfield in the neighboring county of Essex, England. This location holds historical significance as it was a tactical location used by British planes during World War II. The scenes of the planes taking off from the airfield, however, were created using CGI, further testament to the high production value of the series.

Today, it houses a museum open to fans and history enthusiasts, offering a rich insight into the airfield's role during World War II. The journey from Liverpool Street stop in London to your destination can be completed in under two hours by train. Alternatively, opting for a private car will shorten the travel time to approximately 45 minutes to an hour.

Later in the same episode, the narrative takes a dramatic turn as Easy Company regroups in Normandy after a chaotic landing. Winters emerges as a critical figure when he leads a small group of men on a daring mission to destroy German artillery emplacements at Brécourt Manor that are firing on Utah Beach. This memorable scene, where Easy Company confronts and neutralizes the 105mm German guns, is etched in fans' minds.

The sequence was filmed not in the fields of Normandy but in the Ashdown Forest of East Sussex, England. This National Forest, located about 30 miles south of London, was chosen for its ancient open heathland situated on the highest sandy ridge-top of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Its natural landscape lent authenticity to the depiction of the operation at Brécourt Manor.

To visit this iconic filming location, you can take a train from London to East Grinstead, which is the nearest town to Ashdown Forest. From there, a short taxi ride will take you to the forest. If you prefer to drive, it's approximately a one-and-a-half-hour journey from central London.

In the sixth episode of Band of Brothers, "Bastogne," viewers are taken on a harrowing journey with Easy Company as they face the brutal winter conditions in the Ardennes. They grapple with a dire shortage of ammunition, food, and medical supplies. Amidst these trying circumstances, the character of combat medic Eugene "Doc" Roe (Shane Taylor) emerges as a beacon of hope. He tirelessly aids his fellow soldiers, scrounging for medical supplies in the harsh environment.

This powerful episode was filmed at the Hatfield Aerodrome in Hertfordshire, England. Once a British Aerospace factory, this vast expanse of land was transformed into twelve different European towns for the series, including Bastogne in Belgium, Eindhoven in the Netherlands, and Carentan in France. The production team went to great lengths to create an authentic experience, even constructing a faux forest to simulate the Ardennes for the Battle of the Bulge sequence in "Bastogne."

Transportation options to access this iconic filming location include a train and private car. The journey from London typically takes approximately one hour by road. The area where the aerodrome once stood is now home to the University of Hertfordshire's de Havilland Campus. A museum is open to fans looking to delve deeper into the making of this beloved series.

In the closing episode of Band of Brothers, "Points," viewers are taken to a pivotal point in history as Easy Company oversees the surrender of 25,000 German troops in Zell am See. A tense moment unfolds when Sobel initially refuses to salute Winters, leading Winters to remind him that the rank, not the man, is saluted.

The episode is punctuated with a company baseball game, during which Winters provides an update on the fates of some of the men. This scene is suddenly interrupted by the announcement of Japan's surrender, signaling the war's end. Winters then narrates Nixon's fate and, finally, his own.

These scenes of Austria and Germany were filmed in Switzerland's Bernese Oberland region. The cast and crew used the picturesque landscape around the Giessbach Hotel, located in the village of Brienz on the northeast shore of Lake Brienz. The nearby Grimsel Pass in the Bernese region represented Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest.

You can fly into Zurich or Geneva airports to visit this memorable filming location. From there, take a train to Interlaken Ost and then change for a regional train or bus to Brienz. The Giessbach funicular, which takes you directly to the hotel, is a short boat ride across Lake Brienz from the town. The hotel remains open and retains its appearance from the series, allowing fans to relive the iconic scenes in person.