Lights, camera, adventure? Britain's most popular filming destinations are ‘the star of the show’

Ever wanted to step into your screen to explore the setting of your favourite film and TV characters? 

Well, then you’ll love to know more about ‘Starring Great Britain, a campaign launching in January 2025 by Visit Britain.

 Beyond the popular filming location of London, you’ll soon discover a myriad of destinations that have been used as filming locations in your favourite films and streaming platform shows.

TV shows and blockbuster hits are increasingly being filmed in locations nationwide, such as fabulous cities like Bath, Oxford, and Manchester, and the gorgeous countryside found in Wales - and they’re crying out to be visited. 

What’s more, many of these iconic film sets and experiences are accessible to the public!

"Nine out of 10 visitors coming to the UK are interested in doing and seeing a film and TV experience," says Patricia Yates, CEO of Visit Britain.

Discover the top filming locations in Britain

Various regions of Great Britain are promoting their cinematic identity. "Starring Great Britain is where the destination is the star of the show," adds Yates. 

‘Bridgerton’ fans will love to explore Bath where you can enjoy the Georgian architecture backdrops such as The Royal Crescent, take guided tours of some of the filming locations, and enjoy themed experiences like a regency afternoon tea.

If you loved last year’s ‘Wonka’ film starring Timothée Chalamet, Hugh Grant and Olivia Colman, then you can head to Oxford's prestigious colleges and historic landmarks where much of the filming took place.  Top tip though: you'll have to head further north to Cadbury World in Birmingham for a proper chocolate factory experience. 

For the ‘Harry Potter’ fans, there are plenty of experiences to be found outside of London, including Northumberland's spell-binding Alnwick Castle, which featured as Hogwarts. You can even recreate Harry’s first flying lesson as the historic landmark offers broomstick training!

Manchester is a hotspot if you’re a Marvel film buff, as it was the surprising secret stand-in for New York in the ‘Captain America’ movies.

And, if you’re a ‘Peaky Blinders’ fan, then you can head to the open-air Black Country Living Museum, close to Birmingham and wander the many industrial historic locations from the TV series. 

If you visit the dramatic, rugged beaches of North Wales and know a thing or two about fantasy, then you won’t be surprised to learn that these were the backdrops for ‘House of the Dragon’, the prequel to ‘Game of Thrones’.

In fact, Britain’s beaches are often featured on the big screen. East Anglia, one of the destinations on Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2025 list, has a particularly photogenic stretch of sandy coastline: you might recognise Holkham Beach from the 1998 film,  ‘Shakespeare in Love’. 

Yates attributes the popularity of Britain’s increasing film to the rise of streaming platforms available to millions. "Their growth has made it more universal," she says.

The film industry as an inbound tourism driver

Through the power of film, Visit Britain aims to attract a diverse range of visitors and film producers throughout the mainland and its island to ensure the benefits are more evenly across local communities.

Yates says visitors are seeking out more authentic experiences, in keeping with the global travel trend of regenerative tourism. "It’s beneficial to communities and enriches the high streets,” she says. “Cafés, restaurants, and pubs are able to stay open because they attract tourism visitors.”

Yates adds that despite the vast spread of attractions, Britain is a small country with a comprehensive infrastructure, especially the trains, which can get you from one location to another in just a few hours. "From city to countryside to coastline, it's really easy to do it all in Britain."

Just shy of 39 million people visited Britain in 2024.  “We expect to see that growing," Yates explains, adding that tourism growth post-COVID has mostly been driven by the American market, as well as significant markets in Asia also returning.

Expect Britain to be on your screens beyond 2025

One of the main appeals in using Britain as a filming location is the timelessness that its varied destinations all bring, thanks to their rich history and heritage.

"We can keep that story going for years rather than months," adds Yates.

You’ll see more of Britain’s landmarks and spectacular landscapes on screen in the next few years: Visit Britain has agreements with all major film studios, as well as a partnership with the British Film Commission that attracts producers seeking new locations and sets.