In a previous blog post we have talked about how Ordnance Survey mapping is seen in television programmes. As we’re in the midst of film award season we thought that this week we’d have a look at locations where films and television programmes have been filmed and locate them on our mapping.

The King’s Speech starring Colin Firth and Helena Bonham-Carter has received high critical acclaim and is notching up it’s haul of awards and nominations. The film is shot entirely in Great Britain with locations including Knebworth House in Hertfordshire (OS Explorer Map 193 – Luton and Stevenage), Windsor and Eton Central Station in Berkshire (OS Explorer Map 160 - Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell) and the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield (OS Explorer Map 278 – Sheffield & Barnsley).

The opening scenes of the film depicting the closing cermony of the 1925 British Empire Exhibition at Wembley were in fact filmed at Elland Road – home of Leeds United (OS Explorer Map 289 – Leeds) and the Odsal Stadium – home of the Bradford Bulls (OS Explorer Map 288 – Bradford & Huddersfield). The scenes set in the interior of Westminster Abbey where Logue is helping King George VI prepare for his coronation were filmed at Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire (OS Explorer Map 226 – Ely & Newmarket).

Made in Dagenham was in fact made in Eastbourne (OS Explorer Map 123 – Eastbourne & Beachy Head) and a disuses Hoover factory in Mertyr Tydfil (OS Explorer Map OL12 – Brecon Beacons Natioanl Park – Western area). The latest offering from Mike Leigh – Another Year – was soley filmed in Derby (OS Explorer Map 259 – Derby). Christopher Nolan’s Inception was filmed across the globe – elements of the film were shot in Great Britain including Bedford (OS Explorer Map 208 – Bedford & St Neots), Farnborough Airfield (OS Explorer Map 145 – Guildford & Farnham) and Univeristy College London’s Library (OS Explorer Map 173 – London North).

Moving acrosss to look at the small screen period dramas such as Downton Abbey, Upstairs Downstairs and Larkrise to Candleford have received critical acclaim over the past few months.

Downton Abbey is infact Highclere Castle – the home of the Carnarvon family situated to the South-West of Newbury (OS Explorer Map 158 – Newbury & Hungerford). The village of Bampton in Oxfordshire (OS Explorer Map 180 – Oxford) was used for many of the exterior shots – in particular the filming for the cottage hospital.

The remake of Upstairs Downstairs that was shown over Christmas 2010 on the BBC was filmed in Clarendon Square in Royal Leamington Spa (OS Explorer Map 221 – Coventry & Warwick). The town, renouned for it’s Regency architecture recreated the icon address of 165 Eton Square, London in the build up to the second world war. Royal Leamington Spa has been used as the setting for numerour other BBC television programmes including Keeping Up Appearances and Dangerfield.

Currently being shown on Sunday evenings on BBC One is Lark Rise to Candleford. The programme is based on a trilogy of semi-biographical novels by Flora Thompson around the communities of Juniper Hill (Lark Rise), Buckingham (Candleford) and Fringford (Candleford Green) – all in the north-east Oxfordshire / Buckinghamshire area where Flora gre up. However the exterior filming of the television programme takes place in Wiltshire in and around the Corsham area (OS Explorer Map 156 – Chippenham & Bradford-on-Avon). The two villages were built from scratch on farms at Box and Neston Park for the purposes of the filming.

As you’re out and about exploring Great Britain – keep your eyes peeled for films and television programmes being filmed. You could be bumping into Colin Firth, Leonardo DiCaprio, Maggie Smith or Keeley Hawes…

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3 Responses to “As seen on screen”

1. Tweets that mention Ordnance Survey Blog says:

   31, January, 2011 at 10:12 am

   [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Holly Barber, Realmenwork6, Realmen5, allgreatdiets, Askmeanything.biz and others. Askmeanything.biz said: Ordnance Survey Blog » As seen on screen: You could be bumping into Colin Firth, Leonardo DiCaprio, Maggie Smith… http://bit.ly/gPMg9G [...]

   Reply
2. Guy Heathcote says:

   31, January, 2011 at 4:38 pm

   The fairground scenes in Downton Abbey were filmed in Bampton, too. I know this, because I got to play at being the hoopla attendant. :0)

   Another one I did, that you’ve not mentioned, was the recent Gulliver’s Travels film, where many outside scenes were filmed at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire.

   Reply
   • Paul says:

     31, January, 2011 at 5:38 pm

     I had no idea you were such a star, Guy!

     Reply