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Step into the Screen!

Date Added 02/03/2022

You just can’t beat sitting back and enjoying a good series, and it just so happens that the UK is home to so many filming locations for some of our beloved tv series. In this blog we take a look through some of our top series picks that have some stunning filming locations, that you can in fact visit.

Bridgerton

The hit Netflix series Bridgerton has captured the hearts and imaginations of the world. A series based on the collection of novels by Julia Quinn, set against the backdrop of regency era London, the series follows the Bridgerton siblings navigating the London social society scene in the 1800s in search of love, surrounded by friends and rivals doing the same. Each episode includes a narration by the anonymous and scandalous newsletter columnist Lady Whistledown, who possesses knowledge of all the information in London drawing in everyone’s attention. Bridgerton can be described as an old era series with a modern day fiery twist, a story of triumph that touches on many modern issues and topics in an extraordinary fashion.

The Bridgerton series although set in London, is in fact filmed in Bath with the unspoilt and authentic Georgian architecture, with the golden stone and grand buildings used as a backdrop for regency London. Bath is a compact city, if you happened to visit during 2019 and 2021 you would have seen horses, carriages and actors walking round in period authentic corseted empire waistlines and glorious neck flourishes filming for the series. There are plenty of spots to recognise, Beauford Square, Trim Street, and Bath Street were constant fixtures, Abbey Green stands in for London Covent Garden, there is also Holbourne Museum, The Guildhall and plenty of quaint little shops like the Abbey Deli that were all transformed for filming.

Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey is a period drama written by Julian Fellowes, the series follows the lives of the Crawleys the aristocratic family who live in Downton Abbey, set in 1912 and has continued to the 20’s. The series starting point begins with the real historical evet of the sinking of the Titanic and the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, it then filters through the characters reactions. The series follows the unfolding drama from the characters trying to navigate their rapidly changing, post-Edwardian world.

Though Downton Abbey is fictional, the estate at which it is set and filmed is real, Highclere Castle located in Newbury. The castle is a Grade I listed country house rebuilt in 1679 when it was purchased by Sir Robert Sawyer, the direct ancestor of the current Ely of Carnarvon. In 1842, Sir Charles Berry, who also designed the Houses of Parliament, transformed Highclere House into the present day Highclere Castle. In the first World War, Highclere Castle was converted into a hospital for the wounded soldiers run by the 5^th Countess of Carnarvon. Throughout the Second World War, Highclere Castle was home to children evacuated from London.

You can now go behind the scenes of the ‘Real Downton Abbey’ and during your tour you will be able to explore the main state rooms so familiar in Downton Abbey.

Call the Midwife

Call the midwife, a long running series following the chronicles of the lives of a group of midwives in East London in the late 1950’s to late 1960’s dealing with the pressures of their day to day lives while trying to cope with the changes in the world around them. The series was created by Heidi Thomas, originally based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth who worked with Community of St John the Divine an Anglican religious order, at their convent in the East End of London. The order was founded as a nursing order in 1849. The show has since extended beyond the memoirs to include new, historically sourced material.

The series is set in Poplar, which was a desperately poor and deprived part of the capital at the time the show was set. The producers of the show have tried hard to retain the unique period of 50’s London in the show and have had to look outside of the increasingly modern East End to get it. Locations have included North and Central London, & Surrey. As well as the highly recognised Historic Dockyard at Chatham, Kent which has been used to film outdoor scenes in the show because of its 100 Georgian and Victorian Buildings, and cobbled lanes in the 100 acre compound are similar to what would have existed in Poplar and old London at the time. The Historic Dockyard offer a ‘Call the Midwife’ Location Tour which has been officially overseen by the shows producers.

Peaky Blinders

The Peaky Blinders, a British period crime drama series created by Steven Knight, although a fictional story of the Birmingham underworld it is based on the very real existence of a gang by the same name based in the midlands in the late nineteenth century. The series set in 1919 follows the exploits of the Peaky Blinders in the direct aftermath of the First World War, following the gang and their ambitious boss Tommy Shelby.

While the gritty drama is set in Birmingham, the shows filming actually takes place across a host of different UK locations including Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds and various parts of Yorkshire. A lot of the filming spots were public locations and attractions such as museums, including the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley where you will find over 40 reconstructed shops, houses and industrial areas offering a glimpse of the regions industrial revolution and history. Locations also include Port Sunlight, Wirral the house of Aunt Polly. Arley Hall and its impressive gardens double up as the setting for Tommy Shelby’s impressive manor home. Liverpool’s Admiral Grove and Powis Street served as the community of Small Heath. In Manchester the city’s Victoria Baths were transformed into a horse fair, while the bustling Northern Quarter became the setting for Tommy’s running gun battle.

Victoria

Victoria, a British historical drama series created and written by Daisy Goodwin, the series is about Queen Victoria’s early life including her life with husband Albert and her political responsibilities of the 1830’s to 1850’s.

The series was filmed widely across Yorkshire and showcases Yorkshires rich portfolio of well-preserved stately homes and unique period locations. Prominent locations include; Harewood House, Duncombe Park which stand in for the exteriors of Buckingham Palace. Newby Hall, Wentworth Woodhouse, Brodsworth Hall, City Hall and Hull Old Town. The beach at Flamborough Head stands in for Isle of Wight Queen Victoria’s cherished residence, as well as Castle Howard, Beverley Minster acting as Westminster Abbey.

Great British Bake Off

The Great British Bake Off, where Britain’s best amateur bakers compete in the iconic white tent to prove their baking skills and impress judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith in a bid to win the title of Britain’s best amateur baker.

The hit show was previously filmed in Welford Park, a stately house estate based in Berkshire. But in 2021 the show moved to a new location, Down Hall a luxury country house hotel based in the village of Hatfield Heath just on the Hertfordshire and Essex Border. The hotel has a rich history dating back to the 17^th century now a luxury hotel boasting a spa and stunning grounds the 98 bedrooms for guests to stay at are all individually designed to reflect its grandeur, elegance and character.

The famous white tent has now of course made the Down Hall hotel famous and contestants of the 2021 series were in fact put up in the hotel for 6 weeks to comply with government guidelines at the time as the show created a bake off bubble. The filming schedule followed a continuous 2 days on set with a 2 day break in between.

The Crown

The Crown, a Netflix series based on historical events that dramatizes the story of Queen Elizabeth and the political and personal events that have shaped her reign through the decades that have passed. The series is a blend of fact and fiction, inspired by true events written by Peter Morgan.

The no expense spared Netflix series The Crown features some of England’s most regal locations, all providing lavish backdrops for the story of our reigning monarch’s early years. Belvoir Castle, this stunning 19^th century royal worthy design and build proudly stood on a hilltop in the Vale of Belvoir used to replicate Windsor Castle as well as in later series the grand stately home of Burghley House. Ely Cathedral, the magnificent Norman structure in the historic riverside city of Ely stood in for Westminster Abbey on the day the Queen married Prince Philip. Manchester’s Northern Quarter was regularly transformed to replicate the big apple, specifically when Princess Diana went on a solo trip in 1989. Other details include Winchester Cathedral being used to imitate the interiors of St Pauls Cathedral particularly for the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Buckingham Palace was of course unavailable to use as an actual location so instead the Queen’s residence was recreated with several different stately homes one being Wilton House. Hatfield House was also a well-used location throughout the series.

Doc Martin

Doc Martin, a British medical comedy drama series following the trials and tribulations of Dr.Martin Ellingham, a socially challenged doctor who moves from London to the picturesque village of Port Wenn in Cornwall.

Although the programme is set in the fictional seaside village of Port Wenn it is the much loved village of Port Isaac a small fishing village on the Atlantic coast of north Cornwall. A beautiful village with historic houses lined along quaint cobbled streets and fantastic views spanning across coast and country, it is a popular stop on a road trip around Cornwall. Fern Cottage is one of the most recognisable Doc Martin locations which is the Doctors surgery in the show, fans from all over the world queue up to get a picture in front of the cottage.

Sex Education

Sex Education, another hit Netflix British comedy series created by Laurie Nunn. The series follows the lives of students, staff and parents of the fictional Moordale secondary school. Insecure Otis has all the answers when it comes to sex advice, thanks to his therapist mom, so rebel Maeve proposes a school sex-therapy clinic. The concept of the series is pure magic no topic is too heavy and everything is thoughtfully handled with an impressive blend of sensitivity, brutal honesty and humour, it is the series you wish you had when you were younger.

The show is set in present day but the producers were inspired by retro teen movies specifically ones of the 1980’s John Hughes films for the shows look and feel, there is also influences of American culture within the show to create a universal feeling. Creator Laurie wanted the series to have that nostalgic backdrop that pays homage to the 1980s while talking about very contemporary, modern themes and storylines which creates a timeless feel.

The show is filmed entirely within Wye Valley, Forest of Dean and South Wales within the counties of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire in England and Monmouthshire. The distinctive red and white house that was Jean and Otis’s home in the show, is located next the River Wye at Symonds Yat East in Herefordshire, the house is in fact available to rent as holiday accommodation and is proving to be very popular following its starring role on the show. The bridge Otis and Eric cross to go to school is the old Wireworks Bridge at Tintern part of the Wye Valley Greenway. Moordale High is the old university of Wales campus at Caerleon near Newport. A lot of the woodland scenes feature the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley as well as the Dean Forest Railway where many of the main characters visit. The Speech House Hotel and Mallards Pike is used in key scenes In the latest series during a school trip where they are supposed to be in France. With lockdown restrictions going on at the time of filming producers transformed the wintery lakeside into a French retro service station.

Take a look at our behind the scenes excursions that we offer as well as trips to the locations of some of the tv series mentioned.

Coronation Street Tour

Emmerdale Village Tour

Harry Potter Studio Tour