Published: 30 May 2024
TV shows often become iconic not just for their characters and plots but also for the memorable locations where they are filmed. These places frequently take on a life of their own, becoming intrinsic parts of the shows they host.
Lots of these places can be visited in real life, but which are the most popular? To find out, Slingo has compared TV filming locations from around the UK on their popularity on social media and Google searches, as well as which are the most affordable to stay near.
What are the best TV filming locations overall?
1. Chatsworth House, Derbyshire (Pride & Prejudice)
Annual search volume: 2,570,000
Instagram posts: 486,372
TikTok posts: 33,100
Average hotel price (weekend night): £95
Chatsworth House takes the top spot, famous as the backdrop for the adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. This stunning stately home is located in the heart of Derbyshire and boasts a remarkable blend of history and natural beauty, translated seamlessly on screen. It attracts the highest annual search volume at 2.57 million, showing its widespread popularity. In addition to the architecture and the expansive gardens, visitors can enjoy a relatively affordable average hotel price of £95 in the Derbyshire Dales.
2. Tobermory, Isle of Mull (Balamory)
Annual search volume: 1,886,000
Instagram posts: 289,227
TikTok posts: 12,100
Average hotel price (weekend night): £99
Known for its colourful waterfront, as seen in the children's show Balamory, Tobermory takes the second spot. This charming town on the Isle of Mull in Scotland enchants visitors with its picturesque scenery and vibrant buildings, which were a big part of the show itself. The location has garnered significant attention with 1.89 annual searches and high numbers of posts on Instagram and TikTok. Despite its remote location, the average hotel price remains reasonable at £99, making it a highly recommended visit for families and fans.
3. Holmfirth, West Yorkshire (Last of the Summer Wine)
Annual search volume: 580,200
Instagram posts: 167,637
TikTok posts: 2,002
Average hotel price (weekend night): £89
Holmfirth, the setting for the classic British sitcom Last of the Summer Wine, ranks third. This quaint village in West Yorkshire offers visitors a slice of traditional English life and was immortalised through the long-running television series. Despite the show being cancelled in 2010, the charm of Holmfirth continues to draw interest, appearing in over 160,000 Instagram posts and 2,000 on TikTok. Coupled with its cultural significance and scenic beauty, accommodation is affordable, with an average hotel price of £89.
The most affordable filming locations to stay near
1. Puzzlewood, Forest of Dean (Merlin/Doctor Who) - £71 per weekend night
Puzzlewood, located in the mystical Forest of Dean, has served as a magical setting for shows like Merlin and Doctor Who. Its enchanting woodland scenery appears otherworldly, making it a captivating destination for fantasy and science fiction fans. The nearby town of Coleford offers the most affordable accommodations, with an average hotel price of just £71 per weekend night. This affordability, combined with the area's natural beauty and its association with popular TV series, makes it an irresistible destination for a budget-friendly getaway.
2. Black Country Living Museum, Dudley (Peaky Blinders) - £74 per weekend night
As the backdrop for the gritty drama Peaky Blinders, the Black Country Living Museum provides a link to Britain's industrial past, allowing visitors to step back in time. Located in Dudley, the museum is surrounded by reasonably priced accommodations, averaging £74 per night. The museum offers a fascinating glimpse into history and allows visitors to explore the real-life locations in the series.
3. Peckforton Castle, Cheshire (Doctor Who, Merlin) - £79 per weekend night
Another location to have appeared in Doctor Who and Merlin is the majestic and imposing Peckforton Castle. Nestled in the picturesque Cheshire countryside, the castle was used as a filming location for the episode "Robot of Sherwood" in the eighth series of Doctor Who, which featured Peter Capaldi as the Doctor. With an average hotel price of £79 per weekend night, it's also an affordable option for those wishing to take in some history while exploring the settings of their favourite shows.
Methodology
We created a list of British filming locations using sources such as the following:
- https://www.visitengland.com/things-to-do/literature-film-and-tv
- https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/gallery/filming-locations
- https://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/advice/discover/uk-filming-locations/
Each location was analysed on the following factors, and a normalised score out of ten was given for each before an average of these scores was taken.
- Annual search volume: The number of global searches made between May 2023 and April 2024, according to Google Ads Keyword Planner.
- Instagram posts: The number of posts on Instagram using hashtags mentioning the location as of May 10th, 2024.
- TikTok posts: The number of posts on TikTok using hashtags mentioning the location as of May 10th, 2024.
Average hotel price: The average nightly cost of a hotel on a Friday & Saturday in the local area, according to Kayak. This is the average price per night of hotels selected by users from Kayak’s search results in the two weeks before May 10th, 2024.
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