All aboard, Set Jetters!

Screen tourism is an exciting travel trend that invites you to explore real-world locations featured in your favourite films and shows. Take a train with Great Western Railway and you too could be stepping into scenes from the silver screen.

Bath

Exterior shot of Holburne Museum in Bath

With stunning Georgian architecture, it’s no wonder Bath has long attracted big budget productions. Fans of the Netflix drama Bridgerton can take a step into the Regency era at The Holburne Museum (Lady Danbury’s mansion) and No. 1 Royal Crescent (the Featherington’s home). Bath also provides a beautiful backdrop to most Jane Austen adaptations, as well as ITV drama McDonald & Dodds, together with Hollywood hits Les Misérables, The Duchess, and Vanity Fair.

Bristol

View of Bristol during the International Balloon Fiesta, with hot air balloons rising into the sky on a clear day.

Bristol’s diverse architecture has put the city firmly on the map as a key filming location, from otherworldly settings as seen in Doctor Who and contemporary scenes from The Outlaws, right through to its clubs used in teen drama Skins. McDonald & Dodds was also filmed in Bristol – spot locations such as Goldney Hall, Wills Memorial Hall Building Tower and Queen Square.

Cardiff

Exterior shot of the Wales Millennium Centre, illuminated at night.

Just a stone’s throw from Cardiff Central station you’ll find Cardiff Bay, home to scenes from Doctor Who and its spin-off Torchwood. Highlights include the fountain in Roald Dahl Plass, which forms the secret entrance to Torchwood HQ, and Wales Millennium Centre, as seen in Doctor Who and hit series, Gavin and Stacey.

A 13-minute train ride away is Penarth, where you’ll find familiar scenes from Netflix drama, Sex Education, including The Paget Rooms (school hall). Cardiff also has its fair share of movie credits – Human Traffic used The Philharmonic and Gassy for pub scenes.

Gloucester

Interior shot from Gloucester Cathedral, with light from stained glass windows illuminating a long hallway

Undoubtedly, the most famous location is Gloucester Cathedral; the cloisters were transformed into the hallowed corridors of Hogwarts for the filming of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, The Chamber of Secrets and The Half Blood Prince. It also provided an atmospheric setting for the Doctor Who Christmas special, The Next Doctor, parts of BBC Shakespeare series The Hollow Crown, Sherlock starring Benedict Cumberbatch and, more recently, blockbuster Mary Queen of Scots featuring Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie.

Oxford

Exterior shot of the Radcliffe Camera at the University of Oxford, framed by trees in the foreground on a clear, blue day.

Historic architecture and iconic university buildings have made Oxford a prime location for productions such as Harry Potter and the most recent Wonka movie. Fans flock to Christ Church College, inspired by Hogwarts, and explore the picturesque streets used in Wonka. The black comedy film Saltburn also capitalised on Oxford’s elegant settings, drawing viewers eager to experience its stylish scenes. TV series including Morse, Endeavour, Lewis, A Discovery of Witches, and His Dark Materials have further enhanced Oxford’s appeal.