Cotswolds Map and Film Buffs: An Irresistible Combination

A Cotswolds map is useful for anybody who wants to explore England’s foremost Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is, after all, a detailed guide for the locations and possible entry points for the numerous attractions in the Heart of England.

In the hands of film buffs, said map is akin to a treasure map filled with all sorts of possibilities for a great adventure. Why? Well, because it provides the locations for the cathedrals, castles and pockets of countryside where famous films and television shows were shot!

Here are a few of these filming locations that film buffs will want to pinpoint on a Cotswolds map and eventually visit. You will be amazed at how beautiful these places are, thus, the film producers’ choice to shoot in these locations.

Gloucester Cathedral

The Gloucester Cathedral is one of the finest examples of quintessential Norman architecture with plenty of influence from Gothic design. It is well known for its stained glass windows dating back from 1350 especially those depicting the earliest known images of golf.

However, it is the cathedral’s magnificent, almost magical, design that has made it a favorite filming location for international movies and national television shows. The most notable of these are the Harry Potter films for which the cathedral became the fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Film buffs will know that this is the school where Harry and his friends, Hermione and Ron, learned the art of magic while setting out on great adventures.

The Gloucester Cathedral was also the setting for BBC Wales’ Dr. Who television show. This is science fiction program depicting the adventures of a humanoid alien known as The Doctor.

Stanway House

If a Cotswolds map was mounted on a corkboard with the most visited filming location having the most pushpins on it, the Stanway House near Winchcombe will be the winner. So many films and television shows have been shot on location here so much so that viewers will wonder whether the place is part of the cast of characters! Indeed, this Jacobean manor house has a unique character that continues to attract film producers in and out of England.

Let’s take a look at a few of these films and television shows. Clandestine Marriage (1998) tarring the ageless Joan Collins; The Libertine (2001) with the sexy Johnny Depp in the lead role as the womanizing Earl of Rochester; and Vanity Fair (2004) with Reese Witherspoon leading the cast of characters.

Other filming locations that you can easily pinpoint on a detailed Cotswolds map are Gloucester Docks, Owlpen Manor and Oxford. Start planning your itinerary now and see where your feet lead you to the magical world of film.

If you have any questions visiting Cotswolds and would like to ask Dianne, the owner of this site, you can contact her.