A tour of filming locations in Victoria BC, following “The Loop” is a great way to go behind the scenes while exploring some of the best the city has to offer.
| PRODUCTION | VICTORIA LOCATION | WHAT VISITORS KNOW IT AS | BEST FOR |
| X-Men / Deadpool | Hatley Castle | Professor Xavier’s School / X-Mansion | Castle photos; fan travel |
| Descendants | Hatley Castle, BC Legislature, Royal Roads area | Auradon-style fantasy locations | Disney fans; family travel |
| Gracepoint | Oak Bay, Victoria, Sidney, Brentwood Bay, Island View Beach | Small town mystery locations | TV fans, coastal scenery |
With such breathtaking scenery and iconic landmarks, including castles, it’s no wonder there have been hundreds of TV series and movies filmed in Victoria BC. But you’re probably wondering…
What’s the best way to take a Victoria film location tour?
A self-guided film fan itinerary featuring locations used in some of the most popular recent movies is definitely the way to go!
Where should you start your tour of movies filmed in Victoria BC?
Well, first, you’ll want to know how to get to the British Columbia capital. If you’re coming from the Seattle area as so many visitors do, you’ll want to hop on the FRS Clipper. You’ll find some great overnight packages that include the scenic ferry ride to and from Victoria, accommodation, and more. It’s the perfect way to save money while ensuring you have plenty of time to take advantage of all that the city has to offer.
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The Loop: X-Men, Deadpool & Descendants
Once you’re in Victoria, take a self-guided tour of “The Loop” featuring top filming locations by following our fan favorite itinerary.
Hatley Castle![Top filming locations in Victoria BC: Hatley Castle]()
Located at Royal Roads University, historic Hatley Castle has been featured in multiple TV series and films. You might recognize it as Professor Xavier’s “School for Gifted Youngsters.” This is the one and only X-Men mansion, Victoria BC. It served as the primary setting and training ground for the mutants in the X-Men and X-Men Universe Films, including:
The Original Trilogy: X-Men (2000), X2: X-Men United (2003), and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006).
The Prequel Trilogy: X-Men: First Class (2011), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), and X-Men: Apocalypse (2016).
Other X-Men Universe Films: Dark Phoenix (2019), Deadpool 2 (2018), and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
The 1908 Scottish baronial mansion was also featured in Disney’s Descandants (2015). This was the iconic exterior for Auradon Prep, where Mal and the other villainous kids attended school. It’s easy to recognize the rose gardens, lower lawns, and, of course, the grand exterior.
Guided tours of the estate, including the gardens and the first floor of Hatley Castle/X-Men mansion are available from May through September.
The Parliament Buildings
The British Columbia Parliament Buildings (BC Legislature) served as another one of the Descandants filming locations in Victoria. The building hosted major outdoor sequences, like the arrival of the Villains arrival and the grand coronation ceremony. In 2022’s American Dreamer starring Peter Dinglage of Game of Thrones fame, the buildings doubled as the campus of the fictional Brockton University.
Free guided tours are available to the public. If you step inside, you can’t miss the beautiful stained-glass windows with more than 100 of them on the interior walls. One of the highlights is the Golden Jubilee Window, created to honor the 50th year of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. Look closely and you’ll see provincial symbols, including a Pacific salmon, Western red cedar, a Steller’s jay, and pieces of jade.
A Spooky Gem & a Classic: Craigdarroch Castle
Less than a 10-minute drive from Downtown Victoria, Craigdarroch Castle represented a spooky English countryside manor in the horror films The Boy and The Boy 2. With its twisting staircases and itricate woodwork, it’s easy to see why it was chosen. Those who prefer the classics might know it from Little Women, the 1994 film starring Susan Sarandon and Winona Ryder.
As the Victorian mansion is now a museum, you can get a good look at the interior, including period furnishings and artifacts.
The Gracepoint Detour: An Insider Secret
The crime drama Gracepoint was set in a fictional Northern California seaside town. But in reality, the 10-part series was filmed entirely on Vancouver Island, including filming locations in the Greater Victoria area. It’s one of the less obvious film stops, but it brings the chance to immerse yourself in some particularly atmospheric places.
Oak Bay Village
Centered along Oak Bay Avenue just a few miles east of downtown Victoria, Oak Bay Village is one of the main Gracepoint filming locations, used for street scenes. Fans will also recognize the Oak Bay Marina. Be sure to pop into the Good Earth Coffeehouse, it was used as the fictional Gracepoint Journal newspaper office.
Island View Beach Regional Park
The sandy beaches and bluffs where the tragic discovery kicks off the Gracepoint series is Island View Beach Regional Park. It’s the perfect excuse to enjoy stunning nature in Central Saanish while exploring yet another filming site. Scenes were also shot directly around Beachcombers RV Park on Island View Beach.