Top 10 Famous Filming Locations

Immerse yourself in the drama of your favourite movies and TV shows at these stirring film locations along the Great West Way. 

Highclere Castle 
Discover the real Downton Abbey at this magnificent stately home in Hampshire, less than 2 hours drive west of central London. Word has it that writer Julian Fellowes - a friend of the owners, the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon - had the castle in mind when he wrote it. Fans of the costume drama, which offers a tantalising glimpse at ‘upstairs, downstairs’ life in post-Edwardian Britain, will recognise many of the rooms from the series. Like the opulent dining room, full of antiques and valuable paintings, which was the setting for many evening soirees for the wealthier characters. 

Lacock 
This charming village in Wiltshire has changed little since the 15th-century, making it a go-to film location for historical films and dramas such as Pride and Prejudice and The Other Boleyn Girl. Filmmakers also frequently use Lacock Abbey, a nunnery turned Tudor home. Its last owners, the Talbots, are responsible for the dramatic Gothic architecture you see today. Perhaps most notably, the Abbey appeared as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the first 2 Harry Potter movies, and fans from all over the world come to check out the ‘classrooms’ and huge cauldron in the cloisters. 

Bath 
This impossibly beautiful Regency city, once home to Jane Austen, has naturally played a starring role in the films inspired by her books, including the 2007 adaptation of Persuasion starring Sally Hawkins. See if you recognise any of the historical hotspots such as The Pump Rooms, The Assembly Rooms, Pulteney Bridge and The Royal Crescent. Or take it a step further: dress up in 18th-century finery and promenade through the streets at the annual Jane Austen Festival. Other recent productions set in Bath include The Duchess, Les Misérables and Sherlock (be sure to visit The Canary Gin Bar). It was also recently used as one of the main filming locations for Netflix's Bridgerton. 

Eton College 
As well as shaping the formative years of most of England’s prime ministers and princes (Prince William and Prince Harry included) the country’s most prestigious public school has hosted numerous films and TV crews over the years. Some of the most memorable films include Chariots of Fire, Henry VIII and His Six Wives, Shakespeare in Love and The Wind in the Willows (1996). Perhaps the most recognisable set is the cobbled School Yard, with Eton’s grand edifice as a backdrop. From May to September, you can get some insider knowledge on one of their guided heritage tours - available to book online.

Corsham 
Yes, Poldark is set by the Cornish coast. But did you know much of the dreamy costume drama was actually filmed elsewhere in the West Country? In particular the Wiltshire town of Corsham, which had its impeccably-preserved High Street magically transformed into 18th-century Truro for the BBC show. We’re sure locals didn’t mind the disruption too much once they saw Ross Poldark himself (Aidan Turner) had come to town, in his handsome tricorn hat and breeches. Other popular period shows filmed in Corsham include Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Lark Rise to Candleford.

Stonehenge 
You can’t get much more iconic than Stonehenge, with its mega stone sarsons inexplicably hauled all the way from the Marlborough Downs, some 20 miles north, in prehistoric times. It is instantly recognisable around the world. Perhaps for this reason many major productions have chosen to feature it, including Thor: The Dark World and Doctor Who - in season 5 the Doctor examined the ancient stones with a sonic screwdriver. Stonehenge witnessed more action in 2016 when American actor Mark Wahlberg and the crew of Transformers: The Last Knight descended.

Snowshill 
This romantic Cotswolds village in Gloucestershire is worth venturing a little off the Great West Way for. Especially if you’re a fan of classic rom com Bridget Jones’s Diary. You’ll recognise the village from the scene where Bridget (Renée Zellweger) goes to visit her parents at Christmas. Cue awkward meeting in outlandish festive jumpers with Mark Darcy (Colin Firth). Fun fact: because they were filming in the middle of June, they covered the entire village in fake snow and bedecked Bridget’s parents house in sparkly decorations. The crew returned to the Cotswolds for Bridget Jones’s Baby - her newborn was christened at St Mary’s Church in Swinbrook. 

Bradford on Avon 
This picturesque town recently appeared in The White Princess, the sequel to The White Queen - both shows based on novels about England’s War of the Roses, by Philippa Gregory. Its 14th-century Tithe Barn, right by the canal, made the perfect setting for the candlelit Throne Room. The barn was also used recently for the filming of Wolf Hall, the ultimate rags-to-riches story with Damian Lewis playing Thomas Cromwell - a blacksmith’s son who became Henry VIII's chief minister. 

Bristol 
Just a 15-minute train ride away from Bath, Bristol has a film heritage all of its own, becoming an UNESCO City of Film in 2017. Most recently, its well preserved Harbourside became Weymouth Docks in the 1940s for The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Other films include The Sense of an Ending with Jim Broadbent, which takes in Clifton Suspension Bridge, and Inbetweeners 2 - where Will (Simon Bird) is a student at the University of Bristol. Perhaps most familiar of all, however, are stop motion animations Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run and Shaun the Sheep - while you won’t recognise film sets around the city, they were all made by Bristol-based animation studio Aardman. You can find out more about their much-loved characters and films in an ongoing exhibition at We The Curious - and even have a go at making your own. 

Old Wardour Castle 
This medieval marvel, not too far south of the Great West Way in Wiltshire, dates back to the 1390s. So it’s seen plenty of action over the years, from lavish medieval soirées to near-destruction during the English Civil War. But for film fans, it’s real moment in the spotlight was in 90s classic Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves starring Kevin Costner. Decades on, that film still boasts a loyal legion of fans. If you’re one of them, you may notice the castle - the Loxley’s family home - looks rather different in the film. That’s due to a clever special effect called matte painting, which makes the ruin appear intact. 

For more information and help on planning on your Great West Way journey, take a look at our suggested itineraries and the film and TV locations guide. You can also find more ideas on our See & Do and Explore pages.