Sex Education is returning for its fourth and final season on Netflix on September 21. When we last saw the students of Moordale, Eric and Adam had finally called it quits, Aimee was in the mist of learning about boundaries and baking, Lily and Ola finally found a happy medium to their spacy romance, and Maeve was getting ready to leave it all behind for a study-abroad trip to the United States — leaving her on-again-off-again flirtation with Otis in question. But not before the school music department took Peaches’ sex-positive anthem to shocking new heights, only to find out that their school has been closed. Oh, and who is the father of Jean’s baby?
The rapid-fire, revelation-sprinkled comedy takes place in Wye Valley. While the town Moordale is fictional, the area, located on the Welsh-English border, is a very real bucolic counterpoint to the show’s frenetic narrative. It’s also easily accessible — think adjacent to Bristol, England, making it a perfect day trip. However, only 3 percent of visitors to the U.K. make it to Wales. Which means not only is there not a lot of tourist competition for this particular sliver of British paradise, there’s also plenty to explore once you’ve grabbed your Sex Education-inspired photos.
Otis’ House
Otis and his mother Jean’s house is the stuff of architectural envy. The good news is their five-bedroom hillside home is more than just a cinematic creation (even if some of the views are the result of filmmaking magic). Thanks to a steep, winding driveway and postcard-worthy views of the River Wye, the Symonds Yat village estate is the perfect hideout, one that you can actually rent via the owners’ website. If you don’t have £3,600 (about $4,500) for a four-night stay, no worries. You can grab a snap of the hillside (which is stunning during fall color season) and a pint from Ye Old Ferrie Inn — which, in addition to traditional pub fare and lodgings, offers an assortment of water activities, including a hand-pulled ferry ride between Wales and England.
Ola and Jakob’s House
Otis’ onetime girlfriend and her father — Jean’s maybe baby daddy — live in a house that serves as a counterpart to their more straitlaced partners. Like an upscale hobbit hole, Blistors Farm is a plant-covered cozy kid’s dream, sleeps up to 11 people, and is a relative rental steal at £771 (about $960) for three nights. Among its boasted amenities are a hot tub, game room, and even a TARDIS — a fun twist of fate, given that Ncuti Gatwa, who plays Eric, was announced as the next actor to play the Doctor on Doctor Who.
Otis’ Bike to School
Thanks to filmmaking magic, Otis and Eric’s scenic morning bike ride seems a lot shorter than it really is. In reality, the path is about 15 miles removed from where he wakes up every morning. The boys’ route takes them through Bargain Wood and over the River Wye across the real-life Tintern Wireworks Bridge. If you’re looking to re-create the journey, consider including a few extracurricular activities along the way to truly appreciate the local vibes. Start at nearby Silver Circle Distillery to pick up a sample of its award-winning gin, high-end bottled cocktails, and canned Bloody Marys. (Maybe save the imbibing part for happy hour if you’re driving.) Then slip on your favorite 1980s-reminiscent puffer jacket, and point your bikes in the direction of Tintern Abbey, impressive gothic ruins that have sat riverside since 1131. (And would have been far too identifiable to use as a backdrop for the show.) The ride will take you about 35 minutes (or an hour and a half on foot), leaving plenty of time for additional adventures.
Teenage Angst Bridge
Speaking of the Tintern Wireworks Bridge, the location should get a second special mention for how much relationship drama it’s hosted throughout the show. It’s here, on the stretch between Wales and England, that Eric and Adam shared a gut-wrenching breakup and Otis admitted to Maeve that he’s a virgin, and with any luck, you’ll have a significantly less-significant stroll. The historic pedestrian bridge was recently reopened after repairs, assuring it’ll host plenty of important heart-to-hearts for years to come. But if you do need to get above it all (literally and figuratively), take note — the bridge is also the official starting point for the Devil’s Pulpit, a short but steep hike that offers stunning views of Tintern Abbey and the surrounding valley.
Browns Village Stores
Browns Village Stores, aka Adam and Ola’s place of employment and the location of Otis’ flirtation with shoplifting, might be one of the most recognizable Sex Education filming locations — if only because its real-life signage was also used in the show. After its fate hung in the balance for several years, the family-owned shop, which has been serving the village Llandogo in Monmouthshire since 1928, recently announced it’ll remain open for the foreseeable future. The owner loves fans’ enthusiasm for the show — so be sure to say hello when you stop in for a snack.
Moordale Secondary School
You’ll have to head about 18 miles toward Cardiff to catch the crown jewel of Sex Education locations, Moordale Secondary School, or rather its real-life equivalent, University of South Wales’ Caerleon campus, in Newport. Built in 1914 by architect Alfred Swash and his son Frank Stanley Swash, the stately building was declared a historic building in 2017. No real-life classes have been held there since 2014, making it an ideal filming location. However, there’s a reason why the fictional students were evicted — the property was just sold, with plans to turn the site into a plot of luxury homes. So, if grabbing that ultimate school-day shot is a priority, check this off your bucket list as soon as possible.
Laura Studarus is a Los Angeles-based travel writer who has contributed to Fast Company, BBC Travel, and Thrillist. Follow her on Twitter at @Laura_Studarus.
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