Buffy the Vampire Slayer was primarily filmed in and around Los Angeles and other parts of Southern California, especially Torrance, Santa Monica, Pasadena, and various LA neighborhoods.

Main Filming Answer (Quick Scoop)

  • The series is set in the fictional town of Sunnydale, California, but most filming took place on location in the Los Angeles area.
  • Key areas included Torrance, Santa Monica, Pasadena, and downtown Los Angeles, plus work on studio lots in Hollywood and Santa Monica.

Iconic Buffy Locations

  • Buffy's house: Exterior shots were filmed at 1313 Cota Avenue in Torrance, California.
  • Sunnydale High School: The school is Torrance High School, 2200 W Carson Street, Torrance.
  • The cemetery: Many graveyard scenes were shot at Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery in Los Angeles, with an additional fake cemetery set built near the studio.
  • Giles’ apartment: Exterior shots used El Pueblo Apartments, 4616 Greenwood Place in Los Feliz, Los Angeles.
  • Angel’s mansion: Filmed at the Ennis House in Los Feliz, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
  • The Bronze: Interior scenes on a studio set; exterior shots used a warehouse location around Santa Monica.
  • Sunnydale University: Used UCLA’s Royce Hall and California State University Northridge’s Oviatt Library as campus stand-ins.

Quick HTML Table of Key Spots

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Sunnydale location (on show) Real-world filming place City / Area
Buffy’s house (1630 Revello Drive) 1313 Cota AvenueTorrance, California
Sunnydale High School Torrance High School, 2200 W Carson StTorrance, California
The cemetery Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery, 1831 W Washington BlvdLos Angeles, California
Giles’ apartment (exterior) El Pueblo Apartments, 4616 Greenwood PlLos Feliz, Los Angeles
Angel’s mansion Ennis House, 2607 Glendower AveLos Feliz, Los Angeles
Glory’s mansion Castle Green Apartments, 99 Raymond AvePasadena, California
Sunnydale Natural History Museum Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition BlvdLos Angeles, California
Kingman’s Bluff Angels Gate Park, 3601 Gaffey StSan Pedro, California
Downtown Sunnydale 3rd Street Promenade & downtown streetsSanta Monica, California

Little Story Beat

Imagine stepping out of “Sunnydale High” only to realize you’re actually on the campus of Torrance High, with real students walking by between takes. The same goes for Buffy's “quiet” suburban street, which is a real Torrance neighborhood you can still stroll today.

TL;DR

Buffy the Vampire Slayer was filmed largely on location across Los Angeles and Southern California, especially in Torrance, Santa Monica, Pasadena, and central LA, with some sets built on studio lots.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.