Britain’s film and TV by region: The English-Welsh Border
Stop 1 - Wye Valley
Tintern Abbey
Explore Tintern, home to the haunting monastic ruins of Tintern Abbey which have inspired generations of artists. Painters like J.M.W. Turner, Edward Dayes and Samuel Palmer captured its Gothic arches, while poet William Wordsworth wrote his poem ‘Lines Written a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey’ here. In modern times, its roofless silhouette also appears in Sex Education. Managed by Cadw, which looks after historic sites across Wales, it’s open all year round. Explore riverside footpaths, stop for tea in Tintern village, shop for artisan gifts at Abbey Mill, or cross the Wireworks Bridge for sweeping views.
Werngochlyn Farm
Why just watch Sex Education when one can stay there? Sleep on set at Werngochlyn Farm, near Abergavenny, where Otis’s pink house was filmed. The 12th-century farm offers four self-catering cottages, converted from old stone farm buildings with exposed stonework, revealed beams and modern amenities. During the day, meet the farm animals, relax in the hot tub, swim a few laps in the heated pool or explore numerous walking trails as the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) is on the doorstep.
Caerleon Roman Fortress and Baths, near Newport
Travel back in time at Caerleon, a Roman fortress that once housed 5,000 legionaries. In Sex Education it appears only briefly, but the real attraction is the remains of a Roman Legionary barracks and the most complete amphitheatre in Britain. Cadw manages the site, while the National Roman Legion Museum brings the stories from the past to life.
Symonds Yat
Climb to Symonds Yat Rock, perched above a loop in the River Wye, for sweeping views across the countryside below. The nearby village of Symonds Yat doubled as a recurring backdrop in Sex Education, where Otis and Eric pedal along the riverside. Visitors can hike the wooded trails or hire a canoe from River Wye Canoe (available between March and the end of September) to explore the Wye Gorge, a picturesque river landscape.
Monmouth
Why not stroll Monmouth’s historic streets and marvel at its Georgian facades? The town pops up in Sex Education but has its own claims to fame. It was the birthplace of King Henry V and is home to Monnow Bridge, Britain’s only remaining fortified river bridge, dating to the 13th century. Clients can try their hand at archery with Borderlands Outdoor, browse the local shops, or launch a canoe trip with Monmouth Canoe.
Puzzlewood
Venture into the natural fantasy world of Puzzlewood, an ancient woodland in the Forest of Dean, believed to date back more than 3,000 years. Twisted trees, mossy rocks and maze-like paths have starred in The Secret Garden, Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Doctor Who. Walk the mile-long trails with wooded bridges and look-outs, and through ancient scowles – hollows of natural origin that are believed to be unique to the region.
getting around
Getting around: The nearest international airports to the Wye Valley are Bristol Airport (around one hour by car) and Cardiff Airport (around one hour and 15 minutes by car). There are direct trains from Cardiff and Bristol to Chepstow, Abergavenny or Hereford. From the Wye Valley, reaching Hay-on-Wye takes about one hour and 15 minutes by car. Public transport routes go via Hereford, where bus connections to Hay are available.
Stop 2 - Hay-on-Wye
Hay Festival
Join the world’s literati each May for the Hay Festival, an 11-day carnival of ideas once described as ‘the Woodstock of the mind’ by U.S President Bill Clinton in 2001. Nobel prizewinners, celebrities and children’s authors all share the bill. Outside festival season, browse more than 20 bookshops in the town, sip coffee among stacks of second-hand books, and revel in the town’s year-round literary buzz.
Outdoors at Hay
Get active with Outdoors at Hay. This adventure company offers guided mountain hikes and canoeing on the River Wye, as well as archery sessions. Just minutes from Hay-on-Wye, your clients can combine browsing bookshelves with scrambling up waterfalls for a good brain-and-body work-out. Outdoors at Hay also offers a range of self-catering accommodation, from lodges and cabins to bell tents with views of sheep grazing in the fields.
River Wye Canoe Hire
Grab a paddle and drift downstream with River Wye Canoe Hire. Starting from different locations and ending at Symonds Yat, half-day and multi-day trips take in riverside pubs and sweeping countryside vistas. Transport is included, so your clients can float down the river worry-free under expert guidance, with training and safety equipment provided.
Llanthony Priory
Head deep into the Black Mountains, to the north of Abergavenny, to discover Llanthony Priory, a 12th-century monastery ruin where arches rise into the sky in a remote valley. A site romantic enough for painter J.M.W. Turner, his atmospheric rendering of the priory – Llanthony Abbey (1794) – can be admired at Tate Britain in London. The site is free to explore and sits right on the Offa’s Dyke Path, a 177-mile (285km) national trail that follows the English-Welsh border. The attached hotel and cellar bar serves up a range of refreshments beneath the medieval stone vaults.
Chapters
Indulge in sustainable fine dining at Chapters, located in a stone-built former meeting room of the adjoining chapel in the heart of Hay-on-Wye. Chapters earned a Michelin Green Star in 2022 – now four years running – for its zero-waste ethos, chemical-free kitchen garden, and locally sourced, hyper-seasonal set menus. Chef-owners Mark and Charmaine McHugo preserve, pickle, forage and ferment to craft each dish, from free range chicken breast with Katsu sauce to monkfish mac ‘n’ cheese croquettes with pickled ginger mayo. Rustic charm abounds in the timber-paneled dining room, while a bottle shop offers numerous organic wines.
The Old Black Lion, Hay-on-Wye
Step inside one of Hay’s most historic pubs at The Old Black Lion, a Grade II-listed coaching inn where Oliver Cromwell is said to have stayed during the siege of Hay Castle in the English Civil War. Built mainly in the 17th century, with parts dating to the 1300s, it now combines rustic beams with award-winning dining. Holding two AA Rosettes and a Good Food Award, the restaurant showcases seasonal menus utilising some of the best local produce. Highlights include spiced poussin with spinach and potato coconut curry or minted lamb shoulder pie.
getting around
Getting around: The drive from Hay-on-Wye to Hereford takes around 40 minutes. For the most flexibility, opt for a hire car, which makes exploring Herefordshire’s villages and countryside estates straightforward.
Stop 3 - Herefordshire
Land Rover Experience at Eastnor Castle, Ledbury
Clients can put themselves in the driver’s seat with the Land Rover Experience on the private estate of Eastnor Castle, where an off-road course sprawls across more than 5,000 acres of parkland. In Succession, the castle appears as a backdrop, but here clients can tackle steep inclines and river crossings in the latest Land Rovers models. After muddy thrills, clients can explore the castle itself – a 19th-century Gothic revival stately home surrounded by a deer park, arboretum and lake.
Cider Sleepovers and Cycling Trails
Why just taste cider when one can sleep among the apple trees? Cider Sleepovers let clients stay in cosy bed and breakfasts and cottages right on working orchards, including Dragon Orchard which offers self-catering apartments and glamping options, or the Orgasmic Cider Company where it’s possible to stay in a converted train carriage. Pair it with one of the cycling and hiking trails on Herefordshire’s Cider Circuit, which wind through villages and farms. It makes for a care-free and car-free trip, with a pint (or non-alcoholic alternatives) at the end of each day’s ride.
Sip Drink Herefordshire
Clients can sip their way around Herefordshire’s drinks scene with Sip Drink Herefordshire. From artisan cider to small-batch gin, Herefordshire has become a hub for independent producers. The Sip Drink Tour Herefordshire trail links breweries, distilleries and vineyards across the county, with all offering a range of tastings and tours. Try a perry pear cider or discover Chase Distillery’s gin and flavoured vodka. Additional highlights include the Cider Museum and the award-winning The Crown Inn, which has won ‘Best Cider Pub’ at the Great British Pub Awards on three occasions.
Weobley
Step back in time in Weobley, one of Herefordshire’s black-and-white timbered villages. Half-timbered houses lean into narrow streets, and the village stars in Kenneth Branagh’s 2025 film Hamnet. Visitors can follow a heritage trail and sample local cider in one of the centuries-old inns like The Salutation Inn, known by the locals as ‘The Sal’.
Coppett Hill
If your clients climb Coppett Hill, just outside Ross-on-Wye, they might recognise the sweeping views from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. This nature reserve offers waymarked trails across acres of wildflower meadows and woodland, with panoramic views of the River Wye. Combine a hike with a visit to Goodrich Castle, a fantastically preserved medieval castle, now looked after by English Heritage.
getting around
Getting around: Depending on your clients’ location, the drive from Herefordshire to Shropshire can take between 40 to 90 minutes. For instance, the drive from Ledbury to Ludlow takes approximately 55 minutes, while clients have to factor in a 90-minute drive from Ledbury to Shrewsbury. By rail, Hereford and Ludlow are connected on the Cardiff–Shrewsbury line, with onward trains to Shrewsbury. For those keen to explore rural estates, Ironbridge Gorge or Shropshire’s walking trails, a car provides the greatest flexibility.
Stop 4 - Shropshire
Shrewsbury
Famous for being the birthplace of Charles Darwin, clients can get lost in Shrewsbury’s winding lanes, where Tudor-era timber-framed houses sit side by side with Georgian townhouses. Numerous Charles Dickens adaptations were filmed here, from A Christmas Carol (1984) to Great Expectations (2024), giving your clients a chance to venture back in time while exploring the town’s historic streets, castle, and riverside walks. Find out more about its history on one of Sabrina’s 90-minute guided walks around the town, which can also be paired with a 45-minute boat cruise. Afterwards browse indie shops or refuel in one of the many restaurants, cafés or pubs.
Shrewsbury Prison
Swap Netflix true crime for the real thing at Shrewsbury Prison. More than just a museum where your clients can enter execution rooms and learn about Victorian justice, it now runs ghost tours, escape rooms and even 12-hour sleepovers in a prison cell for the fearless. Popular with ghost hunters, the historic site, labelled the UK’s ‘most haunted prison’, has been used for British TV dramas like Happy Valley and reality shows like Banged Up where celebrities were challenged to experience life behind bars for eight days.
Benthall Hall
Uncover on-screen intrigue at Benthall Hall, a National Trust property situated on a plateau above the gorge of the River Severn, which had a starring role in Enola Holmes. The 16th-century manor, surrounded by formal gardens and wildflower meadows, invites clients to explore interesting features like ornate plaster ceilings, wood panelling and a floor decorated with 18th-century tiles featuring a design inspired by medieval heraldic patterns. Outside, clients can stroll through the grounds, admire the crocus displays in the spring and autumn, and explore a Restoration church built in 1667.
Stokesay Court, near Ludlow
Get a glimpse of Britain’s past at Stokesay Court, where Keira Knightley’s green dress swept across the screen in Atonement. This Victorian mansion near Ludlow is open for tours, which include behind-the-scenes views of Atonement’s setting and artefacts from the film. Outside, stroll through the landscaped gardens and grounds containing a fountain, grotto, and a series of pools connected by cascades and steps.
RAF Cosford Museum
Head skyward at RAF Cosford, home to one of Britain’s largest aviation collections. Highlights include a Cold War hangar and the world’s oldest Spitfire aircraft. Netflix’s Heart of Stone filmed here, but the real thrill is spying more than 70 aircraft, interactive exhibits and special displays. Take to the skies with the bookable Spitfire 360° VR experience which puts clients in the pilot’s seat for an immersive flight above the English countryside.
Eaton Manor Country Estate, near Church Stretton
Clients can make themselves at home at Eaton Manor Country Estate, offering eight luxury self-catering cottages sleeping from two to 14 people. It’s all about space: private gardens, games barns and access to 500 acres of private grounds. The concierge-style team can arrange activities from archery to spa treatments. On-site facilities include a play barn with soft play and a swimming pool which is bookable for private swims. For a relaxing night-in, clients can book a drop-off dinner or a chef who cooks for them.
Blists Hill Victorian Town
Travel back in time at Blists Hill Victorian Town, an immersive open-air museum that recreates a typical Shropshire working-class town from the 1900s. Wander cobbled streets lit by gas lamps, where actors help bring the Victorian world to life. Doctor Who filmed here, and your clients can swap modern coins for old pennies, visit shops from the period, meet craftspeople demonstrating their trades, ride old-fashioned fairground rides, and try authentic food of the time.
Ironbridge Gorge
Walk across a piece of history at Ironbridge, the world’s first cast-iron bridge, built in 1779. Explore the industrial heritage of Ironbridge Gorge, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, at The Museum of the Gorge and The Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron which chart the Industrial Revolution in vivid detail. Cafés, antique shops and riverside walks make it a day-long outing, with plenty of screen-worthy backdrops.
