Like in a movie: exploring the most cinematic places in Great Britain

Who doesn’t dream of being on a movie set, touching the magical movie decorations and feeling like a real hero?

Great Britain is rightfully considered one of the most cinematic places in the world, especially its capital, London. The arrivals hall of Heathrow Airport, Piccadilly Street, Hyde Park, Notting Hill, Selfridges on Oxford Street and King’s Cross stations – these and other areas have often become the settings for famous films.

Today tourists have a unique opportunity to visit the locations where iconic movies and TV serials were filmed. It’s the perfect time to choose the route of your favorite characters and prepare to see Great Britain through their eyes.

Warner Bros. Studio.

In the suburbs of London there is an amazing place for Harry Potter fans – Warner Bros. Studio. It’s not quite a museum and not even a theme park, but rather pavilions where the movies about the young wizard were filmed, and where you can see many sets, props and original costumes of the characters.

The first room of the studio that visitors enter upon arrival is the Great Hall, the place where key moments of the Harry Potter movies took place. Here the young wizards were sorted into their houses using the Sorting Hat, and it is rightfully the most majestic hall in the entire studio.

And here is the most mysterious place – the Forbidden Forest: the habitat of centaurs, giant spiders and unicorns. To find out why students were forbidden to enter the forest unaccompanied, to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of darkness and see what creatures inhabit it, it is definitely worth visiting this pavilion.

And how without visiting the famous Platform 9¾, from which the Hogwarts Express transported hundreds of students to the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!

Strolling through the studio, you can also peek into the office of Professor Dumbledore, which houses over 900 vials of memories, Diagon Alley, where you can visit Ollivander’s wand shop and the Weasley twins’ store, and the most vibrant room of the studio – Dolores Umbridge’s Pink Office, the headmistress’s office.

A trip to Warner Bros. Studio is not just a tour, it is a true immersion into the magical world and atmosphere of wizardry, equally interesting for both adults and children.

Alnwick Castle.

Another familiar place from the Harry Potter movies is Alnwick Castle, a legendary thousand-year-old medieval castle and a true favorite of the film industry. It was here that Harry received his first Quidditch lessons, and his classmates learned to fly on broomsticks with Madam Hooch. Alnwick Castle is the second-largest inhabited castle in England after Windsor Castle, and it can be visited by anyone interested from March 27 to October 27.

Baker Street

Fans of stories about the famous detective Sherlock Holmes should definitely start their journey through London with a visit to Baker Street – the street where Sherlock lived with his companion, Dr. Watson. Surprisingly, Arthur Conan Doyle invented both the house and the address. When the first book about the detective was published, there was no 221B house to be found, and the street itself ended with house number 86. And right where the 221B house is now located, there used to be Upper Baker Street. The Abbey National building society received tons of letters addressed to the non-existent detective, asking him to solve some cases. And even when the famous museum, known to the whole world, opened in 1990, there was still no 221B house. The creators of the museum had to register a company named “221B Baker Street”, which allowed them to put a real sign on the house at 239.

Today in this location you can find a museum dedicated to the famous detective, where the apartment described by Conan Doyle has been faithfully recreated. Tourists can see the violin that Holmes played during his moments of reflection, his hunting crop, equipment for chemical experiments, Watson’s army revolver and many other interesting items.

After visiting the museum it is definitely worth stopping by the pub named “Sherlock Holmes”, which is located near Charing Cross station. The pub serves steaks and pies, as well as Mrs. Hudson’s soup. Waiting for order, you can admire the interior, which features portraits of the famous Sherlocks, and take a photo next to the wax figure of Holmes.

St. Bartholomew’s Hospital.

Most of the key scenes of the famous detective series about Sherlock Holmes were filmed at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. Here the main characters first met, and experiments of the renowned detective took place. The scene where Sherlock and Watson were hiding from the police was also filmed here, and the duel between Sherlock and Moriarty took place on the hospital rooftop.

The hospital is located in the Smithfield area and was built in 1123. On its grounds there is a museum with a collection of medieval archives, works of art, surgical instruments and sculptures.

Haiсkler Manor in Hampshire.

This is the place where the famous series “Downton Abbey” was filmed. The first mention of the castle dates back to the 9th century. As part of the tour, you can visit some of the 12 bedrooms on the first floor, see the library and about 40-50 rooms on the second and third floors, go down to the kitchen and utility rooms and admire the drawing room.

In the castle you can also visit a special exhibition hall with artifacts brought from Egypt in the early 20th century. But there is one catch: the castle is open to tourists only for 70 days a year, so you should book tickets in advance.

By the way, the castle also appeared on the screen in the thriller “Match Point”, the series about Miss Marple and the comedy series “Jeeves and Wooster”.

Chatsworth House, Derbyshire.

In the novel “Pride and Prejudice” Mr. Darcy’s estate is described as Pemberley, which is actually Chatsworth House. It is one of the most luxurious and beautiful residences in England.

The residence was built by the first Duke of Devonshire in the Baroque style. For several years the dukes collected a priceless collection of artworks. However, their wealth was greatly shaken after the Second World War. Currently renting out the estate for filming is the main source of income for the owners. In 2005, the film “Pride and Prejudice” starring Keira Knightley was shot here.

The current Duke and Duchess collect modern art, mixing David Hockney with Raphael and Rembrandt. And for fans of “Pride and Prejudice” the owners have saved a bust of Mr. Darcy – the same one that Miss Bennet admired in Pemberley.

Heathrow Airport.

The film “Love Actually”, which became the main Christmas film, begins with a documentary footage of ordinary people and a touching reunion of arriving passengers with their loved ones at Heathrow Airport.

The airport is one of the key locations in the film, it appears both at the beginning and at the end, and even becomes the scene of the climax of one of the storylines. Just imagine: as soon as you arrive in London, you find yourself on the “film set” of one of the most romantic films in the history of cinema.

What other film locations can be found in the UK?

Buckingham Palace is a mandatory setting for films about the royal family, and Westminster Abbey even appeared in scenes from the cult series “Friends” when Chandler and Joey were strolling around London.

One of the oldest food markets in London, Borough Market, founded back in the 12th century, appears in films such as “Paddington” and “Bridget Jones’s Diary”.

Tower Bridge is the filming location for a key scene in the film “Spider-Man: Far From Home”. The bridge is also the backdrop for the climactic scene in the movie “Now You See Me”.

Planning a trip to the UK

London is not just a city, it’s a huge film set. Right now, it’s worth creating an itinerary of places from your favorite movies and TV shows and embarking on an unusual journey.

But first, of course, you need to apply for a visa to the UK. Thanks to our services, you can obtain a standard visa in a few weeks. And if your trip is scheduled to take place in the near future, The Visa Services specialists will help you obtain a visa in just 2-3 days with an urgent visa to the UK service.

The process of applying for a visa to the UK through The Visa Services is so simple that it may seem like fantasy. But believe, the real fantasy will begin as soon as you land at London airport.