When it first aired in the United States in January 2019, Sex Education became an instant hit, beloved for the frank, funny, honest way it depicts sex and relationships on-screen. With the teenage comedy-drama's fourth and final season now on Netflix, it's time to bid a bittersweet farewell to the series.
Since part of the show's allure comes from the charming backdrops where it all takes place, we're looking back at its iconic filming locations across the United Kingdom. From Otis's enviable house (which you can rent!) to new schools introduced in the final eight-episode season, these places help define Sex Education's distinct retro-with-a-modern-twist look. Better yet, many of them can be added to your travel bucket list.
Moordale Secondary School
The series is set in the fictional town of Moordale, which is meant to be somewhere in the U.K. Much of it takes place at Moordale Secondary School, which was portrayed by the Caerleon Campus in Wales. The building was once part of The University of Wales, Newport, until it closed in 2016 and remained vacant. In 2019, the abandoned campus was sold to a developer, and, perhaps not coincidentally, the characters all find themselves heading to new schools in season four. Now, this landmark building is being transformed into housing, according to Wales Online.
Cavendish Sixth Form College
At the end of season three, the closure of Moordale Secondary School is announced. In season four, most of our Moordale friends attend a new school called Cavendish Sixth Form College. The brutalist front facade of St. Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff, Wales was selected to depict the college’s exterior.
Wallace University
Another new location in season four is the United States college that the series's heroine, Maeve, attends. In reality, that establishment is portrayed by the private school Westonbirt School located near Tetbury in England’s Gloucestershire. "We needed a building that has the feel of an Ivy League college," supervising location manager Deon Du Preez said in a press brief, noting that it had to be grand. "[Westonbirt School is] a big old manor house sitting back from the road down a long driveway and the minute you walk into it, it takes your breath away."
For the interior scenes, the production tapped the Wills Memorial Building at Bristol University. Maeve and Thomas Malloy, her tutor who is also a famous author, can be spotted in the building's law library.
Otis’s House
The house where Otis lives with his mom Jean is definitely one of the most enviable homes on TV. Situated in the Wye Valley on the England-Wales border, the Norwegian-inspired chalet is more than 100 years old. The five-bedroom abode is operated as a rental property called, appropriately, The Chalet. It sleeps 10 guests in four double bedrooms and one twin room and comes with plenty of desirable features including a deck and patio to admire the woodland views, a pizza oven, and gardens. The interiors were updated by Farrow & Ball to reflect the home's colorful history. See the inside of the home here.
Ola’s House
Speaking of homes you can rent, Ola (shown here at school) lives with her father Jakob in a home that looks a bit more like a lodge owned by fairies. In reality, the enchanting home is a rental property called Blistors Farm The Bull Pen. Located in Coleford, a town in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, the four-bedroom, three-bathroom residence sleeps up to 10 people. On the property, guests can enjoy the mature gardens and private hot tub.
Adam's Farm
During the final season, Adam is working on a farm. The remote location is Werngochlyn Farm, which is set near Abergavenny in Wales. Surrounded by rolling farmland under Skirrid Mountain, the 12th-century working farm has four cottages on the property that are available to book for a stay.
The Bridge
Perhaps symbolizing the characters' connection to each other, a surprising amount of relationship drama unfolds on a bridge, specifically the Tintern Wireworks Bridge. In season four, that bridge doesn't make an appearance as it was being renovated during filming. Instead, we;re introduced to a new bridge: the Duke of Beaufort Iron Bridge in Monmouth over the River Wye. The footpath also acts as a significant spot for epic moments in the series—but we won't spoil the fun by telling you what happens!
You love filming locations. So do we. Let’s obsess over them together.
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