AND THE WINNER IS…BRITAIN, FOR BEST TRAVEL DESTINATION FEATURED IN A MOTION PICTURE

Wednesday 06 February 2013

LOS ANGELES, CA, February 7, 2013 - With award season in full-swing and the Oscars® just a few weeks away, all of Hollywood is a buzz with speculations on who will go home with a statuette. We propose one more nomination for your consideration - Best Travel Destination Featured in Films in 2012. Movie lovers and globetrotters alike can experience the following locations used in these Academy Award-nominated contenders, all filmed in the UK. For more information on traveling to Britain, www.visitbritain.us.

Les Misérables
Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup, Best Original Song, Best Production Design, Best Song Mixing

The vistas of ‘Paris’ showcased in the movie were actually filmed at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London. Also featured in the film, is the college’s famous Painted Hall, serving as the location where Javert prepares his men to go to battle at Jean Lamarque’s funeral. The beautiful Painted Hall is open to visitors free of charge.

Winchester, England, is a culturally rich medieval city located just an hour southwest of London - perfect for a day trip, and home to Winchester College, which dates back to 1382. The narrow, picturesque College Street in the historic city doubled as the streets of ‘Paris’ in Javert’s pursuit of Valjean and Cosette. The 14th Century Chapel of Winchester College, part of the original College buildings, is where the dying Valjean is found. Visitors who wish to see the original wooden fan-vaulted ceiling can take a guided tour.

The suicide scene at the end of the film was shot at Pulteney Weir located in Bath, England - a Georgian architectural city nourished by natural hot springs. The weir was originally built to help with flooding, and in the early 1970's, was rebuilt in its current 'V' shape, which makes it difficult to go unnoticed in the film. It is located on the River Avon, just downstream from Pulteney Bridge, one of the world’s most beautiful and romantic bridges.

Skyfall
Nominations: Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Original Song, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing

2012 marked the 50th Anniversary of the Bond film franchise and during this year’s Academy Awards telecast, there will be a special salute to the longest-running film franchise.

Staying true to the spirit of Ian Fleming’s original books, the onscreen Bond has a passion for fast cars, with a special preference for Aston Martins. Visitors can see the cars used in the film, including the Land Rover Defender driven by Agent Eve and the motorbikes from the chase through the Grand Bazaar, at the exhibition BOND IN MOTION in Beaulieu. The National Motor Museum, set in England’s New Forest is a must for anyone who shares Bond’s love for hot wheels.

Bond whisks M away to Scotland and when the two step out of their car after a long drive, the majestic Glen Etive steals the scene; its rugged natural beauty is a welcome distraction. Those who love the contrast of both city and country can hire a vintage car and drive north to Glencoe and Glen Etive where the movie was shot, just like Bond and M. Visitors can enjoy skiing in the winter and walking in the summer.

At the end of the film, as Bond looks out over the city he calls home, Union Jack flags flutter over the rooftops of The National Gallery and Trafalgar Square. Want to get a view of London? Though visitors cannot get up on the rooftop of the Department for Energy and Climate Change where the final scenes were shot, there are plenty of options around the city that provide views from above. The London Eye offers superb views of Westminster, where so much of Skyfall’s drama unfolded. Starting February 1, visitors can experience The View from the Shard, the new viewing platform in the tallest building in Western Europe, to see the MI6 building, and on a clear day, even as far out as Windsor Castle - second home of Bond’s ultimate boss, The Queen.

Brave
Nominations: Best Animated Film

In the film, Merida spends much of her time horseback riding through landscapes similar to the Scottish Highlands. Caledonian pinewoods, mountain ranges and moorlands in Glen Affric inspired many of these fantastical backdrops. Visitors can experience the stunning glen, a National Nature Reserve, which is 15 miles from Loch Ness and is the perfect site to experience the magic of the country's diverse topography.

Travelers can also enjoy the stunning views and surrounding seascapes at Dunnottar Castle, located in Aberdeenshire and the inspiration for Merida's DunBroch family castle.

Adventures by Disney offers a luxurious 9-day / 8-night Brave inspired tour package to Scotland, for visitors wanting to experience everything Brave on their next family vacation. Discover the magnificent castles and mysterious standing stones behind the inspiration for the film while exploring Edinburgh, Inverness, Loch Ness, Isle of Lewis, and Isle of Skye.

Anna Karenina
Nominations: Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Original Score, Best Production Design

Ham House and Garden in London hit the big screen in the latest adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s great novel. Ham House, a lavish redbrick mansion located on the southern bank of the River Thames, is transformed into Vronksy’s grand apartments in the movie. The National Trust will be displaying the fabulous costumes used in the film, which have garnered a nomination, with tours that must be booked in advance.

The exteriors of Karenin’s rented summer home were filmed on the impressive grounds of Hatfield House in Hertfordshire. The grounds will reopen on March 30 and visitors can explore the nicely manicured maze in which Anna and her son, Serozha, play in for themselves.

Salisbury Plain, which lies between Wiltshire and Hampshire, is a chalk plateau spanning across 300 miles and doubled as the Russian countryside in the film. Salisbury is known for its history and archaeology, most notably, the famous British landmark and World Heritage Site, Stonehenge. A new and improved visitor center at Stonehenge is currently under construction at Airman’s Corner and scheduled to be completed at the end of the year. Salisbury also provided the ideal countryside location for Anna and Vronsky’s woodland picnic and visitors can embark on a 30-mile walk to take in the beauty for themselves.

Snow White and the Huntsman
Nominations: Best Costume Design, Best Visual Effects

One of the most dramatic battles in the film takes place in Snow White’s childhood home, a quaint fishing village on the shores of a lake. The village was built on the shores of Frensham ponds in Surrey, which consists of a little pond and a great pond, and dates back to the 13th century. Today, the ponds serve as a sanctuary for wildlife amidst hundreds of acres of heathland. Travelers can explore many of its peaceful footpaths, go pond dipping or enjoy a guided nature walk.

Marloes Sands, in Wales, is one of Pembrokeshire’s finest beaches and was the location for the final epic battle scene. The Marloes Peninsula combines dramatic coastal scenery and golden sands. Walks for all abilities start from the National Trust car parks at Marloes Sands and Martins Haven. Visitors can enjoy bird watching and seals and during the winter, it’s a hotspot for attracting waterfowl.

-Ends-

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VisitBritain Media Team

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Marloes Sands
Pulteney Bridge
Salisbury Plain
Hatfield House
Glen Affric
London
Dunnottar Castle
Painted Hall
The Land Rover Defender featured in Skyfall. The vehicle forms part of the BOND IN MOTION exhibition at the Beaulieu National Motor Museum