14 TV Sets That Still Exist and Can Be Visited Today
Television shows transport us to fictional worlds that feel real during their runtime. What many viewers don’t realize is that numerous iconic TV filming locations continue to exist long after production wraps.
These landmarks have become pilgrimage sites for dedicated fans seeking to walk in the footsteps of their favorite characters. Here is a list of 14 famous TV sets that have survived the test of time and welcome visitors today.
Albuquerque’s Breaking Bad Locations
Thanks to the success of Breaking Bad, Albuquerque transformed into a tourist destination. Walter White’s house still stands as a private residence, though the current owners have erected a fence to deter the thousands of annual visitors who attempt to throw pizzas on the roof.
Fans can also visit Los Pollos Hermanos (actually a restaurant called Twisters) and take guided tours of key filming locations throughout the city.
Monk’s Café from Seinfeld
The exterior shots of the famous diner where Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer spent countless hours are actually Tom’s Restaurant in Manhattan’s Morningside Heights neighborhood. While the interior looks nothing like the show’s set, the iconic facade with its recognizable neon signage remains virtually unchanged since the 1990s.
The restaurant embraces its television fame with photos of the cast adorning its walls.
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Highclere Castle from Downton Abbey
This magnificent Victorian estate in Hampshire, England, served as the primary filming location for the Crawley family home. The 5,000-acre property is open to the public during summer months and on select dates throughout the year.
Visitors can tour many of the rooms featured in the series, including the library, drawing room, and main hall, all maintained in period-appropriate splendor.
The Friends Apartment Building
The facade of the Manhattan apartment building seen in establishing shots is still standing at 90 Bedford Street in Greenwich Village, even though the interior scenes were shot on soundstages in Los Angeles. Fans of the comedy congregate at the building to take pictures of its recognizable exterior, making it a haven for them.
A restaurant called Little Owl used to be located on the ground level, taking advantage of the building’s well-known prominence.
Cheers Bar in Boston
The exterior views of the bar “where everybody knows your name” showed the Bull & Finch Pub in Boston’s Beacon Hill area. The business then formally changed its name to Cheers and rebuilt parts of the show’s set to fit waiting visitors.
Although the décor is not like the TV version, it keeps the welcoming neighborhood bar vibe that so many people liked.
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Twin Peaks’ Double R Diner
Fans of David Lynch’s surreal mystery series can visit the actual diner that served as the exterior of the Double R Diner. Located in North Bend, Washington, Twede’s Cafe (formerly the Mar-T Cafe) continues to serve the famous cherry pie and ‘damn fine coffee’ mentioned throughout the series.
The establishment underwent renovation to restore its Twin Peaks appearance for the 2017 revival series.
The Brady Bunch House
This distinctive split-level home in Studio City, California, provided the exterior shots for the beloved family sitcom. In 2018, HGTV purchased the property for $3.5 million and renovated the interior to match the show’s sets for a special renovation series.
The network occasionally offers limited viewing opportunities for fans who want to see this meticulously recreated piece of television history.
Pawnee City Hall from Parks and Recreation
The Pasadena City Hall in California stood in for the government building where Leslie Knope and her colleagues worked to improve their fictional Indiana town. The impressive Mediterranean Revival structure, with its distinctive dome and columned entrance, remains open to the public for self-guided tours when not being used for other film productions.
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The Walking Dead’s Alexandria
The walled community of Alexandria from the zombie apocalypse drama is actually a real neighborhood called Gin Property in Senoia, Georgia. After filming concluded, developers transformed the set into a genuine residential community where people can purchase homes.
The surrounding area features numerous other locations from the series, making it a popular destination for themed tours.
The Office Building in Scranton
While the interior of Dunder Mifflin was filmed on a Hollywood soundstage, the building shown in the opening credits actually exists in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The Penn Paper building has become a tourist attraction for fans of the workplace comedy, with the city embracing its connection to the show through various tributes including an Office-themed mural in the downtown area.
Game of Thrones’ Castle Black
Many of the fantasy drama’s Northern scenes were filmed at Castle Ward in Northern Ireland. This 18th-century mansion and its grounds were transformed into Winterfell for the series.
Today, visitors can tour the estate, try their hand at archery in the exact spot where characters practiced, and even dress in costume to fully immerse themselves in the experience.
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The Corner Bar from How I Met Your Mother
MacLaren’s Pub, where the gang spent much of their time, was inspired by a real establishment called McGee’s in Midtown Manhattan. The Irish pub embraces its television connection by offering How I Met Your Mother-themed cocktails and decor reminiscent of the show.
Fans can sit in booths similar to those featured on screen while enjoying drinks named after characters.
Portlandia’s Feminist Bookstore
In Case You Forgot, the eccentric bookstore featured in the sketch comedy series, was filmed at In Other Words, an actual feminist bookstore in Portland. While the store eventually closed in 2018, the building remains and has become a landmark for fans of the show who want to see where characters Toni and Candace hilariously enforced their unique store policies.
The Queen’s Gambit Chess Shop
The Lexington, Kentucky shop where Beth Harmon learned to play chess was filmed in Berlin, Germany. The production transformed a building in the Friedrichshain neighborhood into a vintage pharmacy and chess store.
Following the show’s success, the location has become a destination for chess enthusiasts and fans seeking photos of this pivotal setting from the miniseries.
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From Screen to Reality
Television locations hold special significance for viewers who form emotional connections with these spaces through their favorite characters and stories. These preserved sets offer fans tangible links to fictional worlds that have shaped popular culture.
Whether standing on the exact spot where an iconic scene was filmed or simply admiring a familiar facade, visiting these locations provides a unique way to experience television history beyond the screen.
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