A residential development on the border of London and Surrey has become an unlikely Hollywood destination, with its picture-perfect streets and New England-style architecture convincing film scouts that they had found the ideal setting for an American village.
The Hamptons, located in Worcester Park, was chosen as a filming location for Practical Magic 2, the supernatural comedy sequel starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. Production crews arrived in 2025, transforming parts of the estate into an American shopping street for the film.
Completed in 2011, the development occupies around 30 acres of landscaped greenery and wetlands. Its carefully designed streets feature clapboard-style houses, white picket fences, manicured lawns and a white building with a clock tower that resembles a traditional American church.
The estate takes its name from the affluent Hamptons area of Long Island, New York, but its architecture draws more heavily on the traditional villages of New England.
Hollywood Transforms Sherbrooke Way Into an American High Street
The development’s appearance proved particularly attractive to Warner Bros location scouts, who were searching for an authentic-looking American setting for the film.
During production last summer, the main road, Sherbrooke Way, was transformed into a New England-style shopping parade. A lobster shack, country store and food market were introduced, while vintage cars helped complete the illusion.
Bullock and veteran actress Dianne Wiest were among the stars who filmed scenes at the estate, spending around a week working among its weatherboard-style properties.
Residents were allowed to continue coming and going during filming because the development is not private land. The Hamptons Estate Company, which oversees the upkeep of the neighbourhood, helped coordinate arrangements to minimise disruption.
Some residents even managed to meet the actors during breaks in production, turning an ordinary neighbourhood into an unexpected Hollywood attraction.
Residents Say the Estate Offers More Than Picture-Perfect Houses
Despite its carefully planned American appearance, residents say the biggest attraction is the sense of community rather than the architecture.
Nicola Thompson, who has lived at The Hamptons for 19 years, bought a property off-plan with her husband, Richard, after the couple returned to the UK from Jamaica. They later moved into a larger home after having two children.
Thompson said the development offered the combination of modern housing, convenient transport links and facilities her family wanted.
She explained that the community was central to her decision to stay, describing a neighbourhood where residents know one another and are willing to offer practical help.
According to Thompson, neighbours will put bins out for one another when someone is away, while families regularly support each other when children are young or someone becomes ill.
She said the estate had provided a ready-made social network during her children’s early years, with families spending long summer days together on the green as their children grew up.
For Thompson, living at The Hamptons means buying into a way of life rather than simply purchasing a property.
Green Spaces, Sports Facilities and Family-Friendly Amenities
The estate combines its distinctive architecture with a range of amenities designed to appeal to families and professionals.
Its 30 acres include landscaped green spaces and a wetlands nature reserve, while residents also have access to tennis courts, an on-site gym and a running track measuring approximately one kilometre.
Maple Hall, the white, steepled building at the centre of the development, serves as a multi-room community venue that can be hired for events rather than functioning as a church.
The neighbourhood includes more than 600 flats and houses, with a mix of privately owned properties and Housing Association homes. Despite its American-inspired design, the population reflects the diversity of London, and American accents are reportedly uncommon.
The estate also embraces seasonal celebrations. Residents decorate their homes for Halloween, organise trick-or-treating for children and gather around a large Christmas tree installed each year. Fireworks displays are another feature of the community calendar.
Property Prices Reach £800,000 for Larger Homes
The Hamptons’ distinctive appearance and range of amenities come with substantial property prices.
Local property experts put the price of three- and four-bedroom houses at approximately £700,000 to £800,000, while two-bedroom flats sell for just under £400,000.
The development’s location, with access to London and nearby airports, has also contributed to its appeal among people seeking a suburban lifestyle without losing convenient links to the capital.
Thompson said the opportunity to buy a new-build home suited her family, particularly because they wanted to avoid taking on renovation work.
She added that the combination of transport connections, sports facilities and neighbourhood relationships had made it difficult to imagine living elsewhere.
Property Experts Praise the Neighbourhood’s Friendly Atmosphere
Nicola Cartwright, 52, and Ros Nunney, 43, know the area both professionally and personally through their property business, Cerca Trova Property Consultants.
The pair lived in a two-bedroom flat at The Hamptons for more than two and a half years before purchasing a house outside the development.
They said the estate stood out for its sociable atmosphere, particularly in a county where some affluent communities can appear reserved.
Cartwright described residents as approachable and said people regularly greeted one another and looked out for their neighbours.
She also praised the surrounding parkland and wetlands, along with the estate’s organised activities and community communications.
For Cartwright and Nunney, the development’s appeal lies in the combination of attractive surroundings and a welcoming atmosphere, rather than its American-inspired appearance alone.
Critics Compare the Estate to Desperate Housewives and The Truman Show
Not everyone is convinced by The Hamptons’ carefully curated appearance.
Some critics have compared the estate to Desperate Housewives, the American television drama centred on a seemingly perfect suburban street concealing complicated lives and secrets.
Others have drawn parallels with The Truman Show, the 1998 film starring Jim Carrey about a man whose apparently ordinary life takes place inside an artificial world.
Cartwright said she initially found the houses so immaculate that she and Nunney wanted to touch them to make sure they were real.
Thompson acknowledged that the development’s close adherence to its New England blueprint had attracted criticism, with some people describing the lifestyle as resembling a cult.
However, she rejected that interpretation, saying residents had different preferences and that she personally enjoyed living there.
The comparisons underline the unusual reaction the estate can provoke: what some see as an artificial imitation of American suburbia, others regard as an attractive and well-organised place to raise a family.
Practical Magic 2 Brings Unexpected Hollywood Glamour
When the Practical Magic 2 production arrived in 2025, Cartwright and Nunney went to see what was happening and found themselves close to the film’s stars.
They recalled that the crew initially described the production as an advertisement before revealing the film’s identity.
Residents were permitted to move through the area between takes, and the pair said the cast and crew were friendly throughout the experience.
The filming offered a striking illustration of how effectively the development recreates an American setting, despite being situated in suburban England.
The Hamptons may have been designed to look like a village thousands of miles away, but its residents say the real attraction is much closer to home: a neighbourhood where families know one another, children grow up together and community life remains a central part of everyday living.
