Cotswold Film Locations

BLOCKBUSTER COTSWOLDS

It is not just tourists who are drawn to the Cotswolds, many TV and film makers have been inspired by its historic towns and beautiful countryside. A whole range of TV and films have been shot in the Cotswolds and here is just a selection of places used in famous productions which you can visit.

EXPLORE THE COTSWOLD VILLAGES WHICH HAVE FEATURED ON THE BIG SCREEN

Chavenage House, Tetbury – Poldark

In the 2010s BBC TV series Poldark, Chavenage House, Tetbury, was used as the location for Ross Poldark’s family home Trenwith. Originally built in 1383, this historic family home is open to the public and may look familiar well beyond Poldark. Although the drama is set in 18th-century Cornwall, Chavenage convincingly doubled as Trenwith, firmly establishing itself as one of the Cotswolds’ most recognisable filming locations.

More recently, Chavenage House appeared in the Disney+ adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s Rivals, where it was used again by actor Aidan Turner, this time as the O’Hara family home, known as The Priory. The house has also featured in a number of other notable productions, including Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Berkeley Square and The Pale Horse. Over the years, it has attracted numerous high-profile visitors, including Eddie Redmayne, further cementing its reputation as a favourite with filmmakers.

Snowshill, Gloucestershire – Bridget Jones’ Diary

Home to the famous Boxing Day turkey curry buffet and the first meeting of Bridget Jones and Mark Darcy, the quintessential village of Snowshill is instantly recognisable with rom-com lovers!

This picture-perfect village was covered in artificial snow for filming, so why not visit The Cotswolds at Christmas and relive your favourite Bridget moments?!

Bampton, Oxfordshire – Downton Abbey

Before the films Downton Abbey originally ran for six seasons on ITV. The story of the Crawley family has since continued on the big screen with three feature films: Downton Abbey, Downton Abbey: A New Era, and Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, set in the 1930s and featuring a tribute to the late Maggie Smith.

With the films breathing new life into the series, there’s never been a better time to revisit your favourite Downton moments by exploring Downton Village in real life, known to Cotswolds locals as Bampton. Why not walk up Church View to spot Crawley House, although this is actually a private home in real life, Downton Hospital – or Bampton library as locals know it, and the very real St Mary’s Church, all central to the drama on screen. You can also visit Bampton Community Archive, where a small collection of Downton Abbey memorabilia brings the village’s starring role to life.

Badminton House – Bridgerton, The Gentleman, Series 1 and more…

Most recently seen as Halstead Manor in Netflix’s The Gentlemen (series one), Badminton House is a familiar sight to film and TV audiences, even if you don’t immediately recognise it. The house has appeared in Bridgerton, where it doubled as the home of Simon and Daphne, as well as in films including 28 Days Later, The Remains of the Day and Pearl Harbor.

Badminton House is the long-standing family home of the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort and has been the principal seat of the Beaufort family since the late 17th century. It is famously the setting for the internationally renowned Badminton Horse Trials, held annually on the estate.

While the house itself remains a private residence, visitors can still visit the gardens which open to the public on selected dates in April, June and September. The estate will also host the brand new RHS Badminton Flower Show in July 2026

Gloucester Cathedral – Harry Potter

For all you Harry Potter fans, a visit to Gloucester Cathedral is a must! Explore the Harry Potter trail around Gloucester Cathedral, as the cathedral’s historic cloisters were transformed into the halls of Hogwarts for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets as well as The Half-Blood Prince.

Have you always wanted to be in Gryffindor? Snap a picture by the door at the end of the West Walk, as this was used as the entrance to the Gryffindor common room!

Whilst in Gloucester why not visit the Docks used in Alice Through the Looking Glass, Amazing Grace and Vanity Fair. Or why not book a tour of the now closed Gloucester Prison which featured in The Information and the ITV series The Pembrokeshire Murders in 2021.

Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire – SPECTRE, Mission Impossible and more…

As one of the most famous and beautiful palaces in the UK, Blenheim Palace has played the starring role in a long list of blockbuster movies. Its cinematic credits include Cinderella, the BFG, SPECTRE, The Young Victoria, Transformers: The Last Knight and Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation.

More recently, the palace has been reimagined for Netflix audiences as part of the lavish world of Bridgerton, including its most recent appearance in series 4 (released January 2026), as well as the 2023 Netflix spin-off Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. Proof, if it were needed, that Blenheim is just as convincing as an opulent Regency backdrop as it is a setting for espionage and action.

Which movie would you star in? During your visit to Blenheim Palace, you’re the main character so you can choose! You can also watch some of these films at the on-site drive-in cinema during the Summer months.

Blockley village – Father Brown

Based on the short stories by G.K.Chesterton, and in its 11th series, Father Brown is set in the fictional village of Kembleford in the 1950s. Cotswold locals, however, know the true location is Blockley in the North Cotswolds. The peaceful village is home to the Norman church of St Peter and St Paul, which along with its vicarage is where the crime-solving Father Brown is based. A second location for Father Brown is St Mary’s Chapel on the Sudeley Castle estate on the edge of Winchcombe.