Discover Britain on the silver screen with 2020’s hottest filming locations
Plunging valleys. Tumbling waterfalls. Soaring modern cityscapes. From north to south, Britain is a land made for the silver screen. And with the release of No Time to Die plus a host of British-made movies on the horizon, there’s never been a better time to discover it than 2020.
Live it up in Britain with James Bond: No Time to Die
With Daniel Craig returning for a final outing as the quintessential British spy in No Time to Die, visitors to Britain can follow in his footsteps – and that of the first female 007 Lashana Lynch - with trips to the locations made famous by Bond. The latest instalment takes in the pomp and ceremony of London’s Horse Guards Parade and the splendour of Whitehall, as well as the gleaming emerald forests of the Scottish Highlands. They’re not the first places to see action during the Bond franchise though. Oxfordshire’s monumental Blenheim Palace took a starring role in Spectre, with exciting boat scenes on the River Thames and tense shots around Notting Hill, Southbank and Westminster Bridge. Skyfall visited the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square and a host of locations around Westminster, before ending amid the scenic beauty of Scotland’s Glen Etive.
Explore floral delights with The Secret Garden
Discover the magic of The Secret Garden – starring British acting legends Colin Firth and Julie Walters – amid the flower-strewn orchards and hidden hideaways of Helmsley Walled Garden. Found in the heart of the North York Moors and in the shadow of the ruins of Helmsley Castle, the vibrant array of flowers and plants are sure to inspire green-fingered enthusiasts, just as Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic novel did more than 100 years ago. Nestled in the foothills of Snowdonia, The National Trust’s Bodnant Garden in North Wales was also used for filming. A Victorian hilltop garden packed with carefully crafted lawns, manicured flowerbeds, towering trees and striking water gardens, the 80 acres of greenery is a garden for all seasons that’s well worth a visit.
Follow in the footsteps of the secret service with The King’s Man
With an all-star cast, including Britain’s very own Ralph Fiennes, Matthew Goode, Liam Neeson and Gemma Arterton, a prequel to the hit series Kingsman returns in 2020. The King’s Man stops off in London’s high-end Savile Row, Mayfair, on its journey of early 20th century espionage. East London’s Cambridge Heath, Imperial College and the charming Bluebell Railway in Sussex have all featured in previous films in the franchise too.
Discover Dorset with Ammonite
Savour the sweeping shores and ancient history of the Jurassic Coast as revealed in Ammonite, starring Kate Winslet. Following eminent British palaeontologist Mary Anning, credited with numerous fossil finds along England’s south coast, the film takes in locations across London, Dorset and Surrey, including Anning’s home town of Lyme Regis. Explore its iconic harbour, known as the Cobb, and bustling waterfront before relishing one of many gastronomic delights on offer.
Wander Windsor with Emma
Starring Billy Nighy, Anya Taylor-Joy and Miranda Hart, fashion photographer Autumn de Wilde’s directorial debut promises a fashion-focused take on Jane Austen’s classic novel. Although many filming locations are still under wraps, one confirmed destination is Chavenage House in Gloucestershire. A favourite with directors through the years, eagle-eyed Poldark fans will recognise the Elizabethan house as ‘Trenwith’ from the hit series, although it has also appeared in BBC1’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles and Lark Rise to Candleford, to name but a few. Hungry for more? Head to Dorney Court, a Tudor manor house located near Windsor, which appeared in a previous adaptation of Emma. Home to the Palmer Family for more than 500 years, the house is renowned as one of the most impressive remaining examples of Tudor architecture in Britain, and has provided the backdrop for films as diverse as Bohemian Rhapsody, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.