The classic 1944 film National Velvet was set in rural Sussex, England, but it was actually filmed entirely in California, USA.

Main filming locations

Most of the production used real outdoor spots and studio work around Los Angeles and the central California coast.

Key locations included:

  • Pebble Beach, California – coastal polo field and outdoor riding scenes.
  • Monterey, California – additional seaside countryside backdrops.
  • Uplifters Club/Ranch, Rustic Canyon, Santa Monica – used as the “Aintree” racecourse for the Grand National.
  • Midwick Country Club, Alhambra – further racing and equestrian material.
  • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Studios, Culver City – interior and controlled studio scenes.
  • Old Warner Bros Ranch in Calabasas (now Calabasas Golf Club) – much of the village and training material.

Even though the story takes place in an English village and at the real Aintree Racecourse, wartime conditions shifted the shoot from the UK to California while still aiming to evoke a British countryside feel.

TL;DR: National Velvet was filmed in multiple locations across California (Pebble Beach, Monterey, Rustic Canyon/Santa Monica, Alhambra, Culver City studios, and the old Warner Bros Ranch in Calabasas), not in England.

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