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The South West is a fantastical region filled with magic and adventure. Here, animals can talk, aliens battle over ancient monuments, and feudal monarchs can find true love – at least on the big screen.
That’s right, many a film crew have set up camp in the South West to bring their visions to life. These famous film locations can be reached by train and are ready to be explored. So, pack your popcorn and set off on our SWR trail of movie magic.
Martins Heron
Featured in: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Just a 4-minute walk from Martins Heron station is Picket Post Close (turn right onto Whitton Road, then left onto Setley Way.). Harry Potter fans will instantly recognise this suburban cul-de-sac as Privet Drive, where Harry lives with his Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia and Dudley.
Number 12 in real life was number 4 in the blockbuster debut movie Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone. It’s rumoured that sealing off the street was so costly that they replicated the entire street on the studio lot for later films.
Leadenhall Market
Featured in: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
A 14-minute tube journey from London Waterloo, this beautiful Victorian market features in not one but two Harry Potter movies. In the first film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the market was used to portray Diagon Alley, the magic folk’s shopping village. Later, in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron was filmed in Bull’s Head Passage. There are stalls selling flowers, meats and cheeses, so why not enjoy a spot of shopping as you snap your pictures?
While Sherlock fans know Holmes and Watson’s address as 221b Baker Street, exterior shots of the popular Sherlock series were filmed on North Gower Street, where the roads were much quieter. You’ll be delighted to know that you can dine at Speedy's Café, above which the crime-solving pair lived. It’s easy to get here – just hop on a northbound Northern tube from London Waterloo.
Surbiton
Featured in: Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince
The grade II-listed modernist classic that is Surbiton station was the location for a pivotal scene in the brooding masterpiece Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince.
A disillusioned Harry has been riding the trains and finds himself in the real-life Cafe Chaud on the station platform. He flirts with the waitress and arranges to meet her after work before Dumbledore appears and whisks him off on an adventure.
Fans of the Game of Thrones prequel should head to Caesar’s Camp in Aldershot to get a taste of the filming action. During filming, a large medieval campsite was set up here, alongside colourful tents and horses and carts. While the set has since been removed, the area is ideal for a scenic walk or picnic.
The cast boasts famous faces, including Matt Smith, Steve Toussaint, Olivia Cooke, Paddy Considine and Emma D'Arcy.
Stonehenge
Featured in: Transformers: The Last Knight, Thor: The Dark World
It’s no surprise that one of the world’s most significant structures is featured in a film or two. In the action-packed Thor: The Dark World, a naked Dr Selvig was discovered here, driven bonkers by Loki’s mind control. Meanwhile, Transformers: The Last Knight used Stonehenge as the scene for an epic battle with the Decepticons. And that’s not all; Stonehenge has also appeared in Power Rangers, Dr Who, and much more.
Shot in a handful of locations across the south, the magnificent Dunkirk makes a special star out of Weymouth. The town’s beautiful harbour is the departure point for Mark Rylance’s plucky character and his little wooden boat. The Swanage Railway was used extensively throughout the film whenever a traditional steam train was needed.
The Star Wars spinoff may look like it was filmed in space, but most of its shooting locations were in the UK. London’s historic Brunswick Centre brought to life the cold apartment complex Syril Karn’s mother called home. Its brutalist architecture and general sci-fi vibe makes it a great fit for Andor.
The Brunswick Centre is best for its shopping and is the perfect place to while away the hours. Getting here couldn’t be easier, as it’s just a short bus journey from London Waterloo station.
Fans of the eponymous ITV series will immediately recognise Highclere Castle. Construction of this Jacobean masterpiece started in 1679, and generations of owners have added to its splendour since.
As well as playing the titular role in Downton Abbey, the house has been the setting for many other movies and TV series, including the highly acclaimed Bollywood box-office record breaker Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Stanley Kubrick’s saucy slow-burner Eyes Wide Shut. It was also the backdrop for Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie’s Jeeves & Wooster TV series.
Alice Holt Forest
Featured in: Gladiator, Golden Compass, Band of Brothers
The beautiful royal forest of Alice Holt is one of the Forestry Commission’s most popular attractions, with more than a quarter of a million visitors each year.
Once famous for its oaks, Alice Holt is now predominantly planted with conifers, making it the perfect setting for the opening sequence of Gladiator. This popular location has also appeared in the charming Golden Compass, the overblown Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, the phenomenal miniseries Band of Brothers and even posed as the jungle in the ancient TV series It Ain’t Half Hot Mum.
Bourne Woods
Featured in: Captain America: The First Avenger, Wonder Woman, Thor: The Dark World, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Children of Men
Just down the road from Alice Holt Forest is Bourne Wood - one of the most popular spots for shooting superhero movies. It appeared in WWII Germany in Wonder Woman and Hydra Facility in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Bourne Wood became a battlefield in Thor: The Dark World and Jasper's hideaway residence in Children of Men. The tall trees and winding paths make the perfect location for shooting a film or a weekend stroll.
Where do you go to shoot a biopic of Queen Victoria? To her very own summer residence on the Isle of Wight, of course. The simmering historical romance of Mrs Brown takes us to the palatial Osborne House. Pay this stately home a visit, and you’ll be transported back in time.
Talking of other eras, the Isle of Wight is perhaps most closely identified with the 1973 musical That’ll Be The Day. Starring David Essex and Ringo Starr as wannabe rock’n’rollers, filming took place all over the Isle.
Ken Russell’s magnificently bonkers rock opera Tommy was filmed across Portsmouth, with the iconic ballroom scenes shot on the South Pier.
According to reports, while Ann-Margret and Oliver Reed were dancing, a real fire broke out, causing £500,000 of damage to the pier. Ken’s canny crew continued filming, and the impromptu fire scenes were put to good use in other scenes of the film. While the pier was rebuilt afterwards, it was sadly not quite the grand style it once was.
Other locations worth visiting include:
Wilton House in Salisbury, location of The Young Victoria, Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility
Aldershot Military Barracks, where the apocalyptic architecture has made it popular with the makers of World War Z and Quantum of Solace, among others
Winchester Cathedral, which had an unlikely starring role in The Da Vinci Code as the Vatican
Cumberland Lodge in Windsor, which stood in for Sandringham House in The King’s Speech
With so many filming locations to visit across the South West, all that’s left to do is plan your journey. Explore our ticket types to find the best train tickets for your journey. Don’t forget; you can save even more with our Railcards and discounts.
Top Christmas shopping spots in London and the South West
Shopping at Christmas can be a magical experience with festive lights and dazzling window displays at the top spots. Read our guide here. Travel with South Western Railway.
