Film Britain
Lights, Camera, Action!
Travelling round the country, you will find castles, streets, landscapes and villages that look oddly familiar. In fact, to the more eagle-eyed film buff Britain is like a giant film set of some of cinema’s most memorable moments.
London has been the star of many films. As well as Notting Hill and Love Actually’s light hearted love in the city, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels showed off east and south London’s grittier side and Shaun of the Dead shows off North London's more...zombie side.
Follow in the footsteps of great British film moments shot in East London.
Some of the best sights from the great British movie moments can be found outside London.
Sheffield offers everything from The Full Monty but the naked middle-aged men, though we’re sure you could find them if you ask around. Northumberland’s Alnwick Castle doubled as the outside of Hogwart’s Castle in the Harry Potter films and County Durham, also in the northeast of England, was the setting for Billy Elliot. Calendar Girls was shot at Kettlewell and various other lovely spots in the Yorkshire Dales.
Scotland’s dramatic landscapes have been the star of films like Local Hero, Mel Gibson’s Braveheart and fantasy epic Highlander. You’ll also recognise the streets and tenements of Edinburgh and Glasgow when you visit – the locations of films from Trainspotting to Shallow Grave.
Many British cities have annual film festivals showcasing the best local and international talent. If you’ve a film fanatic then West Yorkshire’s brilliant is a must and the Edinburgh International Film Festival (www.edfilmfest.org.uk) and the prestigious are essential viewing.
Five Great British Cult Films
Get Carter - Michael Caine excels as the charismatic, hard man on a revenge fuelled rampage of Newcastle Upon Tyne's seedy crime world. Grimy and un-remorseless yes, but very cool and very British.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail - Arthurian knights riding imaginary horses to the sound of coconuts, a killer fluffy white rabbit with 'big pointy teeth' and laughs from beginning to end. The comic classic was filmed in the majestic surroundings of Scotland, including Doune Castle.
Quadrophenia - A big title and a big film. A raw depiction of the 'Mod scene' filmed in and around London and Brighton, with a defining soundtrack by The Who, a celebration of rebellion and a quintessentially British cult classic.
Trainspotting - One of the films of the nineties from Irvine Welsh's classic book. Ewen Mcgregor's junkie, anti-hero Renton with his disturbing yet charismatic friends takes you through a whirlwind, shambolic tour of Edinburgh (though also shot in Glasgow and London) - disturbing, hilarious and incredibly re-watchable.
Withnail and I - Consistently regarded as one of the best British comedies, a student classic and continually quotable, Withnail and I follows the story of two down and out London actors in the last months of the Sixties escape the drugs, booze and depravity for the scenic beauty of the Lake District. Hilarious throughout and unforgettable.