The beloved 2006 Christmas film The Holiday, starring Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz, features the charming British cottage “Rosehill” that many viewers assumed was a centuries-old countryside home. However, the picturesque cottage was actually a meticulously constructed film set built in just a few weeks in Shere, Surrey. Director Nancy Meyers, seeking the perfect “chocolate box” cottage, couldn’t find an existing home that matched her vision, so she commissioned a custom build modeled after a nearby real cottage, Honeysuckle Cottage. While the exterior was filmed on this set in England, the interior scenes were shot on sound stages in Los Angeles.

Despite the artificial nature of the cottage, some authentic countryside elements remain in the film, such as scenes filmed at The White Horse pub in the village of Shere. The production team discovered the village by chance and used its real locations to add genuine charm. Meanwhile, Amanda’s sprawling California mansion is a real house, though its interiors were also filmed on a sound stage. This blend of real and constructed settings helped create the warm, festive atmosphere that has made The Holiday a perennial Christmas favorite.