Alnwick Castle
Alnwick Castle's towering medieval walls have graced screens as Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. The Outer Bailey transformed into the training grounds where first-years learned to fly broomsticks with Madam Hooch, while the Inner Bailey featured in Chamber of Secrets acted as the crash site of the Weasleys' flying Ford Anglia. Harry Potter wasn't its only gig. The magnificant structure doubled as Brancaster Castle in Downton Abbey and also appeared in Transformers: The Last Knight.
Newcastle Quayside
This lively waterfront district of Newcastle—15 minutes from the city center—roared onto screens as the high-octane backdrop for The Fast and the Furious 6 where Vin Diesel's character and his crew engaged in one of the film's most spectacular chase sequences. In real life, things are much calmer in this elegant district, home to high-end restaurants and bars overlooking the River Tyne.
Durham Cathedral
Durham's majestic Norman cathedral is more than just a UNESCO World Heritage site—it's one of the North East's most celebrated movie stars. Starring as the iconic Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films, its stunning cloisters transformed into the snowy courtyard where Harry's owl Hedwig took flight. More recently, the cathedral's breathtaking Romanesque architecture caught Marvel's eye, acting as Asgard in Avengers: Endgame.
Bamburgh Castle
This dramatic landmark on Northumberland's wind-swept coast doubled as Bebbanburg—the ancestral home that Uhtred fought to reclaim—in The Last Kingdom. These haunting ruins became a high-tech military base in Transformers: The Last Knight, while its moody battlements provided the perfect backdrop for Michael Fassbender's Macbeth. You can reach Bamburgh Castle in just one hour from Newcastle.
Whitby
This quaint seaside village charms with its cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and picturesque cliffs. With all of its beauty, it's no surprise that this town has been the backdrop for several productions. Most notably, it starred in the Gweneth Paltrow-led film, Possession, and Captain Jack, a film based on the true story of a Whitby man. Whitby is just over an hour's drive from Newcastle.
Beamish
The bustling Edwardian streets of this open-air museum have captured the imagination of period-piece producers of films like Victoria for years. Located just 30 minutes from Newcastle by car, Beamish's meticulously preserved period settings featured as a stand-in for a Yorkshire Market scene in Downton Abbey, while its period-perfect shops and houses have appeared in countless other historical dramas based in the same era.
From 8 January 2025, all non-European visitors who do not need a visa will need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to travel to the UK. ETAs will then extend to eligible Europeans from 5 March 2025, who will need an ETA to travel from 2 April 2025. Find out more information here on the rollout of the ETA and eligibility.
