From the beaches featured in Broadchurch to Sherlock's famous cafe, you can visit some of British television's most famous filming locations...
David Tennant and Olivia Colman are back on the case as ITV crime series Broadchurch returns to our screens tonight and while the series has proved a hit with viewers, it has also done wonders for the Dorset tourist trade.
The iconic cliffs of West Bay provide the picturesque setting for the show, yet the beautiful beach featured in the drama is just one of the famous British filming locations you can actually visit. Step this way to discover other locations made famous by TV series....
Dorset’s Jurassic Coast (Broadchurch)
The first series opened with Danny Latimer’s body being discovered at the bottom of the stunning East Cliff outcrop in the town of West Bay and the coastline provided a fantastic backdrop for the hit show.
Producers were more than happy to show off the fine beaches in that part of Dorset and the tourist board reported a massive spike in visitors following the first series in 2013.
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Mentmore Close, Harrow (Fawlty Towers)
Unfortunately the Country Club that provided the exterior shots for this iconic sitcom burned down in 1991, but the street upon which he gave his car a “damn good thrashing” still exists.
Check it out on Google Earth here.
Jonathan Creek’s Windmill, West Sussex (Jonathan Creek)
The shaggy-haired sleuth’s home is no longer open to the public after closing in 2009, but visitors can still catch a glimpse of it from a nearby road and footpath.
Golden Lion pub, Port Isaac (Doc Martin)
With Port Isaac standing in as the fictional town of Portwenn in Doc Martin, this pub doubles as The Crab and Lobster in the hit ITV series starring Martin Clunes. The Golden Lion is great place to sink a Cornish ale or two, viewers will recognise the pub’s impressive balcony, which has views over Port Isaac harbour, from the long-running show.
The Vicarage, Turville (Vicar of Dibley)
The quintessential English country village of Dibley was actually Turville in Buckinghamshire and this quaint cottage doubled as Geraldine Granger’s house for both exterior and interior scenes.
The Church of St Mary the Virgin stood in for St Barnabus’ in similar way and with a host of other suitable properties lying within the village, most of the show was filmed in one small village. Take a look around on Street view.
Arkwright’s Grocers, Doncaster (Still Open All Hours)
Exteriors for this classic comedy were filmed in Balby, a suburb of Doncaster, with a hairdresser’s shop standing in for Arkwright’s Grocers. The shop closed every summer to allow filming and is still a hairdresser’s today , having been used again for the most recent series, Still Open All Hours.
The local council considered demolishing the shop in recent years, but it was saved after a campaign started by fans successfully preserved it. Take a look around on Street view.
Dunluce Castle, Northern Ireland (Game of Thrones)
Northern Ireland is a treasure trove for Game of Thrones fans, with numerous parts of the hit HBO show being filmed in the region’s rugged and beautiful countryside.
Dramatic Dunluce Castle is definitely the most spectacular spot featured in the series. A Medieval ruin perched on the coast of County Antrim, the crumbling castle overlooks perilously steep cliffs and – with a bit of help CGI wizardry – doubles as the House of Greyjoy on the Iron Islands.
Chatham Royal Dockyard, Kent (Call the Midwife)
BBC producers were delighted when they discovered Kent's Chatham Royal Dockyard, as the location made the perfect setting for the back streets of 1950s East End London.
Speedy’s Café, Camden (Sherlock)
A real-life café and sandwich bar that boasts a Sherlock & Watson Wrap, this lunch outlet is not situated on Baker Street, but North Gower Street, in London's bustling Camden.
It was dressed as ‘Mrs Hudson’s Snax’ in the first series, yet was known by its actual name in other episodes and its star turn came in A Scandal In Belgravia, where interior scenes were shot inside the café itself. Take a look around on Street view.
Father Ted’s House, Co Clare, Ireland (Father Ted)
Glanquin Farmhouse is situated near the small town of Kilnaboy and the organic farm is home to the McCormack family. The property was used for exterior shots only, with the interiors being filmed in London in front of a live studio audience.
Highclere Castle, Hampshire (Downton Abbey)
Highclere had already been used for many film projects, but the 17th century country house became world famous after it was used as the main location for hit ITV period drama Downton Abbey in 2010.
Much of the show, which ran for six series until 2015, was shot in the great house, with cast and crew going to great lengths not to damage anything.
Downton actually arrived at the perfect time for Highclere. The big surge in visitors, following the first series, helped pay for essential work on the great house!
