Where was Wicked Little Letters filmed? Visit the filming locations in England by train

British people are known for many things: a stiff upper lip, posh accents and exemplary etiquette. They aren’t known for foul language — until this latest Netflix movie.

Based on a true story, Wicked Little Letters takes us back to 1920s England, where anonymous poison pen letters — which use hilariously outrageous profanities — are haunting residents of the coastal town of Littlehampton. But these letters don’t use regular insults; they feature profanities that would even make a modern construction worker blush.

But where was Wicked Little Letters filmed? And what do we currently know about the movie? Find out more below — including how to visit the filming locations by train.

Arundel Castle in Arundel, West Sussex, England. Image Credit: Getty Images, David C Tomlinson

Wicked Little Letters filming locations

Arundel, West Sussex

Nearest station: Arundel

Arundel is known for its medieval castle and impressive cathedral, as well as its quaint historic streets that were used for the filming of Wicked Little Letters. The high street, plus Bond Street — with its brick-and-flint cottages — and Tarrant Street feature as the set for 1920s Littlehampton.

Worthing, East Sussex

Nearest station: Worthing

Edith and Rose are shown strolling together along a pebbly beach, bookended by a pier. These beach scenes were filmed in Worthing, nine miles down the coast from Littlehampton. You also might spot Worthing Lido in the scene where Rose is chatting to other local women in deckchairs.

Jessie Buckley as Rose Gooding in Wicked Little Letters (2024). Image Credit: Sony Pictures Classics

Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

Nearest station: Aylesbury

Eagle-eyed viewers may have noticed that the courtroom scenes in Wicked Little Letters were shot at the Old Crown Court in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. The building was constructed in 1740 by architect Thomas Harris and was used as a real court until 2018.

Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire

Nearest station: Iver

The majority of the movie scenes were captured at Pinewood Studios, Britain’s equivalent of 20th Century Studios, just west of London. Classic movies like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Goldfinger were also shot here, as well as modern flicks including Rocketman and Jurassic World Dominion. Unfortunately, the studios aren’t open to the public.

Watch the trailer for Wicked Little Letters

Wicked Little Letters: need to know

What is the plot of Wicked Little Letters?

Set in a small English seaside town in the 1920s, Wicked Little Letters revolves around two women: prim, pious Edith Swan, and her unruly Irish neighbor Rose Gooding. When Edith receives a series of poison pen letters, she publicly accuses Rose of writing them. Before long, other town residents start receiving similar letters and Rose ends up in court, threatened with a prison sentence. But police officer Gladys Moss is suspicious — is Rose really the culprit?

Who is in the cast of Wicked Little Letters?

Olivia Coleman (The Favorite, The Lost Daughter and Wonka) plays Edith Swan, while Jessie Buckley (Wild Rose) takes on the role of Rose Gooding. Other famous faces include Timothy Spall who stars as Edith’s father, Edward Swan, and Anjana Vasan as police officer Gladys Moss.

When is Wicked Little Letters set?

The movie is set in the United Kingdom in the 1920s, just after World War One and during the Suffragette movement.

Timothy Spall as Edward Swan in Wicked Little Letters (2024). Image Credit: Sony Pictures Classics

Is Wicked Little Letters based on a true story?

Yes! As unlikely as it sounds, the movie is based on real events that happened in Littlehampton, East Sussex, UK during the 1920s. Newspaper clippings from the time reveal the rift between Edith and Rose, as well as the many court trials that followed.

While the story is almost entirely true, a few details were fabricated for the movie. The real Rose was not Irish (she was also from Lewes, East Sussex), and the detective that finally solved the mystery was a man, namely detective inspector George Nicholls.

Why was Littlehampton not used for filming?

The architecture of Littlehampton has changed a great deal visually since the 1920s. The movie producers decided to use nearby Arundel and Worthing instead.

When was Wicked Little Letters released?

Wicked Little Letters was released on Netflix on 23 February 2024, while US viewers were able to watch it on 29 March 2024.

Timothy Spall as Edward Swan in Wicked Little Letters (2024). Image Credit: Sony Pictures Classics

What are the reviews like for Wicked Little Letters?

Generally, Wicked Little Letters has had a positive reception. Rotten Tomatoes gave it 80%, while many reviews give it a solid 3/5. The New York Times particularly praises Olivia Coleman and Jessie Buckley’s performance as “consistently the best thing about any movie they’re in”.

However, some critics were less impressed. The Boston Globe describes the movie as having “forced humor” and “even more forced moral lessons”, while the Wall Street Journal calls it “trite”.

Where can I watch Wicked Little Letters? Is it on Netflix?

Wicked Little Letters is available to watch on Netflix, Apple TV, Prime Video and Sky Store (if you are in the UK) or Fandango at Home (if you live in the US).

Wicked Little Letters’ funniest quotes

Many of the most hilarious quotes from Wicked Little Letters are a little *ahem* inappropriate to list here. But a couple of stand-out lines include:

“You mangey old titless turnip”

“A piss-country old stinker with s**t hair”

“You great big f**king onion”

Get ready to hurl insults at each other while exploring these picturesque villages. Download the Trainline app for the best deals on train tickets and service updates.

Olivia Colman as Edith Swan and Jessie Buckley as Rose Gooding in Wicked Little Letters (2024). Header Image Credit: Sony Pictures Classics

Discover the Wicked Little Letters filming locations by train