From 10 Downing Street to Buckingham Palace
The news today can often feel like it’s been written by TV and film’s best scriptwriters. As the cliché goes: ‘you couldn’t make it up’. Current affairs are full of twists, turns, and headline-grabbing characters that wouldn’t be out of place in a prime-time drama.
And indeed, real life is providing inspiration for a host of new high-end TV (HETV) series and films. This trend presents exciting challenges for set construction: how to recreate iconic landmarks, buildings, and even the world’s most famous rooms.
At Totom, we’ve been privileged to help bring two such productions to life: This England (Sky Atlantic) and Scoop (Netflix). Both projects demanded re-creations of spaces instantly recognisable to audiences worldwide—spaces that hold historic weight and cultural significance.
For This England, the focus was 10 Downing Street, arguably one of the most recognisable addresses there is. The series chronicles Boris Johnson’s first months as Prime Minister during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Totom’s role was to meticulously recreate everything from the iconic black front door to the ornate Cabinet Room interiors. Attention to detail was crucial and what we achieved was remarkable. Producer Josh Hyams summed it up perfectly:
“I’ve just stepped onto the set for the first time in weeks. It’s extraordinary, and thank you so much for your incredible work. Jaw-dropping.”
For Scoop, Netflix’s retelling of the Prince Andrew Newsnight interview, the challenge was equally ambitious. The project required us to recreate the Buckingham Palace Cinema Room, often called a Drawing Room, and the palace gates, both symbols of grandeur and the monarchy’s enduring legacy. Striking the right balance between luxury and practicality, Totom employed faux finishes, gilded detailing, and expert scenic work to produce a cinema room that felt regal on screen while remaining cost-efficient. Meanwhile, the palace gates, visited by tens of thousands of people every year, were reconstructed with precision to reflect their intricate ironwork and royal detailing.
These projects illustrate how Totom blends innovation, craftsmanship, and attention to detail to recreate real-world locations into immersive, on-screen environments. Whether reconstructing a political epicentre or a royal backdrop, our team takes pride in ensuring every detail feels true to life—helping to ground the drama in the reality that inspired it.
Recreating Downing Street: Iconic Spaces Brought to Life
This project presented its own set of challenges, from sourcing materials during a global pandemic to balancing authenticity with practical filmmaking needs. Totom’s expertise in joinery, scenic painting, and large-scale set construction was instrumental in bringing these spaces to life. Each room tells its own story, seamlessly translating the grandeur and gravitas of 10 Downing Street onto the screen.
What follows is a detailed look at the planning, craftsmanship, and ingenuity behind recreating this iconic building for This England.
Research and Design: The Blueprint for Success
The journey began with meticulous research led by Production Designer Noam Piper and Art Director Byron Broadbent. Byron dove into publicly available images and resources, ensuring that every detail, from Georgian mouldings to paint colours, was historically accurate. The result was a series of detailed drawings that served as the foundation for Totom’s construction process.
Each drawing captured the intricacies of the design, reflecting the project’s complexity and offering a clear guide for every component, from staircases to fireplaces. This careful preparation ensured nothing was overlooked.
From Workshop to Studio
Construction began in Totom’s workshop with a six-week pre-build. Room by room, the structural components were constructed to ensure accuracy and efficiency. Once transported to Raynham Hanger Studios in Norfolk, the prebuilt elements were assembled and finished over four weeks.
To accommodate filming requirements, ceilings were rigged on block and tackles, allowing them to be raised for lighting. Timber bracing supported walls, while scaffolding reinforced staircases and double-storey structures. Scenic painters applied finishing touches, such as faux marble on fireplaces and stone effects on columns, ensuring the final result was as close to the original as possible.
Bringing Iconic Rooms to Life
Recreating some of the most recognisable spaces within 10 Downing Street required meticulous attention to detail and expert craftsmanship. From the Cabinet Room to the Prime Minister’s Office, every element was carefully designed and constructed to reflect the historical and architectural significance of this iconic building. Each room tells its own story, brought to life through Totom’s dedication to accuracy and authenticity.
The Cabinet Room
Totom faithfully recreated the Cabinet Room, a space synonymous with British governance. The panelled walls were constructed to match the original Georgian design, with paint colours carefully matched to historical references. Fibreglass columns, manufactured by Camouflage, were painted to appear like stone. For the room’s centrepiece, Totom made an exact replica of the original fireplace, featuring a striking scenic marbling finish that added to its grandeur.
The Secretary’s Office
The Prime Minister’s Office
Another highlight was the Georgian fireplace, recreated with a faux-marble effect to capture the elegance of the original. The result was a stunning centrepiece that seamlessly blended with the overall design of the office.
The Corridor
The main corridor of 10 Downing Street was another testament to Totom’s expertise. The internal fielded panel doors, all bespoke and built by Totom, were complemented by the distinctive fanlights above each doorway. This combination of elements added character and depth to the space.
The Staircases: 10 & 11 Downing Street
The Iconic Front Door
The black front door of 10 Downing Street is one of the most recognisable symbols of British political life. For This England, Totom recreated this iconic entrance with meticulous detail. The door was constructed as a faithful replica, featuring its distinctive black gloss finish, polished brass fittings, and the iconic number “10” in the correct font and size. The fanlight window above the door, another defining feature, was carefully crafted to match the original Georgian style, ensuring accuracy for close-up shots. This door served as a focal point for exterior scenes, seamlessly blending into the re-creation of Downing Street.
Filming Through Adversity
Totom: A Family Spirit
With pubs and restaurants closed, the crew stayed in local hotels with limited facilities. Yet, they found ways to celebrate. A crew member’s birthday became a highlight, with everyone coming together to mark the occasion despite the restrictions.
This resilience and camaraderie, alongside unmatched expertise, enabled Totom to deliver under extraordinary circumstances.
Downing Street: Take 4
Did you know 10 Downing Street has been recreated for TV and film many times before? Totom proudly adds to this legacy with This England, but here are some other notable productions:
- Love Actually (2003): Hugh Grant’s iconic dance scene as the Prime Minister was filmed at Shepperton Studios, using a charming re-creation of Downing Street.
- The Crown (2016–2022): Netflix’s acclaimed series featured exterior sets built on the backlot of Elstree Studios.
- Bodyguard (2018): The BBC thriller used a building on John Adam Street in London, enhanced with CGI to depict Downing Street.
Each re-creation reflects the creativity and dedication of set designers, and Totom is proud to contribute to this legacy.
Buckingham Palace: A Royal Re-creation for Scoop
For Scoop, the Netflix film based on the infamous Prince Andrew interview with Newsnight, Totom was tasked with recreating key locations that resonate with both British history and public memory. Two significant spaces were brought to life: the Buckingham Palace Cinema Room and the palace gates, both symbolising grandeur and recognisability.
Scoop: A Regal Re-Creation
The journey to recreate Buckingham Palace’s Cinema Room and gates began with the creative vision of Production Designer Stéphane Collonge and Supervising Art Director Byron Broadbent. Working alongside Senior Art Directors Danielle Bayliss, the team conducted extensive research to ensure every detail reflected the grandeur and historical significance of these iconic spaces.
The design process included analysing references from archival materials and publicly available images, focusing on key architectural and decorative elements such as the ornate gilded finishes and intricate mouldings. This meticulous preparation resulted in detailed plans that provided the framework for Totom’s construction team, ensuring that the final set captured both the luxury and practicality required for filming.
The Buckingham Palace Cinema Room
The cinema room is an iconic and elegant space that became a focal point during the real-life Newsnight interview, watched by 1.7 million Britons. To ensure authenticity, Totom meticulously recreated the opulent details of the original room, including the ornate panelled walls, gilded accents, and decorative mouldings. It’s fascinating to think that the same room where the Royal Family might enjoy watching films became the setting for one of the most infamous interviews in modern royal history. This juxtaposition highlights the significance of recreating iconic locations with precision and sensitivity.
Recreating such opulence while working within a scenic budget required creative solutions and resourceful craftsmanship. Totom’s scenic team employed cost-effective materials and specialist techniques to achieve the richness and grandeur of the original space. Faux finishes and precision painting brought the decorative elements to life, proving that luxury can be convincingly achieved without excessive costs.
Particular attention was given to the room’s distinctive features, such as the large windows and detailed cornices that characterise Buckingham Palace’s regal architecture. Our scenic painters applied specialist techniques to replicate the richness of the original finishes, ensuring that the re-creation captured both the majesty of the space and its significance in recent history. This attention to detail allowed the filmmakers to transport viewers into a room that is both historic and instantly recognisable.
The Buckingham Palace Gates
As one of the most photographed and visited landmarks in London, the gates of Buckingham Palace are symbolic of both British tradition and the monarchy’s enduring presence. More than 50,000 people visit Buckingham Palace each year, and its iconic gates remain a centrepiece of this experience.
For Scoop, Totom recreated the palace gates with precision and artistry, ensuring they retained their grandeur and recognisability. The gates were constructed using robust materials to withstand filming demands, while the intricate ironwork details were carefully fabricated and painted to mirror the originals. Even the iconic royal crest was recreated with careful attention to proportion and finish, ensuring the gates looked both authentic and majestic on screen.
The gates provided a visually striking backdrop for key scenes in the film, seamlessly transporting viewers to the heart of London’s most famous royal residence.
Closing Thoughts
When entertainment calls for the re-creation of famous real-life spaces, specialist set construction knowledge and skills are essential. Whether recreating the political heart of This England’s 10 Downing Street or capturing the regal grandeur of Scoop’s Buckingham Palace Cinema Room and gates, Totom’s team delivered sets that were unquestionably believable.
Through detailed planning, innovative techniques, and a commitment to meeting every production need, we ensured each project was delivered on time, on budget, and to the highest standard. These challenges reflect what Totom stands for: expertise, resilience, and an unwavering dedication to bringing stories to life.
See more behind-the-scenes photos from This England and Scoop here.
Inspired by Totom’s work? Contact us today to discuss your next project.
email us at info@totom.co.uk,
or call on 01494 437 456
by Totom