A Castle for Christmas: Filming Locations & Sequel News

There’s a reason viewers keep returning to Netflix’s A Castle for Christmas every holiday season—the film, starring Brooke Shields and Cary Elwes, wraps a classic rom-com plot around one of Scotland’s most photogenic castles. This guide sorts the real filming locations from the fictional ones, checks the critical and audience scores, and lays out what’s actually known about a second film.

Release year: 2021 · Runtime: 98 minutes · Director: Mary Lambert · Starring: Brooke Shields, Cary Elwes · IMDb rating: 5.9/10

Key facts at a glance.

Where was A Castle for Christmas filmed?

The answer is a patchwork of real Scottish landmarks stitched together to create the fictional Dun Dunbar. Four locations, one illusion: how Scottish heritage sites doubled for a castle and village.

What castle is used in A Castle for Christmas?

• The primary castle representing Dun Dunbar is Dalmeny House in South Queensferry (Giggster (the location rental platform)).
• Inveraray Castle appears briefly as the castle Sophie sees from her taxi (IMDb’s production notes).
• Barnbougle Castle on the same estate may have been used for some interior manor scenes (Atlas of Wonders (the travel site)).

What town was the movie filmed in?

• No single town serves as Dun Dunbar. The village exteriors were shot in Culross, Fife (Scots2Travel (the travel guide)).
• Sophie’s “New York” apartment was actually filmed at the Dakota Hotel Edinburgh (Giggster (the location rental platform)).
• The talk-show scene was shot at the CBS Broadcast Center in Manhattan (Atlas of Wonders (the travel site)).

Is the castle from Downton Abbey?

• No. Downton Abbey uses Highclere Castle in Hampshire. A Castle for Christmas uses multiple Scottish locations, none of which are Highclere (Wikipedia (the open encyclopedia)).

Bottom line: The film carefully splices different real locations to create a single fictional world that doesn’t exist on any map. For viewers, that’s part of the charm — but it also explains why you can’t actually visit Dun Dunbar.

The implication: the film’s geography is a deliberate illusion that relies on audience suspension of disbelief.

Is A Castle for Christmas a good movie?

Six ratings, one split: critics and audiences disagree on this holiday offering. The film holds a 5.9/10 on IMDb and a 50% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, but audiences rate it higher at 68% (IMDb (the film database)).

What do critics say about A Castle for Christmas?

• Critics praised the chemistry between Shields and Elwes but found the plot predictable (Wikipedia (the open encyclopedia)).
• One Scottish reviewer noted that the film leans heavily on Scottish stereotypes while relying on the castle’s natural charm (Pajiba (the film criticism site)).

What is the audience reaction?

• On Rotten Tomatoes, the audience score of 68% suggests that viewers who enjoy lighthearted holiday rom-coms generally rate it positively (IMDb (the film database)).
• Scores of 7–8 are common on IMDb for similar Netflix Christmas fare.

The catch: this film lives or dies by its setting, and the castle delivers where the story doesn’t.

Will there be a sequel to A Castle for Christmas?

As of 2025, Netflix has not officially announced a sequel to A Castle for Christmas (Wikipedia (the open encyclopedia)). Rumors circulate online but no credible source confirms A Castle for Christmas 2 (IMDb (the film database)).

Is A Castle for Christmas 2 confirmed?

• No official announcement from Netflix or production companies (Wikipedia (the open encyclopedia)).
• The film’s popularity on Netflix keeps fan hopes alive, but no casting or script news exists (IMDb (the film database)).

Why hasn’t Netflix announced a sequel?

• Netflix typically judges sequels on streaming data and cost. A Castle for Christmas received mixed critical reviews, which may discourage a follow-up (Wikipedia (the open encyclopedia)).
• Lead actors Brooke Shields and Cary Elwes have not publicly mentioned sequel talks (IMDb (the film database)).

The pattern: Netflix greenlights sequels based on data, not sentiment, and the mixed reviews here offer little incentive.

Who is in the cast of A Castle for Christmas?

The cast leans on two familiar names but also includes a steady supporting ensemble. Brooke Shields plays Sophie Brown, a bestselling author who travels to Scotland after an on-air scandal (IMDb (the film database)). Cary Elwes plays the Duke of Dunbar, Myles (IMDb (the film database)).

What roles do Brooke Shields and Cary Elwes play?

• Brooke Shields as Sophie Brown, a bestselling author (IMDb (the film database)).
• Cary Elwes as the Duke of Dunbar, Myles (IMDb (the film database)).

Are there any notable supporting actors?

• Lee Ross, Andi Osho, and Tina Gray appear in supporting roles (IMDb (the film database)).
• Andi Osho plays Sophie’s best friend, providing comic relief (IMDb (the film database)).

What this means: the supporting cast provides texture but the leads carry the film’s appeal.

Where can I watch A Castle for Christmas?

The film is a Netflix original and streams exclusively on Netflix (IMDb (the film database)). It is not available for purchase or rental on other platforms (Wikipedia (the open encyclopedia)).

Is A Castle for Christmas on Netflix?

• Yes, it is a Netflix original and available exclusively on Netflix (IMDb (the film database)).

Can I rent or buy A Castle for Christmas?

• No. The film is not offered on any digital rental or purchase service (Wikipedia (the open encyclopedia)).

The implication for viewers: access is simple, but the lack of ownership options makes this a pure streaming experience.

“The film’s reliance on Scottish stereotypes is both its charm and its drawback, but the castle steals the show.”

— Pajiba (Scottish reviewer) (Pajiba (the film criticism site))

“Buying a castle in a Christmas movie looks easy; the reality of owning one in Scotland is a different story entirely.”

— The Guardian (the British newspaper) (The Guardian (the British newspaper))

For Netflix subscribers hoping for a sequel, the choice is simple: keep streaming the original and let the algorithm know you want more, or accept that Dun Dunbar might remain a one-time holiday destination. The castle scenery will keep drawing new viewers — but without a green light from Netflix, the story ends where the credits roll.

Frequently asked questions

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