Holywell Bay, Cornwall
Britain is blessed with great beaches. Welsh
beaches, for example, have played host to
blockbusters such as Robin Hood and Snow
White and The Huntsman. Right now, though,
star billing goes to Cornwall’s Holywell Bay,
which can be seen in the BBC’s adaptation of
Jamaica Inn. Backed by huge craggy rocks
out at sea, it provided the perfect location
for a life or death confrontation between
smugglers and sailors. Critical for this kind of
scene, it was also easily accessible to crew
and kit.
Alnwick Castle, Northumberland
Also on offer is an astonishing array of
castles. Arguably one of the best-known from
a location point of view is Northumberland’s
Alnwick. Used in various films from the 1960s
onwards, its major claim to fame was when
it was used in the first two Harry Potter films
(2001/2002). More recently, it has been
restricted to TV entertainment shows, but it is
probably just about due another high-profile
film or drama production.
Lacock Village and Abbey, Wiltshire
The UK has an endless supply of exquisitely
beautiful villages. But Wiltshire’s Lacock, with
its cottages and inns dating back to the 15th
century, is exceptional. Controlled by the
National Trust, it was the backdrop to BBC
drama Cranford.
The village and the beautiful Lacock Abbey
have also played host to Pride and Prejudice,
Harry Potter, and The Other Boleyn Girl.
York Minster, Yorkshire
A number of Britain’s cathedrals and
churches welcome film and TV production.
But the spectacular York Minster is one of
the busiest, welcoming productions such
as Horrible Histories movie spin-off Bill,
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell and Death
Comes To Pemberley (all funded by Screen
Yorkshire’s Yorkshire Content Fund). York
Minster is very receptive to filming inside
and out and has a number of interesting
buildings on its estate. Commenting on
Jonathan Strange, Nicola Bexon, York
Minster’s marketing director, said: “To have
such a key role at the start of this series is
fantastic for York Minster. York Minster and
St William’s College (part of the estate) have
proved fantastically popular locations for
filming period pieces, with Death Comes
to Pemberley and Bill shooting here, but in
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, the cathedral
will be ‘playing’ itself, rather than standing in
for another location!”
Quiriang, the Isle Of Skye
Scotland is blessed with stunning locations
but few can top the sublime Isle of Skye.
One of the most amazing vistas is found on
the road to Quiriang, pictured courtesy of
Creative Scotland. Quiriang has been used
since the 1970s on productions like The Land
That Time Forgot, Highlander, Breaking The
Waves, Stardust and 47 Ronin. As locations
officer Louise Harris points out, Quiriang
is not the only lovely spot on Skye. “Other
fabulous locations include the Cuillins,
the Fairy Pools and the Old Man of Storr
(featured in Ridley Scott’s Prometheus).”
Keighley & Worth Railway, Yorkshire
Railways are a key part of the UK’s heritage
so it’s no surprise that historic lines crop up
so much as film backdrops. One of the most
famous is the Keighley & Worth Railway in
Yorkshire. Made famous by classic movie
The Railway Children, the line continues to
be in heavy demand. Productions that have
used the line include Testament of Youth,
Brideshead Revisited, Peaky Blinders and
The Great Train Robbery (pictured above).
One reason for the line’s popularity is that
it has film-friendly staff with first-hand
knowledge of production. Another is that it
Location Brittannia:
Wherehave
weseen these
locationsbefore?
The UK is bursting at the borders with amazing film and TV locations. So it’s impossible to cover their richness
and range in a single story. But here we pick out a few interesting options and identify some of the recent
productions they have been seen in.
By Andy Fry
Filming on Location
5
