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| Where Was Vladimir Filmed? Inside the Real Locations Behind Netflix’s 2026 Psychological Drama. (Credits: Netflix) |
Netflix’s limited series Vladimir landed globally on 5 March 2026, and viewers quickly noticed that the story’s academic setting felt strikingly real. The psychological drama starring Rachel Weisz and Leo Woodall unfolds in what appears to be a quiet American university town. In reality, much of the show was filmed in Canada, with locations across Ontario doubling for upstate New York.
Based on Julia May Jonas’s 2022 novel, the eight-episode series follows a university professor whose life spirals when her husband becomes the centre of an academic scandal. As the fallout spreads across campus, she develops an intense fascination with a charismatic young novelist, played by Leo Woodall. Alongside Rachel Weisz, the series also features John Slattery, Jessica Henwick, and Ellen Robertson.
While Netflix never released a full list of filming sites during production — partly to avoid crowds disrupting the shoot — local reports and on-screen comparisons have revealed several real locations used throughout the series.
Confirmed filming locations used to bring Vladimir to life
University of Toronto Scarborough — Toronto, Ontario
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| Netflix |
The fictional university at the centre of Vladimir is largely portrayed by the University of Toronto Scarborough campus, commonly known as UTSC.
Located in eastern Toronto, the campus is recognised for its stark brutalist architecture, wide pedestrian walkways, and open courtyards. These visual elements appear repeatedly in the series, particularly in exterior shots showing academic buildings, campus greens, and faculty entrances.
The Andrews Building and surrounding walkways are frequently visible in wide campus shots. The architecture gives the show a distinctly intellectual atmosphere that fits the story’s university politics and literary rivalries.
UTSC has long been a filming hotspot because its modernist concrete structures can easily double for American universities. In Vladimir, the campus convincingly stands in for an elite liberal-arts college in upstate New York.
Location: 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario.
Former Brantford City Hall — Brantford, Ontario
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| Netflix |
Several institutional interiors in the series were filmed inside the former Brantford City Hall.
The mid-century building, known for its concrete design and large administrative corridors, provides a perfect backdrop for university offices and academic meeting rooms. In the show, the location appears dressed as various administrative spaces within the fictional college.
Filmmakers often favour the building because its spacious interiors allow production teams to easily transform rooms into classrooms, faculty offices, or government-style conference spaces.
The building’s distinctive architectural style gives these scenes a slightly austere atmosphere, reinforcing the power struggles and professional tension within the story.
Location: 100 Wellington Square, Brantford, Ontario.
Kit’s Little Kitchen (Transformed into “Charlotte Haze”) — Glen Williams, Georgetown, Ontario
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| Netflix |
One of the series’ most recognisable street-level scenes was filmed at Kit’s Little Kitchen, a small café in the picturesque village of Glen Williams.
For filming, the production temporarily rebranded the storefront as “Charlotte Haze”, a fictional establishment appearing in the show. The café’s original structure — including its window layout and classic small-town architecture — remains visible in the final footage.
Residents in the Georgetown area noticed filming activity around the café during August 2025. Social media posts from locals at the time captured production vehicles and temporary set signage, though the series title had not yet been publicly revealed.
The surrounding village streets also appear briefly in establishing shots, adding a quiet small-town atmosphere to the series.
Location: 520 Main Street, Glen Williams (Georgetown), Ontario.
Halton Hills — Ontario
Another filming area connected to the production is Halton Hills, a region west of Toronto known for its historic villages and natural scenery.
Early filming reports placed production vehicles and crews in the area during July 2025. While specific buildings were not publicly confirmed, several exterior shots resembling rural roads and small town settings match the region’s landscape.
Halton Hills is frequently used by film crews because it offers countryside settings close to Toronto’s major production infrastructure.
Its wooded areas and quiet streets helped create the calm yet slightly isolated tone seen in parts of the series.
Downtown Toronto — Ontario
Although the narrative is set in upstate New York, some scenes were filmed in central Toronto.
Downtown streets and nearby neighbourhoods likely served as generic urban backdrops for transitional sequences and establishing shots. Toronto’s flexible architecture allows productions to replicate a wide range of North American city environments.
Because the production kept many locations undisclosed during filming, some background sites in the final series are believed to come from neighbourhoods around the Greater Toronto Area.
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| Netflix |
University of Toronto St. George Campus
Another location closely associated with the series’ academic setting is the University of Toronto’s main St. George campus.
While not officially confirmed as a primary filming site, the historic campus lies only a short distance from UTSC and is often used by productions needing additional university exteriors.
Its gothic architecture and historic courtyards provide a visual contrast to the modernist structures seen in Scarborough. Productions frequently combine both campuses to create a more expansive fictional university setting.
Given the scale of the story’s campus world, some observers believe secondary shots may have been captured in the area during the same production window.
When Was Vladimir Filmed?
Principal photography for Vladimir took place across Ontario between July and September 2025.
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| Netflix |
Production began in Toronto before moving to surrounding regions including Halton Hills and Glen Williams. Local filming activity was spotted throughout the summer, though the project’s title remained under wraps during most of the shoot.
Post-production continued into early 2026 before the series premiered worldwide on Netflix on 5 March.
The adaptation is led by showrunner Kate Robin, known for her work on character-driven television dramas.
Episodes are directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini, Francesca Gregorini, and Josephine Bornebusch. The series is produced by Merman Television, Small Dog Picture Company, and 20th Television.
Author Julia May Jonas also contributed to the adaptation and serves as an executive producer. Rachel Weisz joins the production team as an executive producer as well as the series’ central performer.
Some viewers were surprised to learn that the supposedly American university was actually filmed in Canada. Others praised the production design, saying the Ontario locations successfully captured the atmosphere of a prestigious US campus.
Fans familiar with Toronto quickly recognised the University of Toronto Scarborough campus and pointed out its brutalist buildings across discussion forums.
Meanwhile, local residents in Georgetown shared posts recalling the brief filming takeover of the village café that appeared as “Charlotte Haze”. For many viewers, spotting these real locations has become part of the fun after finishing the series.
Could These Locations Become Tourist Spots?
For fans of the show, these filming locations offer a chance to retrace the world of Vladimir in real life.
The University of Toronto campuses are open to visitors, while Glen Williams remains a popular destination for travellers exploring small Ontario villages. Halton Hills also attracts visitors thanks to its scenic trails and historic streets.
Some sites used for filming remain public spaces, meaning curious viewers can potentially visit them when travelling through Ontario.
Tonboriday will continue tracking any newly confirmed locations used in the series as more behind-the-scenes details emerge.
So the question now is simple: if you enjoyed Vladimir, would you actually travel to Ontario to see these places in person?