7 TV and film set locations to visit in and around London

From the cobbled lanes of Richmond to London’s bustling heart and the grand estates of Oxfordshire and Hampshire, southern England brims with locations that leap from the screen into real life. 

Here, visitors can step onto meticulously recreated sets of cinematic icons, from the magical halls of Hogwarts to the much-loved haunts of Paddington bear, and lose themselves in the baroque corridors and landscaped gardens of historic palaces, among them Hampton Court and Blenheim, where the grandeur of Bridgerton and centuries of British history are brought vividly to life.

Inspired by VisitBritain’s latest global screen campaign #StarringGREATBritain, which showcases Britain as the real star of the show, here’s Connecting Travel’s must-visit TV and film locations for a blockbuster travel itinerary.

1 Discover the magic behind Harry Potter at Warner Bros Studio Tour London

Just 20 minutes by train from central London, this immersive Harry Potter Studio Tour brings the locations, characters and magic of the eight blockbuster British films to life. The tour begins in Hogwarts’ Great Hall, stone-flagged and candlelit, before leading to the crooked shop fronts of Diagon Alley and on to Platform 9¾, where the Hogwarts Express stands ready, steam swirling and luggage trolleys piled high. 

Costumes and props line the way, from Quidditch robes to shelves stacked with potion bottles and wands (17,000 made for filming), while high-tech and visual effects reveal the wizarding world’s secrets, from a green screen broomstick set where visitors can fly over London, to the atmospheric Forbidden Forest, complete with shifting weather effects. 

Guests can climb aboard the triple-decker Knight Bus, try out enchanted gadgets in the Weasleys’ kitchen and, as an add-on experience, feast on Potter-inspired dishes including Butterbeer scones at The Hogwarts Table, set beneath a ceiling with suspended candles. wbstudiotour.co.uk