What real-life location is used as the Waterford house in the TV series?

Parkwood Estate is the real-life location used as the Waterford house in the TV series The Handmaid’s Tale.

The estate stands in Oshawa, Ontario, and was built for Canadian industrialist Colonel Sam McLaughlin, founder of General Motors of Canada. Construction of the main house began in 1916, and the property became known for its grand Beaux-Arts architecture, landscaped gardens, conservatories, and elaborate interiors.

Parkwood’s formal rooms and grounds give the Waterford residence its imposing, aristocratic appearance—an ideal visual match for Gilead’s ruling class. The series also uses other Toronto-area locations, so not every house, street, or public building seen in Gilead is part of Parkwood Estate.

A common mix-up is confusing Parkwood with Biltmore Estate, Howard Castle, or Casa Loma. Casa Loma is another famous filming location in the Toronto region, but it is not the Waterford house. Parkwood Estate is now a National Historic Site of Canada and remains open for tours and heritage programming.