The REAL stars of the screen

From Bridgerton to the Avengers and Dracula, visit the real-life locations behind favourite films and TV series...

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CORES of sumptuous English Heritage sites provide authentic backdrops for films, photoshoots and TV shows. Everything from Bridgerton to The Crown to Robin Hood has been shot at real-life locations protected by the conservation charity - providing funds and attracting visitors who want to see where their favourite movies or TV dramas were made.

“I think using a real film location gives a sense of place and an atmosphere that a studio simply cannot provide,” explains Christina Pascoe who looks after filming for English Heritage. “When I picture some of our sites, such as Whitby Abbey in North Yorkshire, I just don’t think that the intensity and drama of that site could be recreated using CGI or a set. I truly believe filming in heritage locations is so important, not only to the heritage industry but to the productions themselves and their story telling.”

English Heritage has enjoyed a huge increase in screen tourism over recent years as a result of its sites being used as filming locations. “Appearing in feature films such as Avengers and Transformers over the years have also supported us in continuing to build our relationships with overseas visitors,” Christina continues. “We still get visitors coming to Kenwood in Hampstead, one of our London sites, to sit on the bench shown in Notting Hill in 1999 which I think really shows the power of screen tourism.”

Income from filming goes directly back into the charity and the conservation of that location. Filming can provide three times the income the location would typically make in a normal week – and it all goes towards painting, cleaning and restoration, replacement carpets, external stonework repairs, window frame repairs and so on.