Highclere Castle, Oxfordshire
Nothing says Great British filming location quite like Highclere Castle, the real-life Downton Abbey. The Earl of Grantham’s fictional home opens its doors to guests Sunday to Friday and offers a special Real Lives & Film Sets tour for sneak peaks into the world of the Crawley family. Even if you've never seen the show, the 17th century building offers plenty of drama of its own, just ask about its connection with the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun. The Sure Hotel by Best Western Reading is a short drive away.
Richmond, London
A suburb in south-west London that Sir David Attenborough calls home, Richmond also gets the seal of approval from the Premier League’s most unlikely manager. Ted Lasso, the namesake of Apple TV’s hit show, lives just off the green where cricketers bat and bowl the day away but it’s a different game altogether that brought the clueless coach to Blighty. Get a selfie at Ted’s front door, order a drink at ‘The Crown and Anchor’, get the full AFC Richmond experience in a scenic corner of the capital next to the Best Western Chiswick Palace & Suites.
Glenfinnan Viaduct, Inverness-shire
Head to the Glenfinnan Visitor Centre and make the 5-minute walk up the hill and you’ll be rewarded with the breath-taking and familiar site of the Hogwarts Express Railway. The Glenfinnan Viaduct is Scotland’s longest concrete railway bridge and carries trains over the River Finnan 100 feet below. Marvel at Loch Shiel to the south and the winding mountains ahead, at a view that’s almost as magical as Harry himself. Your nearest Best Western hotel is The Crianlarich Hotel.
Lincoln Cathedral, Lincolnshire
Get ahead of the film location-staycation crowd and visit the site of a Hollywood epic that’s yet to hit our screens. Ridley Scott, the brains behind Gladiator, has chosen Lincoln as the backdrop to the upcoming film ‘Napoleon’. The director has teamed up with Joaquin Phoenix once more to tell the story of French military man in the towering Lincoln Cathedral. The one-time tallest building in the world is a few miles away from the Best Western Plus Bentley Hotel & Spa. Make sure you don’t leave without spotting the mischievous imp, a small mythical creature carved into one of the cathedral’s pillars.
Diddly Squat Farm Shop, Oxfordshire
Who thought Jeremy Clarkson’s transition from transmissions to tractors would make for such easy viewing? Clarkson’s Farm has been a huge success as much for its escapism as Kaleb’s hair dos and don’ts. Diddly Squat Farm Shop is the perfect spot to get closer to the former Top Gear presenter’s rural lifestyle and serves produce grown on site for an authentic taste of Oxfordshire. Why you wouldn’t want to stay at the Oxford Linton Lodge Hotel, BW Signature Collection by Best Western just 40 minutes away, is as clear to us as Gerald’s mutterings.
Calder Valley, Yorkshire
There’s only one real star in gritty police drama Happy Valley (well, apart from Sarah Lancashire), the green and pleasant land in and around West Yorkshire. Most of the show’s action centres around Hebden Bridge, a market town famous for its canals, independent shops and it’s dramatic backdrop of rolling hills. Holidaymakers can get up close to this part of God’s own country at The Old Golf House, Sure Hotel Collection by Best Western, perfectly situated to explore Sergeant Catherine Cawood’s stomping ground.
Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire,
Fans of Ricky Gervais’ After Life might recognise Hemel Hempstead’s charming town square as home of The Tambury Gazette headquarters. Shops that feature in the show, including the quaint Jordans Antiques Centre and the Coffee Cup café are all real places in the town that visitors can easily reach from the Best Western White House Hotel. If it’s Tony’s picture-perfect home you’re hoping to see, you’ll need to take a trip to the capital and The Vale of Health. The village in the big city sits next to Hampstead Heath and its clean, green spaces. Book your stay in the Best Western Swiss Cottage Hotel to get close to country life in the capital.
Castle Howard, York
A pilgrimage to York should be on every Bridgerton fan’s must-visit list, more specifically a trip to Castle Howard. Viewers of the period drama will recognise the stately home as the fictional Clyvedon Castle, half a world away from the cut-throat marriage market in London. The baroque building took over 100 years to complete and is surrounded by pristine gardens, lakes and woodland walks, perfect for those who don’t know their Bridgertons from their Bassetts. Stay at the Best Western Forest and Vale Hotel for a short drive to the Castle.
