Britain’s film and TV by region: Yorkshire and the Humber
Stop 1 - Bradford
Bradford city centre
Explore Bradford’s city centre, a prime example of grand Victorian architecture, with its sandstone City Hall, gothic Wool Exchange (now home to a Waterstones bookshop) and lively Centenary Square – all recognisable from The Crown, and period drama series, Victoria. Catch a West End play at the Alhambra Theatre or uncover the city’s textile past on the Bradford City Centre Heritage Trail. Bradford’s award-winning curry houses offer a worthy pit stop to refuel.
Little Germany
Fans of historic architecture can wander the cobbled streets of Little Germany, with its grid of 55 listed merchant warehouses. The ornate façades have stood in for 1920s Birmingham in Peaky Blinders, genteel London in Downton Abbey, and rural market towns in All Creatures Great and Small. A stroll here is like walking through a ready-made set, while the relaunched Bradford Arts Centre – formerly Kala Sangam – will bring a contemporary twist. Following its 8 October 2025 opening, the first season will debut with the world première of ASTITVA from Jaivant Patel Company.
Keighley and Worth Railway
Since starring in the 1970 film The Railway Children, the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway has become one of Britain’s most filmed heritage lines, latterly appearing in Peaky Blinders and All Creatures Great and Small. Your clients can embark on a steam train ride through part of the Pennines, stopping at quaint Edwardian-era stations. Oxenhope leads clients to Haworth and the Brontë Parsonage Museum. Themed rides, from real-ale festivals to Christmas specials, are all part of the line’s lively programme of events.
Darley Street Market
Dive into Bradford’s Darley Street Market, a vibrant hub for shopping, socialising and sampling street food from around the globe. It’s a showcase of the city’s culinary and cultural diversity. Spread across three floors, including a lifestyle hall, a fresh food hall and the Darley Street Kitchen on the top floor, your clients will find a range of shops, stalls and service – from Tunisian street food, Greek gyros pitta, Sushi and artisan bread to fishmongers, Asian textiles shops and Arabian perfumeries. The street food hall is open six days a week – a convenient stop between museums and heritage walks.
National Science and Media Museum
The National Science and Media Museum bridges Bradford’s industrial heritage with its cinematic ties. Free-to-enter, your clients can trace the history of media technologies from the earliest cameras to cutting-edge video games, and see a range of vintage broadcasting equipment. Film fans can fully immerse themselves in cinema magic at the IMAX – one of the UK’s biggest screens, standing 60ft tall – while temporary exhibitions and displays explore everything from British animation to the interplay between chemistry and photography.
Saltaire
Step back in time at Saltaire, a preserved 19th-century mill village just outside Bradford. Built by industrialist Sir Titus Salt, the Italianate architecture of this UNESCO World Heritage Site has appeared in Peaky Blinders and The Railway Children Return. Salts Mill, the centre piece of Sir Titus Salt’s utopian project, now houses art galleries, including a permanent David Hockney collection, plus bookshops, cafés and a variety of businesses. Strolling the village streets, your clients can see workers’ cottages, the grand Victoria Hall, and explore riverside paths along the River Aire.
Bradford Live
Housed in the former 1930s Odeon cinema, a Grade II-listed Art Deco building, music and events venue Bradford Live re-opened in August 2025 following extensive restorations. As part of City of Culture 2025, it is a hub for the city’s nightlife entertainment. Clients can see everything from comedy acts to screenings of film favourites like Love Actually with a live score performed by a full orchestra.
Widescreen Weekend
Go big at Bradford’s Widescreen Weekend (25–29 September 2025), the film festival that blows up cinema to its most immersive formats – Cinerama, 70mm and IMAX. Held annually at the National Science and Media Museum, your clients can see new cinema restorations, 70mm screenings and rare films projected on the big screen, and enjoy talks with directors, archivists and historians.
Bronte Parsonage Museum
Explore the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth, where Charlotte, Emily, and Anne crafted literary classics like Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. Manuscripts, letters and personal possessions evoke the sisters’ world, while special exhibitions explore their influence on literature and film adaptations.
Bradford Industrial Museum
Dive into Bradford’s manufacturing heritage at the Bradford Industrial Museum. Set in a former worsted spinning mill, the museum showcases the machinery, skills and social history that determined the city’s rise during the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century. Working steam engines and textile looms demonstrate Victorian innovation, while galleries cover local engineering breakthroughs, from printing presses to motor vehicles. Your clients can combine a visit with a stroll through Little Germany to see the merchants’ grand architecture that complemented the industrial hub.
Getting around
Getting around: From the nearest main hub of Manchester Airport, your clients can take a direct train to Leeds (around one hour and 15 minutes) and change for Bradford (20 minutes). A drive from Manchester to Bradford by car takes about one hour and 15 minutes. Bradford is well connected by train from Leeds and Manchester, with buses linking the city to Saltaire. To get to the Yorkshire Dales, take the train from Bradford Forster Square to Skipton (around 30 minutes), then continue by bus or car into the Yorkshire Dales.
Stop 2 - Yorkshire Dales
Ripon Racecourse
Saddle up for a day at Ripon Racecourse, nicknamed ‘Yorkshire’s Garden Racecourse’ for its green setting by the River Ure. The racecourse boasts 300 years of horse racing tradition and has appeared in All Creatures Great and Small, with some scenes from Downton Abbey 3 also reportedly filmed here. Racing takes place on selected days throughout the year, with a range of packages, family-friendly options and hospitality available. Located just outside the cathedral city of Ripon, it’s a short drive from historic streets lined with market stalls and independent shops.
Grassington
Grassington, with its village square and limestone shopfronts, plays Darrowby in All Creatures Great and Small. The village retains its 18th-century character, with stone terraces housing galleries, cafés, and craft shops. Clients can step back in time during the annual Grassington 1940s Weekend (20 to 21 September 2025) with 1940s dances, a vintage car show and vintage market stalls, while surrounding footpaths lead to Wharfedale beauty spots, including Linton Falls. Fans of the TV series can spot filming locations, from the Drovers Arms’ stand-in to the shopfront used as Skeldale House.
Malham Cove
Climb to the top of Malham Cove and step onto a natural amphitheatre straight out of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1. Created at the end of the last Ice Age, more than 12,000 years ago, the 260-feet-high cliff offers panoramic views from the top – reached via a set of stone steps. The village of Malham itself offers cosy tearooms and pubs for post-walk recovery. Quirky spots like Annabelle Bradley’s Malham Smithy help keep historic traditions alive, selling hand-forged ironwork from the old forge and offering beginner blacksmith workshops. Nearby Malham Tarn is a designated National Nature Reserve, while Gordale Scar and Janet’s Foss waterfall are within easy reach on foot.
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden
Discover the haunting beauty of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site managed by the National Trust. The site combines the ruins of a 12th-century Cistercian monastery with the landscaped water gardens of Studley Royal. It has doubled for eerie fantasy worlds in The Witcher and apocalyptic London in 28 Days Later. Clients can explore the vast abbey church, cloisters and chapter house, then stroll past ornamental lakes, follies and cascades. Guided Tours and seasonal events like Christmas illuminations, Fountains by Floodlight, add another layer to the experience.
RHS Harlow Carr
Discover a piece of outdoor heaven at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Harlow Carr comprising formal gardens, wildflower meadows and woodland walks. Themed borders highlight plants in every season, while the kitchen garden supplies produce to the on-site Harrogate Arms Café. Indulge in afternoon tea at Betty’s Cafe, which also serves a range of handmade cakes and breads. Follow garden trails or catch the annual Glow event(19 November to 23 December 2025) which turns the gardens into an illuminated winter wonderland. The plant centre offers species seen on the grounds, while the Plant Library and exhibitions can provide inspiration for your clients’ own gardens back home.
Plumpton Rocks
An 18th-century pleasure garden built around a lake and weathered Millstone Grit formations, Plumpton Rocks has an almost stage-set quality – it’s no surprise The Witcher filmed here. The landscaped grounds and woodland are accessible via walking paths winding to viewpoints and picnic spots. This garden has also inspired artists like J.M.W. Turner, who painted two oil paintings of Plumpton Rocks following his first visit to Yorkshire in 1797. Open from Easter weekend through to the beginning of October, it’s compact enough for a short visit, combined with a stop at the nearby market town of Knaresborough. Here your clients can find peaceful riverside walks and more curious rock formations at Mother Shipton’s Cave – England’s oldest visitor attraction, having welcomed guests since 1630. It is said to be the birthplace of a legendary prophetess, and is also home to the Petrifying Well, where objects are said to turn to stone, according to local folklore.
Kirkby Lonsdale
Clients can immerse themselves in storybook charm at Kirkby Lonsdale on the edge of the Peak District National Park. The market town boasts cobbled lanes, 17th-century inns, and a historic market square. In Dolittle (2020), the market town doubled for a period harbour town, but its most famous viewpoint is ‘Ruskin’s View’, painted by J.M.W. Turner and described by poet John Ruskin as ‘one of the loveliest scenes in England’. Take a Guided Vault Walk to uncover the town’s history or browse its weekly markets and boutique shops.
Harrogate
Step into the elegance of Harrogate, a spa town boasting grand architecture, manicured gardens, and chic shopping streets. Its showground also stars in Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale. Explore the history of the town’s mineral springs at the Royal Pump Room Museum, or indulge in a quintessentially British treat at Bettys Café Tea Rooms, a local institution since 1919. The Montpellier Quarter offers charming antique shops and art galleries, while annual events like the Harrogate Flower Show bring a burst of colour to the town.
Turkish Baths Harrogate
Clients can immerse themselves in Victorian luxury at Harrogate’s Turkish Baths, one of Britain’s best-preserved spa complexes. The richly tiled interior, with Islamic arches and Italian mosaic floors, dates to 1897, although it now offers treatments ranging from classic massages to modern therapies. Pre-book treatments for a rare chance to step into living Victorian architecture and relax amid its Moorish charm.
Getting around
Getting around: A car offers the most flexibility for reaching the villages and attractions in the Yorkshire Dales. Buses serve Grassington, Malham, and Aysgarth from Skipton or Ripon, but are limited in winter. To get to York, drive from Ripon or Skipton to York in one to two hours, or take the train from Skipton via Leeds (around one hour and 40 minutes).
Stop 3 - York
Castle Howard
Step into a world of drama – on-screen and off – at Castle Howard, one of England’s grandest stately homes. Famous for its screen credits as well as its baroque architecture, it has starred in Bridgerton and Brideshead Revisited. Designed by Sir John Vanbrugh, it’s still privately owned by the Howard family and set in 1,000 acres of parkland. Located 15 miles from York, visitors can tour its lavish interiors, explore walled gardens, and wander lakeside walks with follies and temples. A seasonal programme of events includes art and history tours, and Christmas experiences. Its on-site cafés and farm shop serve estate produce, and holiday cottages offer overnight stays.
The Shambles
Get lost in history (and maybe in magic) along The Shambles, a narrow, timber-framed street that is often cited as the inspiration for Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley. It has also featured in All Creatures Great and Small. Although its medieval stores and meat-sellers are long gone, the street is now home to an array of sweet shops, cafés and wizard-themed stores. Clients can marvel at the crooked buildings leaning towards each other overhead, while side alleys, called ‘snickelways’, lead to hidden courtyards and other medieval streets.
York Minster
Explore York Minster, one of the largest Gothic catherial’s in Northern Europe’s. With its stained-glass windows and intricate stone carvings, it has appeared in Victoria and The Crown. Climb up the Central Tower for panoramic city views and visit the Undercroft Museum which traces York’s history from Roman fortress to present-day seat of the Archbishop of York. Guided tours explain architectural details and ongoing conservation efforts. The Minster also hosts choral evensong, concerts, and special events.
National Railway Museum
All aboard for a journey through rail history at the National Railway Museum, home to some of the world’s greatest locomotives. The museum tells the story of rail travel from steam’s golden age to high-speed modern lines, a period spanning 200 years and marked in 2025 by Railway 200. Highlights include the Mallard, the world’s fastest steam engine, and a Japanese Shinkansen bullet train. Visitors can step inside royal carriages, take a journey back in time with the bookable Flying Scotsman Virtual Reality experience, and ride on a miniature road railway. Temporary exhibitions and interactive displays like Wonderlab keep younger visitors engaged.
Mountain Goat Guided Tours
See Yorkshire in style with Mountain Goat’s minibus tours connecting York to the wider Yorkshire landscape, from the Yorkshire Dales to the North York Moors. Itineraries include filming locations such as All Creatures Great and Small, visits to villages like Grassington and Hawes, and stops at heritage sites including Bolton Castle. Knowledgeable drivers share local history, folklore and anecdotes. Clients can choose from half-day and full-day tours, with private tours also available upon request. For visitors without a car, it’s a straightforward way to reach places including Goathland (for Harry Potter fans) or Whitby (Dracula).
York Dungeon
Face your fears – and a few laughs – at the York Dungeon, where live actors and immersive sets bring the city’s darker past to life. Actors portray real historical figures – from Guy Fawkes to Dick Turpin – while audiences are drawn into plague outbreaks, witch trials and Viking invasions. The experience mixes humour with horror, with some scenes involving audience participation. Located in the city centre, timed entry keeps queues manageable, with the whole experience running for about 75 minutes.
Yorkshire Balloon Flights
For a perspective that Roman walls can’t give, Yorkshire Balloon Flights offers hot air rides over York and the surrounding countryside (flying season between April and October). Early morning and evening departures provide views of York, the winding Ouse River, and patchwork farmland. Flights last about an hour, but the full three-to-four-hour experience also includes set-up, launch, and a celebratory glass of champagne upon landing.
The Shop That Must Not Be Named
For Harry Potter fans, The Shop That Must Not Be Named on The Shambles is as close as York gets to Diagon Alley retail. It stocks licensed merchandise from wands to wizard robes, alongside collectibles and gift items. The shop’s gothic frontage makes it a popular photo spot, while the narrow interior adds to the ‘hidden wizard shop’ feel. Even non-fans might be tempted by the novelty chocolate frogs.
The Hole in Wand minigolf
Part indoor mini golf course, part fantasy adventure, The Hole in Wand gives players a wand instead of a putter and allows them to play nine holes themed around magical creatures and potions. Themed drinks are available at the Wizard Tavern bar. Located near Coppergate Shopping Centre, it’s a good wet-weather option. There’s also a shop for stocking up on themed souvenirs after the round.
Wizard Walk of York
Step into the spellbinding side of York with the Wizard Walk, a one-hour guided tour that mixes real history with magical folklore. Led by a costumed wizard, the walk begins at the Shambles and weaves through landmarks while telling tales of ghosts, alchemists and mythical beasts. It is aimed at all ages, with riddles for younger participants. Tours run in the early evening, making the most of the city’s twilight atmosphere. Besides Harry Potter, the tour also covers York’s own legends and curiosities.
Getting around
Getting around: York’s city centre is walkable, with all major sights and experiences within an easy stroll of each other. Trains link York to Leeds in 25 minutes. To get to the North York Moors, clients can drive to Pickering in under an hour for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, or take a train to Malton (25 minutes) and continue by taxi.
Stop 4 - North York Moors
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
Running between Pickering and Whitby, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway is a heritage line with numerous screen credits – including Harry Potter (Goathland starred as Hogsmeade), Downton Abbey, Mission: Impossible, and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Clients can ride restored steam and heritage diesel trains through heather moorland, forests and valleys. Special events include Pullman dining trains and seasonal Santa services. Tickets can be bought for a single trip or hop-on-hop-off travel (Day Rover) along the route.
Helmsley Walled Garden
Enter The Secret Garden at Helmsley Walled Garden. Designed in 1759, it fell into neglect before being restored as a community project and has since featured in adaptations of The Secret Garden. Today, its five acres, overlooked by Helmsley Castle, brim with herbaceous borders, orchards and glasshouses. Your clients can explore themed areas including wildflower meadows, while guided tours and gardening workshops are part of a packed events programme. The on-site Vine House Café serves meals made from garden produce too.
Helmsley Castle
Travel back in time at Helmsley Castle. Overlooking the market town of Helmsley, the Norman-stronghold-turned-Tudor-manor featured in The Secret Garden alongside the Helmsley Walled Garden. Clients can explore its medieval towers and Tudor living quarters. Exhibits in the mansion range from armour to domestic artefacts, telling the site’s 900-year history. The castle’s hillside position provides spectacular views over the surrounding countryside and town. Audio guides are available, while family trails engage younger visitors. Its location makes it easy to combine a visit with Helmsley Walled Garden or a walk along the Cleveland Way.
Whitby
Clients can sink their teeth into adventure in Whitby. Said to have inspired Bram Stoker’s classic vampire novel, Dracula, the town has also appeared in Phantom Thread. It is still a working fishing port, while its narrow streets are filled with independent shops and cafés. Climb the 199 steps to Whitby Abbey, explore the Captain Cook Memorial Museum, and stroll along the West Cliff Beach. Fresh seafood dominates the menu here, from fine dining to local fish and chips spots. Your clients can time a visit for Whitby Goth Weekends, the Whitby Regatta or take a coastal walk along the Cleveland Way.
Rievaulx Abbey
Discover medieval grandeur at Rievaulx Abbey. Founded in 1132, it grew into one of England’s wealthiest Cistercian monasteries before being dissolved during the reign of Henry VIII. Its ruins, featured in Transformers: The Last Knight, are surrounded by the valley of the River Rye. Explore the ruins with an audio guide, visit the museum packed with artefacts, and enjoy views over the abbey at the café. Walking routes link Rievaulx to Helmsley via the Cleveland Way.
Whitby Distillery
Raise a glass to local flavours at Whitby Distillery. Producing award-winning gins inspired by local botanicals, the distillery is housed in a historic building overlooking the harbour. Guided one-hour tours explain the distillation process and the sourcing of ingredients such as heather, sugar kelp and moorland honey. Tastings are included, and the shop sells special editions, gift sets and merchandise.
Duncombe Park
Spanning 450 acres, the estate of Duncombe Park combines an 18th-century mansion, landscaped parkland, and nature reserve. It doubled as Misselthwaite Manor in The Secret Garden, with its sweeping drive and ornate interiors taking a starring role. Wander woodland trails, enjoy panoramic views from the terrace, or attend seasonal events such as country fairs. Bird lovers can marvel at flying demonstrations and hands-on encounters at The National Centre for Birds of Prey, located within the park. While the main house is private, its gardens are open to the public on select dates between April and August, while the parkland is open from February to November – check in advance before planning a visit.
Route YC
Hit the open road with Route YC, a self-drive coastal adventure linking Yorkshire’s hidden coves, fishing villages, and seaside towns. From Scarborough to Staithes, the route winds along stretches of the Yorkshire Heritage Coast, past nature reserves, clifftop trails and heritage landmarks such as Whitby Abbey, and seafood stops like The North Star in Flamborough. Clients can choose different routes including the Whitby Route, offering moorland scenery and marine history, or the Scarborough Route for thrill-seekers wanting to try watersports activities. An online planner helps with navigation, while themed itineraries like the coastal arts trail add to the wealth of things to do along the route.
The World of James Herriot
Step into the 1940s and the world of Yorkshire’s famous vet. Located in Thirsk, the World of James Herriot museum occupies the former surgery and home of Alf Wight, better known as author James Herriot. Fans of All Creatures Great and Small can step into the recreated 1940s dispensary, consulting room, and kitchen. Exhibits cover Herriot’s life, tools of the era and props from TV adaptations, as well as interactive displays and children’s activities. The gift shop stocks a range of Herriot-themed books and memorabilia.
Getting around
Getting around: A car is recommended for exploring the moors and coastline. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway connects Pickering, Goathland and Whitby seasonally. Buses run between Whitby, Helmsley and other villages, but services can be sparse in winter. To get to Hull, drive via Scarborough and the Humber Bridge (around two to three hours) or take the train from Whitby to Hull via Middlesbrough and York (around five hours).
Stop 5 - Hull
Hull Old Town
Hull’s Old Town is a maze of cobbled streets, historic warehouses and Georgian architecture. Clients will spot locations from Enola Holmes 2, The Crown or Blitz. They can follow self-guided heritage trails or join guided tours covering local history, architecture and film connections. Museums such as the Streetlife Museum of Transport and Wilberforce House, the birthplace of anti-slavery campaigner William Wilberforce, are within walking distance.
Herd it on the Grapevine, Laurel Vines Vineyard and Winery
Sip wine, meet Highland cows, and enjoy a Yorkshire day out with a twist. Located just outside Hull, Laurel Vines Vineyard and Winery hosts ‘Herd It on the Grapevine’ events, blending tours of the vineyard with a visit to nearby Dumble Farm to meet Highland cows. Guests visit the farm, then tour the vineyard and sample English wines. The vineyard also runs Afternoon Teas, Vineyard Picnics and wine tasting on Wedensdays. Events are seasonal and pre-booking is recommended.
The Deep
Take the plunge at The Deep, one of the UK’s largest aquariums. Located near where the River Hull meets the Humber estuary, it houses more than 5,000 marine animals, including sharks, rays and tropical fish, with immersive exhibits explaining ocean ecosystems and conservation. Highlights include the glass lift and underwater viewing tunnel, offering close encounters with sea life. New for 2025, The Wreck habitat, based on the USS Kittiwake shipwreck, is a sunken ship environment telling the story of the vital role artificial reefs play in enhancing marine biodiversity. On-site dining at the Plaice Cafe overlooks the estuary.
Spurn Safari
Climb aboard a Unimog and explore one of Yorkshire’s wildest landscapes at the Spurn National Nature Reserve. Spurn Point is a constantly moving peninsula between the North Sea and the Humber Estuary. The Spurn Safari tours use a custom Unimog vehicle to navigate the nature reserve, which is over three miles long but only around 50 metres wide. During the trip, guides explain the area’s wildlife, history and military heritage. Highlights include the restored Spurn Lighthouse and far-reaching views across the North Sea. Tours operate seasonally and last for around three hours.
Hull Minster
Dating back to the 14th century, Hull Minster is one of England’s largest parish churches. The Gothic building features intricate stained glass, ornate carvings, and historic monuments. William Wilberforce, who led the parliamentary campaign against the slave trade, was baptised in the church in 1759. Climb the 180 steps to the 18th-century clock tower on a Tower Tour and marvel at panoramic views across Hull and the Humber.
