Cotswold filming locations might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you picture this beautiful region, but the area is more of a screen star than you’d expect. Along with the better-known Cotswolds filming locations, think Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone at Gloucester Cathedral or Star Wars at Puzzlewood, Forest of Dean, Blockley, Tetbury, and Broadway have all featured in films and on TV screens. Whether it’s blockbusters on the big screen, or a long-running series on the small screen, you might just be surprised at the filming locations in and around the Cotswolds.
Northleach: This Country
The hit comedy series, This Country, propelled main characters and writers Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper to fame. Filmed primarily in Northleach, the series depicts life growing up in a small town in the Cotswolds. As well as making the characters famous, This Country has attracted hundreds of tourists who want to visit the This Country house, where many iconic scenes are filmed.
Stay nearby
Step into the world of quiet country life in the traditional town of Northleach, where weekly markets are still held, the pubs have open fires, and you get a warm greeting in the shops. Two spectacular pubs, the Wheatsheaf and Sherborne Arms are full of personality and are well worth visiting, just for a drink or a meal.
Tip: This Country fans might like a holiday in Hawthorn Cottage, a 6-minute walk from the This Country house.
Painswick: A Casual Vacancy
Filmed in various locations around the Cotswolds, including Painswick, Stroud, and Northleach, watch (or rewatch!) A Casual Vacancy for inspiration on where to visit in and around the quaint, honey-coloured towns in the area. Immerse yourself in village and country life at one of our beautiful homes, like Locks Cottage, just minutes from Painswick Village with incredible views of rolling tree-lined hills and fields.
Blockley: Father Brown
The quaint village of Blockley has seen its fair share of mystery and crime, but with Father Brown – the village priest – catching the ne’er-do-wells, the residents of Blockley remain safe… most of the time. Luckily, the real life Blockley is a peaceful and rural retreat which remains largely unspoilt. Stay in one of our beautiful properties in Blockley… if you dare!
Chipping Norton: Clarkson’s Farm
Love him or loathe him, the Amazon series Clarkson’s Farm has helped put Chipping Norton on the map. Showing off the beautiful Cotswold countryside in a way only he can, viewers watch as Clarkson struggles to successfully farm his land, all against a backdrop of stunning shots of Chipping Norton and the surrounding area. As well as showing off the beautiful countryside, nearby towns including Burford get a shout out on the show.
Stay nearby
Affectionately known as ‘Chippy’, this market town is the highest point in Oxfordshire. Like so many Cotswold towns, Chipping Norton became prosperous thanks to its wool and tweed production. Biss Tweed Mill remains an impressive town landmark and the weekly market has been in situ since the 13th century.
View our cottages near Chipping Norton.
Broadway Tower: Sherlock Holmes
Broadway Tower is a picturesque tourist attraction in its own right, but for fans of Sherlock Holmes, it might be even more significant. The tower is the second highest point in the Cotswolds and a great destination for visitors. It doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to work out that there’s nothing elementary about our properties in Broadway, Watson…
Tetbury “The Real Rutshire”: Rivals, Poldark & Cider with Rosie
Tetbury’s historic Long Street recently transformed into “Cotchester” for the 80s blockbuster Rivals. Nearby, the iconic Chavenage House serves as a primary filming site for everything from Poldark to Cider with Rosie.
Cider with Rosie is an acclaimed classic, written by Laurie Lee who lived in Slad in the Cotswolds, which lends itself to the beautiful, sweeping countryside and to the grand Chavenage House, where many scenes were filmed. Along with Cider with Rosie, Chavenage House has been used as a filming location in the Cotswolds for many films and TV series’, including Lark Rise to Candleford, Dracula,Poirot, and Poldark.
Stay nearby
With a history that meanders back through time for more than 1,300 years, Tetbury is a very special treasure in the Cotswolds, where the streets still bear a striking similarity to the streetscapes of the 16th and 17th centuries. The Grade I listed Market House in the centre of Tetbury dates to 1655 – constructed for the sale of wool and yarn it continues to play host to farmers markets and other events today.
Find your Tetbury cottage.
Bampton: Downton Abbey
Bampton serves as a double for the fictitious village of Downton in the hugely popular Downton Abbey series. With the beautiful surroundings of Bampton, and filming locations including Old Bampton rectory (Isobel Crawley’s house), the old Grammar School building (Downton Hospital), and Church View (The Grantham Arms and The Dog and Duck), we can see why Bampton would be the perfect village double for the affluent and rural Downton.
Both Taylor’s Cottage and Owls Barn offer stylish and comfortable accommodation a mere hop and a skip away from Bampton.
Beyond the film sets, the area is a well-known retreat for high-profile residents like David and Victoria Beckham, Jeremy Clarkson, Kate Moss, and, most recently, Liam Gallagher, amongst many others. So don’t be suprised if you go for a quiet Sunday roast and find yourself sitting a table away from a global fashion icon or a member of the royal family!