Fancy stepping inside Emma Harte’s world? Channel 4’s A Woman of Substance has been an absolute smash, with fans raving about how great the series is—but did you know you can visit the real Fairley Hall? The beloved novel by Barbara Taylor Bradford was first adapted back in 1984 and remains Channel 4’s most-watched drama of all time the original miniseries drawing up to 13.8 million viewers. Now, they’ve done it again with this eight-part reboot. The first episode of the 2026 eight-part remake attracted an overnight audience of 1.42 million.
The rags-to-riches drama sees Emma Harte rise from her early struggles as a penniless maid in the early 1900s, defying all social expectations to build a global empire. The story follows her journey to becoming a powerful businesswoman in the 1970s, where she faces new battles. Young Emma Harte is played by Jessica Reynolds, while the older Emma is portrayed by Brenda Blethyn.
Yorkshire features heavily among the filming locations for A Woman of Substance, including the stunning Fairley Hall—known in real life as Broughton Hall, a Grade I-listed Georgian mansion, which beautifully doubles as the Fairley estate.
The Grade I-listed mansion, which dates back to 1597, sits within 3,000 acres of Yorkshire Dales landscape and was also used in the original 1984 adaptation of A Woman of Substance. Surrounded by the rewilded Broughton Estate, the historic house has been home to the Tempest family since 1097. This private estate on the edge of the Dales includes woodland, rivers, ponds, wide-open countryside, and farmsteads, with interiors that transport you to another era.
If you want to feel like Emma Harte, you can even stay at the hall—now known as Broughton Sanctuary—which offers 17 bedrooms available for exclusive group bookings. It is also home to the renewably heated Avalon Wellbeing Centre, featuring a woodland sauna, wild swimming pools, and ice-bathing rituals. Stays must be booked in advance, with exclusive hire popular for group getaways.
Visitors can choose from a wide range of experiences, from guided residential retreats to fully personalised, self-guided stays. Whether you’re looking for a structured programme or a slower, more flexible escape, the Sanctuary allows guests to shape their own journey.
If you’d prefer to stay on the estate rather than in the main house, there are smaller properties available to book, from the Gate House to converted barns and a former goat farmhouse.
Whether you’re a fan of the series or simply craving a countryside escape, it’s your chance to step into Emma Harte’s world. Find out more via the website here.
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Feature Image Credit: Channel 4
