As seen on screen, Harrogate's starring roles
With historical buildings, breathtaking landscapes, interesting architecture and some of the most idyllic rural settings in Britain, an amazing variety of films and television shows are made across this stunning part of Yorkshire.
From the Classics...
In 2018 a bold new portrayal of Hercule Poirot, played by John Malcovich, stalked the Harrogate district in search of a suspect in 'The A.B.C. Murders'.
Knaresborough stood in for a larger fictionalised version of nearby Embsay, Ripon Spa Baths became Bexhill train station and much of the action took place at Newby Hall which was used as the family home of the protagonist.
Newby Hall near Boroughbridge is no stranger to the screen. The delightful House and Gardens have been the backdrop to many momentous events appearing in ‘Mansfield Park’, ‘Robinson Crusoe’, ‘Heartbeat’ and the recent ITV drama ‘Victoria’.
The new Channel 5 adaptation of 'All Creatures Great and Small' has also featured Newby Hall, as well as various locations around Nidderdale, Pateley Bridge and Ripon.
The secluded and delightful countryside around Plumton Rocks near Harrogate was used in the 2016 adaptation of 'Swallows and Amazons', a tale of childhood play, adventure and imagination perfectly suited to such a wonderful landscape.
...to new modern tales
The Montpellier Quarter in Harrogate is known for its independent shops and genteel tearooms. In the 2018 action thriller ‘Hunter’s Prayer’, starring Sam Worthington, brutal gunfights played out among its streets where it doubled for urban Switzerland. Several other local locations appeared in the film including the gates for the Studley Royal estate, now part of the National Trust site at Fountains Abbey.
Fountains Abbey itself has seen plenty of history-changing events both fictional and actual. From the cellars under the houses of parliament in BBC drama ‘Gunpowder’ starring Kit Harrington, the final showdown between good and evil in the cult classic ‘Omen III: The Final Conflict’ featuring Sam Neill. Between the two, Alan Bennet’s ‘The History Boys’ also shot several scenes amongst the ruins where the Abbey got to star as itself!
Most recently Fountains Abbey has found new fame in Netflix's acclaimed fantasy drama 'The Witcher', the production also made use of the amazing water gardens, stitching them into a breathtaking CGI landscape.
The extraordinary and iconic formations of Brimham Rocks in Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty have been featured in countless films and programs, Barbara Taylor Bradford’s ‘A Woman of Substance’ starring Jenny Seagrove, popular children’s TV series 'Roger and the Rottentrolls' and the music video for “You Win Again” by the Bee Gees and much of 1992's 'Wuthering Heights' feature the stunning rock formations or rugged moorland.
The Jacobean stately home of Goldsborough Hall on the outskirts of Knaresborough was used as the country home of Conservative MP Alan B’stard as infamously portrayed by the late Rik Mayall in the satirical comedy 'The New Statesman'.
In 'Paddington 2' the film’s epic steam train chase scene came to an end with an exciting crash from the viaduct along the Nidderdale Greenway into the River Nidd (somewhat enlarged courtesy of cinema magic).
The landscape of upper Nidderdale featured in the first series of BBC comedy docu-drama ‘The Trip’ starring Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon. The series saw Coogan roaming the beautiful wetlands at the top of Gouthwaite Reservoir in search of a phone signal (not necessary anymore with Nidderdale boasting excellent 4G reception).
Film crews are often in Harrogate and rumour has it some of the locations listed will be appearing on our screens again very soon and new locations will be on your screens very soon. Next time you are out about around the Harrogate district and you think something seems familiar, you are probably right…
