Prices inflated?

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I've just recently started watching this T.V. show on BBC America (I just got digital cable through Cox, so I didn't have this channel before). First, I must say, it isn't the highest budget show, but I love it nevertheless! I find it interesting, and particularly intriguing that the appraisers/hosts of the show can be so accurate and knowledgable about the items in their houses. Some of the items that are put on auction and sold for enormous amounts of money, I would have never even taken a second look at. The show has motivated/inspired me to look around my own house and friends' houses for "hidden treasures" or "cash in my attic", and also to start garage-saling/antique-hunting again. I do, however, have a question in regards to the show. Is the auction house where these auctions are held, an up-scale/high-priced auction house, and that's why they're able to get the amount that they are, or is it a normal British auction house and I would likely be able to fetch the same prices locally? Does anyone know? I would greatly appreciate it!