Confirmed · London · Private house
Former St Joseph's College, Mill Hill
The original Nonnatus House (series 1 and 2) in Call the Midwife. This place is private and can only be seen from lawful public space.
- On screen as
- The original Nonnatus House (series 1 and 2)
- Series and episodes
- Series 1 · Series 2
- Access
- Private
- Time needed
- A brief look from the street
- Where
- Mill Hill, London
On screen
How Former St Joseph's College, Mill Hill appears
For the first two series, Nonnatus House was filmed at the former St Joseph's Missionary College in Mill Hill, north London. The BBC's original press pack and Radio Times both record that its exterior and interiors played the convent, so the convent rooms of the early episodes were real rooms in the building rather than a studio set. The story sets Nonnatus House in Poplar, several miles to the east. After the building was sold for conversion, the production rebuilt Nonnatus House as a set at Longcross Studios in Surrey, where it has been filmed ever since. Fans who watched from the start will recognise its tall Victorian frontage.
The real place
What you can see
The college, built in the 1870s for the Mill Hill Missionaries, has since been converted into private residences. There is no tour, ticket or access, and the people who live there have no connection with the series. If you are in the area, you can see the outside from the public road, but do not enter the grounds, stop at the gates, or photograph residents or their homes. This guide gives no exact address or map pin for that reason.
This is now people's homes: look from the public road only and do not photograph residents, windows or gates.
BBC: original Call the Midwife press pack ↗Mill Hill is in the London Borough of Barnet, served by Mill Hill Broadway station on the Thameslink line and Mill Hill East on the Northern line, plus local buses. If you pass by, stay on the public pavement and keep your visit brief.
Common questions
Planning a responsible visit
Can you visit the original Nonnatus House?
No. The former college in Mill Hill is now private homes. You can see it from the public road, but there is no access or tour.
Where is Nonnatus House filmed now?
After the first two series, Nonnatus House became a built set at Longcross Studios in Surrey, a working studio that does not offer tours.
Is there anywhere to see Nonnatus House sets?
The official tour at the Historic Dockyard Chatham ends in a gallery with original props, costumes and preserved sets from the series.
Private means private
See it only from public space.
Nothing here is open to fans; for a Call the Midwife day out, head to the Historic Dockyard Chatham instead.
Material corrections and access updates