RSS Feed

Related Articles

Related Categories

Lights, camera, action: England on film

11th November 2011 Print
Yorkshire Moors

From the coarse beauty of Yorkshire's moorland to the opulent exteriors of the National Trust's most lavish Stately Homes, England is one big, beautiful movie set. Don't just take our word for it - moviemakers have filmed some true classics here and this weekend sees the release of another: Andrea Arnold's adaptation of Emily Brontë's classic novel Wuthering Heights. Here, VisitEngland showcases some of the locations featured in this film season's most anticipated releases.

Wuthering Heights

Brontë depicted the barren Yorkshire moors as a representation of central character Heathcliff's innately wild nature and this new adaptation brings the rousingly romantic nineteenth-century novel to life. Kaya Scodelario has received much critical acclaim for her role as Cathy but the film's true star is North Yorkshire's stunning moorland. Sumptuous locations, including Cotescue Park, a country house built in 1666, and Swaledale highlight the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Explore these valleys and discover the true romance of these beautiful hills. If you scratch deeper than the surface you will find a truly wonderful place that lies at the beating heart of this ultimate love story.

Release date: 11 November 2011

My Week with Marilyn     

Staring Michelle Williams as everyone's favourite blond bombshell, My Week with Marilyn focuses on the week Monroe spent in England whilst making the 1957 film The Prince and the Showgirl. Introduced to British life, Monroe escapes the pressures of Hollywood and then husband, Arthur Miller. Filming took place on locations in and around London, including a house near Windsor, which Monroe and Miller lived in during their stay in England. Curtis used the same studio featured in The Prince and the Showgirl in 1956 and Williams was reportedly given the dressing room Monroe had used at the time of the shoot.

Release date: 18 November 2011  

W.E.                      

Directed by Madonna, W.E. brings together the Queen of Pop and King Edward VIII in an unconventional tale of contemporary love between a married woman and a Russian security guard. Locations include Hughenden Manor and West Wycombe Park in Buckinghamshire. The Manor, owned by the National Trust, was a country hideaway and home to the colourful private life of Benjamin Disraeli, the most unlikely Victorian Prime Minister. Today, you can follow in his footsteps: take a stroll through the elegant gardens and imagine feasting with Queen Victoria in the atmospheric dining hall.

Release date: 9 December 2011

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows   

British director Guy Ritchie invites his audience to follow Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr) and his sidekick Dr. Watson (Jude Law) across London as they outwit and bring down their fiercest and most cunning adversary, Professor Moriarty. Filmed at many iconic English destinations, from the historic Old Royal Naval College to Bourne Wood's ancient woodland, Sherlock Homes promises to be the festive season's biggest blockbuster.

Release date: 16 December 2011  

The Iron Lady   

Here, Academy Award Winner Meryl Steep takes on a role of a lifetime, portraying the iconic former British Prime Minster, Margaret Thatcher. In preparation for the role, Steep sat through a session at the House of Commons to perfect the pursed lips and a steely glare needed to portray this extraordinary and complex woman.  The film was shot at Pinewood Studios, which recently celebrated its 75th birthday, and is credited with creating some of British cinema's most famous scenes.

Release date: 6 January 2012

War Horse          

Set in Devon at the outbreak of World War I, War Horse describes unbreakable bond between a young man and his faithful horse. Directed by Steven Spielberg, filming was undertaken across England's vast counties, including Bourne Woods, Surrey, Castle Combe and Dartmoor, Devon. Spielberg himself praised the beauty of the Dartmoor countryside, commenting on the unparalleled beauty of its landscapes and skies.

Release date: 13 January 2012      

The Woman in Black                      

This supernatural thriller, based on Susan Hill's novel and hugely successful West End production of the same name, tells the story of a young lawyer's encounter with the ghost of a scorned woman set on vengeance. Layer Marney Tower, near Colchester, provides the dramatic setting to this haunting affair.  Built in the reign of Henry VIII, the Tudor palace stands tall within the Essex landscape, commanding views over the River Blackwater and beyond.

Release date: 10 February 2012    

Great Expectations

To celebrate the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens, this lavish adaptation of Great Expectations stars some of the country's most beloved actors (Ralph Fiennes, Robbie Coltrane, David Walliams, Jason Flemyng and Helena Bonham Carter) and will make great use of several high-profile locations. Fans of the legendary narrative will once again welcome the opportunity to get lost in the enchanted serenity of period film.

Release date: 2012 (TBC)

More Photos - Click to Enlarge

Yorkshire Moors