Welcome to our short guide to Famous Film Locations in England. Our brilliant Day Tours from London have something for everybody, especially the cinephiles looking to see the film sites of their favourite movies in person! From historical cities to idyllic countryside villages, England has so many places where visitors can recognise iconic scenery and backdrops, and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the film location. Read on to find out about some of the top filming locations in famous English destinations.
Cotswolds
The little village known as ‘the Venice of the Cotswolds’, Bourton-on-the-Water, doesn’t seem at first glance like the backdrop to a scene from a thrilling action movie. But it does indeed feature in the famous James Bond movie Die Another Day (2002) – transformed into an Icelandic glacier where Bond’s car chase with the baddie Zao takes place. Moreover, the nearby village of Bampton served as the base for the popular British historical drama series Downton Abbey. Although the village of Downton itself from the show is fictional, Bampton’s church, hospital, post office and pubs were the perfect to bring the story to life on-screen.
Oxford
With its centuries of history, Oxford was the perfect setting for many scenes in the Harry Potter movie series. Many iconic scenes are shot within Oxford University buildings, showcasing the city’s gothic architecture as stand-ins for parts of Hogwarts, including the Restricted Section, the Great Hall and much more. And secondly, fans of Inspector Morse will recognise many sights around the city from their screens, including the Sheldonian Theatre, Bodleian Library and the Ashmolean Museum. You can even go and have a drink in the Morse Bar at the Randolph Hotel, named after the main man himself!
To go and see Oxford with your own eyes, check out our Cotswolds and Oxford Day Tour from London.
Stonehenge
As one of the most recognisable monuments in the world, Stonehenge has featured heavily in the media for decades. Most notably in King Arthur (2004), where the looming stones in the background of key scenes helped create a sense of ancient history and mystery, and the film adaptation of Tess of the D’Urbervilles (2008), with a scene from the book taking place in the stone circle. Most recently was Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) – although thankfully the real monument itself was not used, a perfect replica was built nearby on Salisbury Plains for the Hollywood studio to turn into an intergalactic battlefield.
Bath
As the best example of a Georgian-style city in the whole of Northern Europe, the entirety of Bath is ideal for filming stories set in the 1700s. Its winding cobbled streets and honey-yellow sandstone buildings in the neoclassical architectural style mean the whole city can act as one great film scene! Jane Austen lived in Bath, making it the most authentic backdrop possible for film adaptations of her books. It’s also perfect for Regency-era historical dramas, like the Netflix romance-hit Bridgerton. Bath has even featured in musicals like Les Misérables (2012) and Wonka (2023), with the sweeping architecture providing gorgeous historical scenery.
For your own authentic Georgian-era experience, check out our Stonehenge and Bath Day Tour from London.
Dover
The landscape of Dover is breath-taking to say the least, so it’s understandable why they feature in a range of movies from all different genres! For instance, both the iconic cliffs and castle of Dover are the setting for several key scenes of King Lear (2018), a thrilling film adaptation of the classic Shakespearean stage play. Moreover, in Christopher Robin (2018), some of Dover’s lovely beaches as well as Dover Marine Station were essential in bringing this beloved children’s book to the big screen. Finally, the majestic 900-year old fortress of Dover Castle has been used extensively as a mediaeval castle in various films, including Into the Woods (2014), The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) and Hamlet (1990).
Canterbury
As one of the most important cities on England’s south coast for many centuries, it’s no surprise that Canterbury is referenced heavily in many forms of media, including film. For instance, in A Canterbury Tale (1944), as the title suggests, the story is set in Canterbury itself, with scenes filmed all across the city from High Street to the Buttermarket.. Canterbury Cathedral and the nearby parts of the city also feature in Last Orders (2001), where the characters make a stop to look around the cathedral. Also, in The Veil (2024), with the lead actresses running through the bustling city centre. With its stunning gothic architecture, the cathedral is open to being used either as itself, or as a double of other locations, both real or fictional.
To explore Canterbury on your own adventure, check out our White Cliffs of Dover and Canterbury Day Tour from London.
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Thank you for reading this short guide to Famous Film Locations in England, and we hope to be showing you around these exciting destinations very soon. To explore these amazing Famous Film Locations in England for yourself, check out the amazing Day Tours from London that we offer. We look forward to seeing you on tour!
