Guess the British film location
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Visit England
Relive your favourite movie moments by visiting these stunning film locations across Britain.
Scotland's Isle of Skye was the setting for fantasy film Stardust starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro, Alnwick Castle in Northumberland became Hogwarts School in the Harry Potter films and Freshwater Beach in Wales saw a brutal battle scene take place in Robin Hood.
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Top British film locations
- Southwark, London<p> <strong>Film: Bridget Jones's Diary</strong><br /> Explore the historic London borough of Southwark where Bridget Jones's Diary starring Renee Zellweger and Colin Firth was set. In the film, hopeless romantic Bridget lives in a flat above attractive pub The Globe on Bedale Street - the perfect spot for a drink in the summer, with its outdoor benches and pretty hanging baskets. The shops across the street were transformed into the cab office, newsagent and the Greek restaurant where Daniel Cleaver and Mark Darcy have a fight. Opposite The Globe is foodie heaven Borough Market, where Bridget walks after discovering Daniel Cleaver with another woman. Cleaver's smart apartment was set on Clink Street close to The Clink prison museum. Bridget socialises with her friends at Tate Modern in the cutting-edge art gallery's restaurant. The film also sees Bridget walking across Tower Bridge - a must for stunning views of the River Thames and London.</p>
- Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire<p> <strong>Film: The King's Speech</strong><br /> Ely Cathedral stood in for Westminster Abbey in The King's Speech, which saw Colin Firth star as King George VI and Helena Bonham Carter as Queen Elizabeth in the story of an unorthodox speech therapist helping the King overcome his stutter. The cathedral was transformed into the interior of Westminster Abbey and an exact replica of the original coronation chair commissioned by King Edward I was brought in for filming. Visit the magnificent building and discover the 14th century tower the Octagon, the 215-feet high West Tower, which can be seen for miles around and the Stained Glass Museum, containing a collection of stained glass art from 1200 to the present day.</p>
- Isle of Skye, Scotland<p> <strong>Film: Stardust</strong><br /> Head to Scotland for a magical break in the setting of fantasy film Stardust, which features Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert de Niro. The Isle of Skye is the location for the love story, which shows character Tristan promising to bring back a fallen star for his beloved Victoria. Explore the mysterious Fairy Glen in Skye and be enchanted by the island's folklore. The lush green valley is home to hundreds of bizarrely shaped hillocks and resembles an otherworldly atmosphere. You can access the route from the village of Uig, which takes you towards Butte, a rocky protrusion on a hill that's thought to be the castle of the fairies!</p>
- Holkham Beach, Norfolk<p> <strong>Film: Shakespeare in Love</strong><br /> The unspoilt Holkham Beach in North Norfolk with its spectacular stretches of sand was featured in the film Shakespeare in Love and saw actress Gwyneth Paltrow walk across the sand at low tide during the closing scene and was the setting for Shakespeare's Illyria. The beach is four miles long and backed by sand dunes and pine woods. Walk along the Norfolk Coastal Path, collect shells on the beach and ramble through the adjoining nature reserve before exploring historic Holkham Hall. You can enjoy tea and cakes in the grand mansion's Stable Cafe, ice cream at the Beach Cafe and a drink at The Victoria.</p>
- Alnwick Castle, Northumberland<p> <strong>Film: Harry Potter</strong><br /> Grab your broomstick and visit Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, which was used as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the Harry Potter films. The magnificent medieval castle was the setting for Madame Hooch's flying lessons in Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone and the crash landing of the flying Ford Anglia in Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets. Alnwick Castle makes for a great day out for young and old Potter fans. Take part in broomstick flying lessons, watch the magic and mayhem of some of the Harry Potter characters and explore the castle's artwork, historic rooms and lost cellars.</p>
- Dartmoor, Devon<p> <strong>Film: War Horse</strong><br /> Steven Spielberg's War Horse describes the unbreakable bond between a young man and his faithful horse during World War I and is set in the Dartmoor countryside, which Spielberg praised for the unparalleled beauty of its landscapes and skies. Filming mainly took place around the villages of Meavy and Sheepstor. As the south of England's wildest and most expansive area of open country, Dartmoor covers 368 square miles and is famous for its ponies. Haytor, Combestone Tor and Venford Reservoir are other places featured in the film. Bovey Castle runs a War Horse walk, which takes in some of the film's most breathtaking settings, with the option of adding horse riding to your tour. Visit <a href="http://www.boveycastle.com/" target="_blank">boveycastle.com</a></p>
- Freshwater West Beach, Pembrokeshire<p> <strong>Films: Robin Hood/Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1</strong><br /> Ridley Scott's Robin Hood starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett saw top surfing spot Freshwater West Beach in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Wales transformed for the film's brutal French invasion scene. The wild and beautiful beach has a golden expanse of sand and pretty sand dunes attracting surfers to ride some of the best waves in Wales. You may also recognise parts of the headland above the beach and the old seaweed drying hut, which featured as a small peasant village. Freshwater West Beach also appeared in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, when a giant cottage made from hundreds of shells was set up on the beach as a place of refuge for Harry and his friends who were hiding from the evil Lord Voldemort.</p>
- Peterborough, Cambridgeshire<p> <strong>Film: Octopussy</strong><br /> Many of the James Bond films were filmed in London but outside the city, one of the memorable scenes from the film Octopussy was shot along the Nene Valley Railway line in Peterborough when Bond, played by Roger Moore, uncovers a plot by Octopussy and Kamal Khan to force disarmament in Europe with the use of a nuclear weapon. The action sequence is filmed in and under the train. Bond is also seen driving his car along the railway line, jumping on top of a moving train and fighting on one. Although we don't recommend trying any of the stunts in the film, it's worth a visit to the Nene Valley Railway to ride on the steam trains that operate between Wansford and Peterborough stations. There's a large collection of British locomotives and carriages, including the restored Southern Railway Travelling Post Office carriage and the only surviving coach from the Great Train Robbery of 1963.</p>
- Derbyshire<p> <strong>Film: Pride & Prejudice</strong><br /> The big screen version of Jane Austen's classic novel Pride & Prejudice featuring Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen was shot in Derbyshire and most notably, the grand Chatsworth House in the Peak District, which was the setting for Mr Darcy's residence Pemberley. Visit the beautiful stately home and you'll recognise the grand staircase of the Painted Hall where character Elizabeth Bennett and the Gardiners start their tour of Pemberley and the Sculpture Gallery where Elizabeth sees the bust of Mr Darcy. Nearby, Stanage Edge is perfect for walkers and rock climbers, offering dramatic views of the Dark Peak moorlands and the Hope Valley. Elizabeth stands atop the rocky outcrop in the film. Haddon Hall in Bakewell also featured in the film and became the Inn at Lambton, while the dining hall was used as Elizabeth's bedroom.</p>
- Edinburgh<p> <strong>Film: One Day</strong><br /> Dexter and Emma meet at Edinburgh University on the day of their graduation before moving to London in this romantic film. The start of One Day, starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess, sees the pair climb the grassy slopes of Arthur's Seat, the peak that rises over Edinburgh, to take in the stunning views of the city and the North Sea in the distance. Forres Street and Moray Place is where they share their first kiss and Parliament Square, just off the Royal Mile, is the place that they first meet after their graduation ceremony. In the New Town, Fettes Row is the location of Dexter's flat and Rankeillor Street in the heart of Edinburgh's cool student suburb, Newington, next to Salisbury Crags is the location for Emma's student residence and home to many global eateries and second-hand shops.</p>
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