The Cotswolds is no stranger to the screen. With its timeless villages, grand estates and sweeping countryside, it has quietly become one of the UK’s most sought-after filming destinations, doubling as everything from fictional English parishes to magical worlds and blockbuster backdrops.

Across film, television and streaming, the region’s locations have played starring roles in their own right, each bringing a unique sense of character, history and atmosphere.

Bampton ∙ The heart of Downton

The charming village of Bampton is perhaps one of the most recognisable filming locations in the Cotswolds. It served as the fictional village of Downton in Downton Abbey, with familiar spots such as Church View transformed into key locations including the Grantham Arms and Downton Cottage Hospital.

Its traditional stone cottages, wide streets and unspoilt feel made it the perfect setting for one of the most beloved period dramas of recent years.

Bampton

Chavenage House ∙ A period drama favourite

Set near Tetbury, Chavenage House is a striking Elizabethan manor that has become a go-to location for historical storytelling. It famously doubled as Trenwith House in Poldark, and has also appeared in productions such as Rivals and Tess of the d’Urbervilles.

Its atmospheric interiors and beautifully preserved architecture offer filmmakers an authentic step back in time.

Image credit: Chavenage House

Gloucester Cathedral ∙ From cloisters to Hogwarts

The magnificent Gloucester Cathedral has played host to some of the most iconic scenes in modern cinema. Its cloisters were used as the corridors of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter film series, instantly recognisable to fans around the world.

The cathedral has also featured in Sherlock, proving its versatility as both a historical and contemporary setting.

Gloucester Cathedral

Castle Combe ∙ A village made for film

Often described as one of the prettiest villages in England, Castle Combe has appeared in a number of major productions. From the fantasy world of Stardust to the wartime landscapes of War Horse and the espionage drama Slow Horses, the village’s idyllic streets and riverside setting have proven endlessly adaptable.

It has even been transformed into entirely different environments, including a seaside location for Dr Dolittle.

Castle Combe

Snowshill ∙ Creating winter in summer

The picturesque village of Snowshill played an important role in Bridget Jones’s Diary, standing in as the home of Bridget’s parents. Famously, scenes were filmed in the height of summer, with artificial snow creating a festive winter setting against the village’s honey-stone backdrop.

Snowshill

Blockley ∙ The world of Father Brown

The village of Blockley is best known as the fictional Kembleford in Father Brown. Its church, vicarage and surrounding streets are regularly featured, giving the series its quintessentially English charm.

Image credit: BBC Father Brown

Lacock Abbey ∙ A magical interior

Lacock Abbey has been used extensively in the Harry Potter films, with its historic rooms and cloisters forming parts of Hogwarts’ interiors. It also appears in the Fantastic Beasts film series, further cementing its place in cinematic history.

Lacock Abbey

Puzzlewood ∙ An ancient, otherworldly forest

Just outside the border of the Cotswolds in the Forest of Dean, Puzzlewood offers a truly unique landscape. Its twisted trees, moss-covered rocks and winding paths have made it a natural choice for fantasy productions, including Star Wars: The Force Awakens and the series Merlin.

Puzzlewood

Blenheim Palace ∙ Grandeur on a global scale

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Blenheim Palace has featured in a wide range of major productions, from historical epics like Napoleon to blockbusters such as Spectre and Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, as well as the hit series Bridgerton.

Its scale and elegance make it one of the most versatile filming locations in the UK.

Blenheim Palace ∙ Woodstock, Oxfordshire

Badminton House ∙ Bridgerton and beyond

Badminton House has also gained recognition through its role in Bridgerton, where it served as a key filming location, as well as appearing in The Gentlemen. Its stately interiors and expansive grounds offer a perfect setting for period drama.

Image credit: Badminton Estate

Beyond the big names

The Cotswolds’ screen presence extends even further. Northleach provided the setting for the much-loved mockumentary This Country, while Chipping Norton has become familiar to audiences through Clarkson’s Farm.

In the Slad Valley, the rolling countryside brought Laurie Lee’s Cider with Rosie to life, while locations such as Owlpen Manor have added authenticity to films like Phantom Thread.

A region that continues to inspire

From intimate village scenes to global blockbusters, the Cotswolds continues to prove itself as one of the UK’s most versatile and visually compelling filming locations.

For audiences, it offers a chance to step into worlds both familiar and fantastical. For filmmakers, it provides an ever-changing backdrop rich in history, beauty and atmosphere.

And for the region itself, every production adds another layer to its story, one that continues to be told on screens around the world.