This is where fantasy and reality overlap.

Can You Visit Munchkinland in Real Life?

When Wicked: For Good (2025) was announced, one question quickly dominated global search trends: can you actually visit Munchkinland in real life? What surprised many fans was not just the question itself, but the answer behind it.

The sequel to Wicked takes audiences deeper into the Land of Oz, revealing vibrant villages, winding rivers, and surreal deserts that feel almost too perfect to exist outside of fantasy. At first glance, these scenes appear heavily CGI driven. Yet much of what appears on screen was shaped by real landscapes, large scale physical sets, and carefully chosen filming locations.

From the rolling hills of Buckinghamshire in England, where Munchkinland was brought to life, to the striking white rock formations of Egypt’s White Desert, Wicked: For Good relies on real world environments far more than most modern fantasy films. This unexpected commitment to practical locations has sparked curiosity among viewers and travelers alike, especially those hoping to stand where Oz once existed beyond the screen.

In this guide, we explore where Munchkinland was filmed, whether the set still exists today, and which Wicked: For Good filming locations you can realistically visit. If you have ever wondered what was real, what was rebuilt, and what remains open to visitors, this article brings the fantasy back down to earth.

Where Was Wicked: For Good (2025) Filmed?

Wicked: For Good was filmed across a carefully selected mix of UK-based studios, English countryside landscapes, and international locations, allowing the production to create the Land of Oz with a level of realism rarely seen in modern fantasy films.

Rather than relying solely on green screens, the filmmakers prioritized practical sets and real environments, giving actors physical spaces to interact with and grounding the fantasy world in tangible geography.

Filming Locations at a Glance

The main filming locations include:

• Sky Studios Elstree, Hertfordshire (UK)
  The primary production hub, where large-scale interior sets such as Emerald City and Shiz University interiors were constructed.
• Buckinghamshire countryside, England
  Used extensively for outdoor scenes, including the physical location that inspired and hosted the Munchkinland set.
• Norfolk, England
  Home to the real tulip fields grown specifically for the film’s colorful opening sequences.
• East Sussex, England
  Featuring natural waterways and cliffs used for Shiz University river scenes.
• White Desert National Park, Egypt
  Filmed on location to represent the Deadly Desert, one of Oz’s most surreal environments.

This combination of studio control and real-world landscapes explains why Wicked: For Good feels unusually grounded for a fantasy epic. It also explains why so many viewers are now asking the same question: which of these locations still exist, and can any of them be visited today?

That question becomes especially relevant when it comes to Munchkinland, one of the film’s most visually memorable settings.

Can You Visit Munchkinland in Real Life?

The short answer is yes and no—and that distinction is exactly what most fans are trying to understand.

Where Was Munchkinland Filmed?

Munchkinland in Wicked: For Good was filmed on location in Ivinghoe, Buckinghamshire, England, an area known for its rolling chalk hills, open grasslands, and naturally storybook-like scenery. The production team selected this location because its soft slopes and expansive views matched the whimsical geography of Oz without requiring heavy digital manipulation.

Rather than filming entirely on a soundstage, the filmmakers built a full-scale physical Munchkinland set directly into the landscape, blending constructed buildings with the real contours of the countryside. This approach allowed wide shots to feel organic and immersive, something that would have been difficult to replicate convincingly with CGI alone.

Does the Munchkinland Set Still Exist?

No. The physical Munchkinland set was dismantled after filming wrapped.

Like many large outdoor film sets in the UK countryside, the structures were temporary and removed to restore the land to its original condition. This means there is no preserved village, signage, or official filming attraction remaining on-site today.

However, this does not mean the location itself has disappeared.

What Can Visitors See Today?

While the colorful houses and streets of Munchkinland are gone, the surrounding landscape remains exactly as it appears in the film. Visitors to Ivinghoe can still:

• Walk the same hills and open fields used for exterior shots
• View the natural slopes and horizons that shaped Munchkinland’s layout
• Explore public footpaths and trails within the Ivinghoe Hills and Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

For fans of Wicked, the experience is less about seeing a preserved set and more about standing within the real environment that inspired Oz. It is a subtle but rewarding visit, especially for travelers who enjoy film locations that feel authentic rather than theme-park staged.

This balance—between real geography and temporary movie magic—is a recurring theme throughout Wicked: For Good, and it becomes even clearer when looking at how other iconic scenes were filmed.

Were the 9 Million Tulips Real or CGI?

One of the most surprising revelations about Wicked: For Good is that the film’s famously vibrant flower fields were not created with CGI. Despite how unreal they appear on screen, the tulips seen in the film were entirely real.

Where Were the Tulips Filmed?

The production grew millions of real tulips at Belmont Nurseries in Norfolk, England, a working flower nursery located in the east of the country. Rather than digitally generating color and texture, the filmmakers chose to plant and cultivate the fields specifically for filming.

This decision immediately sparked global curiosity, as many viewers assumed such scale could only be achieved through visual effects.

Why Did the Production Use Real Flowers?

There were several practical reasons behind the choice to use real tulips:

• Natural movement: Wind, light, and subtle motion are difficult to replicate convincingly with CGI.
• Actor interaction: Filming among real flowers gave performers a tactile environment, improving realism on camera.
• Visual depth: Wide shots captured genuine layers of color stretching into the distance, something that often looks artificial when digitally extended.

By committing to practical scenery, Wicked: For Good aligns with a growing trend in fantasy filmmaking that prioritizes physical environments over entirely digital worlds.

Can You Visit the Tulip Fields Today?

Belmont Nurseries is a real, working agricultural site, but public access depends on the season and local restrictions. While visitors cannot freely walk through the exact filming fields year-round, Norfolk remains a popular destination during tulip and spring bloom seasons.

For fans, the appeal lies less in recreating a specific shot and more in understanding that one of Oz’s most magical-looking landscapes existed in the real world, even if only temporarily in that exact form.

The same commitment to real environments becomes even more dramatic when the film shifts from colorful fields to one of Oz’s harshest regions—the Deadly Desert.

Where Is the Deadly Desert in Wicked: For Good?

In sharp contrast to the colorful landscapes of Oz, Wicked: For Good introduces the Deadly Desert as a stark and almost alien environment. Many viewers assumed these scenes were digitally created, but the desert sequences were filmed in a real and extreme natural location.

White Desert National Park, Egypt

The Deadly Desert scenes were filmed at White Desert National Park in Egypt, a protected area known for its white limestone rock formations shaped by wind and sand over thousands of years. The pale terrain and sculptural formations required very little digital enhancement, making the location a natural fit for one of Oz’s most dangerous regions.

Filming on location allowed the camera to capture natural light, depth, and scale that would have been difficult to reproduce convincingly on a soundstage.

Why the Production Chose a Real Desert

Choosing the White Desert offered several advantages for the production.

The environment provided authentic textures and shadows created by natural rock formations. The vast open horizons helped communicate isolation and danger. Most importantly, the real desert allowed performances to feel physically grounded rather than artificially staged.

For scenes closely tied to Elphaba’s journey, the filmmakers wanted the landscape itself to feel hostile and emotionally charged, something best achieved in a real environment.

Can Visitors Go There Today?

Yes. White Desert National Park is open to visitors, although access is usually arranged through guided desert tours departing from Cairo or nearby oasis towns. Conservation rules are strictly enforced, and overnight trips typically require permits and licensed guides.

For fans of Wicked: For Good, this is one of the few filming locations where the landscape appears largely unchanged from what is seen on screen.

From the emptiness of the desert, the film transitions back to architectural spectacle, leading many viewers to ask whether Emerald City was built in the real world or created digitally.

Was the Emerald City Real or CGI?

Emerald City is one of the most visually striking locations in Wicked: For Good, leading many viewers to wonder how much of it actually existed beyond the screen. The answer lies in a deliberate blend of real, large scale sets and digital enhancement.

Inside Sky Studios Elstree

Much of Emerald City was built and filmed at Sky Studios Elstree in Hertfordshire, England, the primary production hub for both parts of Wicked. Instead of relying entirely on green screens, the production team constructed expansive physical sets that allowed actors to move through real architectural spaces.

These sets included streets, platforms, and interior chambers designed to give Emerald City a sense of height and grandeur. Digital effects were later used to extend skylines and add distant structures, but the core environment seen by the actors was tangible and fully built.

What Was Physically Built for the Film?

Several elements of Emerald City were constructed as practical sets.

Large walkable streets were built to full scale. A massive mechanical train weighing several tons was created for key scenes. Even the Wizard’s Head was built as a towering physical structure before visual effects enhanced its presence.

This approach helped performances feel grounded and ensured that Emerald City did not feel flat or artificial on camera.

Can Visitors See Emerald City Today?

Sky Studios Elstree is a closed working studio, so the Emerald City sets are not open to the public. Like most studio builds, these sets were either dismantled or repurposed after filming.

However, knowing that Emerald City was largely real changes how many viewers perceive the film. What appears to be pure fantasy on screen was, in reality, the result of extensive physical construction combined with restrained digital work.

With Emerald City explained, attention often shifts to another iconic location tied closely to the characters’ early journey in Oz: Shiz University.

Where Was Shiz University Filmed?

Shiz University plays a crucial role in Wicked: For Good, serving as the setting where key relationships form and the story’s emotional foundation is established. Visually, the campus appears both elegant and slightly surreal, leading many viewers to assume it was entirely studio made. In reality, the location is rooted in a real English landscape.

Seven Sisters Country Park and the Cuckmere River

Exterior scenes for Shiz University were filmed around Seven Sisters Country Park and the Cuckmere River in East Sussex, England. This area is known for its sweeping chalk cliffs, winding river bends, and open grasslands, all of which helped create the distinctive atmosphere seen in the film.

The natural curves of the river and the expansive surroundings were used to suggest a secluded academic setting, while additional buildings and architectural elements were added through set construction and visual effects.

How Much of Shiz University Was Real?

The outdoor environment was entirely real. Actors filmed along the riverbanks and open fields, interacting directly with the landscape. Interior scenes and detailed architectural elements were later filmed on studio sets at Sky Studios Elstree, where the production could fully control lighting and design.

This combination allowed Shiz University to feel like a coherent, believable place rather than a disconnected mix of locations.

Can You Visit Shiz University Locations?

Yes. Seven Sisters Country Park is open to the public and remains one of the most accessible filming locations from Wicked: For Good. Visitors can walk along the same river paths and viewpoints used in the film, making it a popular spot for fans interested in film inspired travel.

While the university buildings themselves were fictional, the surrounding scenery remains unchanged and instantly recognizable.

With Shiz University grounded in the real world, it becomes clear that Wicked: For Good relies heavily on physical locations. This raises a broader question about why the production chose to film primarily in the UK.

Why Was Wicked: For Good Filmed Mostly in the UK?

Although Wicked is an American musical at its core, Wicked: For Good was filmed primarily in the United Kingdom. This decision was driven by a combination of creative, logistical, and practical reasons rather than coincidence.

World Class Studio Infrastructure

The UK is home to some of the most advanced film studios in Europe, including Sky Studios Elstree, which served as the main production base for the film. These facilities offer large sound stages capable of supporting massive practical builds like Emerald City, along with state of the art post production pipelines.

Having most departments working in one centralized location allowed the production to maintain visual consistency across both parts of the story.

Landscapes That Match the World of Oz

England’s countryside provided a wide range of natural environments within short travel distances. Rolling hills, chalk cliffs, rivers, and open fields could all be accessed without leaving the country.

Locations such as Buckinghamshire and East Sussex offered landscapes that felt timeless and storybook like, making them ideal for representing the Land of Oz without extensive digital alteration.

Creative Control and Long Term Production Needs

Because Wicked and Wicked: For Good were filmed as part of a single extended production, the UK offered a stable base for long term planning. Weather patterns, permitting processes, and experienced local crews made it easier to schedule outdoor shoots and manage large scale set construction.

By filming primarily in the UK, the filmmakers were able to balance fantasy and realism, creating a version of Oz that feels both magical and physically believable.

With that foundation established, the next natural question for fans is how to turn this information into a real travel experience.

How to Visit Wicked: For Good Filming Locations Today

While many of the sets from Wicked: For Good were temporary, a surprising number of filming locations are real places that can still be visited today. With a bit of planning, fans can experience the landscapes that helped bring the Land of Oz to life.

Visiting Munchkinland in Buckinghamshire

Munchkinland was filmed in Ivinghoe, Buckinghamshire, within the Chiltern Hills. Although the physical village set no longer exists, the surrounding hills and open fields remain unchanged.

Visitors can explore public walking trails around Ivinghoe Hills and enjoy panoramic views similar to those seen in the film. The area is easily accessible from London by train and local transport, making it one of the most convenient Wicked filming locations to visit.

Many visitors describe Ivinghoe Hills as unexpectedly quiet, especially compared to how vibrant it appears on screen.

Seeing the Tulip Fields in Norfolk

The tulip scenes were filmed at Belmont Nurseries in Norfolk, a working flower nursery. Public access varies depending on the season, and visitors are encouraged to respect private property and agricultural operations.

Spring is the best time to visit the region, when nearby flower fields are in bloom and the landscape most closely resembles the film’s colorful sequences.

Exploring Shiz University Locations in East Sussex

Seven Sisters Country Park and the Cuckmere River are fully open to the public and offer well marked walking paths. Visitors can follow the river bends and coastal trails used in the film’s exterior scenes.

This area works well as a day trip and is popular with hikers, photographers, and film location enthusiasts.

Visiting the White Desert in Egypt

For those seeking a more adventurous experience, White Desert National Park in Egypt remains one of the most visually accurate filming locations from the film. Visits are typically arranged through guided tours departing from Cairo.

Because of conservation rules and the remote nature of the area, travelers should book licensed guides and follow local regulations closely.

Whether visiting a quiet English hillside or a remote desert landscape, these locations offer fans a deeper connection to Wicked: For Good beyond the screen.

Conclusion

Wicked: For Good proves that the Land of Oz was not created solely through digital effects. Many of the film’s most memorable locations were rooted in real landscapes, from the rolling hills of Buckinghamshire to the stark formations of Egypt’s White Desert.

While Munchkinland itself no longer exists as a physical set, the environment that shaped it is still there. Visitors can walk the same hills, follow the same paths, and experience the real scenery that brought one of Oz’s most iconic places to life. Other locations, such as Seven Sisters Country Park and the Norfolk countryside, remain fully accessible and recognizable.

For fans of the film, visiting these places is less about seeing preserved movie sets and more about stepping into the real world that inspired the fantasy. Wicked: For Good invites viewers to see Oz not as a distant imaginary land, but as a story shaped by real locations that can still be explored today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wicked: For Good Filming Locations

Can you visit Munchkinland from Wicked: For Good in real life?

You cannot visit the original Munchkinland set because it was a temporary structure that was dismantled after filming. However, the real landscape used for Munchkinland in Ivinghoe, Buckinghamshire is still open to the public and can be explored through walking trails and viewpoints.

Where exactly was Munchkinland filmed?

Munchkinland was filmed in Ivinghoe Hills, Buckinghamshire, England, within the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The production built a physical village set directly into the natural landscape to blend real scenery with constructed elements.

Were the tulip fields in Wicked: For Good real?

Yes. The tulip fields seen in the film were real and were grown specifically for production at Belmont Nurseries in Norfolk, England. The flowers were not created using CGI, although some digital enhancement was used to extend background shots.

Can visitors see the tulip fields today?

Belmont Nurseries is a working agricultural site, and access depends on the season and local guidelines. While visitors may not be able to enter the exact filming fields, the surrounding Norfolk countryside can still be visited, especially during spring bloom periods.

Where was the Deadly Desert filmed?

The Deadly Desert scenes were filmed at White Desert National Park in Egypt. The area’s white limestone formations provided a natural, otherworldly environment that required minimal visual effects.

Is the White Desert open to tourists?

Yes. White Desert National Park is open to visitors, but trips are typically arranged through guided tours. Permits, licensed guides, and adherence to conservation rules are required, especially for overnight visits.

Was Emerald City built as a real set?

Yes, partially. Emerald City was filmed primarily at Sky Studios Elstree using large scale practical sets. Digital effects were later added to extend skylines and enhance architectural details, but actors performed within real constructed environments.

Can you visit Emerald City filming locations?

No. Sky Studios Elstree is a working studio and is not open to the public. The Emerald City sets were dismantled or repurposed after filming.

Where was Shiz University filmed?

Exterior scenes for Shiz University were filmed at Seven Sisters Country Park and along the Cuckmere River in East Sussex, England. Interior scenes were filmed on studio sets.

Are Shiz University filming locations open to visitors?

Yes. Seven Sisters Country Park is fully open to the public and remains one of the easiest Wicked: For Good filming locations to visit today.