How to Use VisitBritain's Film and TV Map to Find British Filming Locations

Updated

VisitBritain's official site hosts an interactive digital film and TV map that gathers British filming locations, screen-inspired experiences, and related things to do in one place. To use it, go to the site's film and TV page and open the interactive map there, then browse or search the locations and experiences tied to the films and shows you want to explore. It suits travellers who already know which screen moments they want to step into and want a single starting point for turning those scenes into real-world stops.

What the map covers

The map is built around the idea that Britain is "the real star of the show" — the site invites visitors to step into real-life filmsets rather than just recognise backdrops on screen. According to the site, the map brings together:

  • Filming locations across Britain, from castles and stately homes to historic streets
  • Experiences connected to film and TV, such as themed activities at the places themselves
  • Things to do nearby, so a single location can anchor a larger day out

The page gives concrete examples of the kind of scene-to-place match you can make: flying a broomstick at a castle associated with a boy wizard, walking the streets of post-World War I Britain in a flat cap, or visiting Highland stone circles and stately homes tied to costume dramas. These are illustrative of the map's scope rather than a full list — the map itself is where the complete set of locations lives.

How to open and use it

  1. Go to the film and TV page on visitbritain.com. The homepage promotes the map and links to the dedicated film and TV page.
  2. Open the interactive map. The site notes the map opens in a new tab from that page, so expect a separate window.
  3. Browse by the screen content you care about. The map is organised around films, TV shows, and the locations and experiences linked to them — start from a title or a type of setting (castle, coast, city street, countryside) rather than from a region.
  4. Read the location and experience entries. Each entry connects a real place to what you can actually do there, which is what separates this from a plain list of addresses.
  5. Build the visit around the location. Use the linked "things to do" to fill out the rest of the day, and cross-check practical details on the site's Plan your trip section before committing.

What to expect: the result is a shortlist of real places matched to scenes, not a booking tool. The map tells you where and what; it does not appear to handle tickets or reservations for individual attractions.

Planning around the map

The film and TV theme sits alongside the site's broader trip-planning resources, which are worth pairing with a map-based shortlist:

Planning need Where the site addresses it
Getting to and around Britain Travelling to Britain; Travelling around Britain
Where to stay Accommodation options
Cost planning Budgeting tips
Access needs Accessible travel in Britain
Entry requirements Visa and immigration
Health cover Healthcare eligibility
Current health rules Latest COVID-19 requirements

Two practical notes from the site itself: the promotional film on the page requires accepting "Targeting" cookies (YouTube sets these automatically) before it will play, or you can watch it directly on YouTube. And the site flags 2026 as a year with new openings, returning favourites, and celebrations — including the completed King Charles III England Coast Path — so a map shortlist built now may be worth revisiting as those open.

Common sticking points

  • The map isn't on the homepage. The homepage promotes it; the working map is on the film and TV page and opens in a new tab. If you can't find it, you're likely on the wrong page.
  • Video won't play. This is almost always the cookie setting, not a broken link — accept Targeting cookies or use the YouTube link.
  • The map is inspiration, not logistics. Opening hours, tickets, and transport for each attraction need checking separately; the map won't confirm them.
  • Don't expect a complete national database. The page frames the map through themed highlights and examples. Treat it as a curated entry point into screen tourism, then verify specific sites through the attraction or the site's regional and planning pages.

If your goal is simply to understand what VisitBritain is and what the site offers overall, the map is one of its standout features — a way to convert screen familiarity into an actual itinerary rather than a generic list of attractions.