10 UK screen locations you can visit by caravan, motorhome or campervan
There’s something deeply satisfying about arriving at a place you’ve already “been” a dozen times on screen. You recognise the skyline. The curve of a bay. The sweep of a woodland path. Only now you’re not watching it from the sofa – you’re standing there, kettle still warm back in the ‘van.
Set-jetting – travelling to real film and TV locations – suits touring perfectly. These places are already designed to be destinations. They’re scenic, distinctive and often surrounded by the kind of countryside we love. Add a campsite nearby and you’ve got a ready-made route that works just as well for a long summer tour as it does for piecing together over several shorter breaks.
This south-to-north journey links ten of the UK’s most memorable screen locations, from bleak Kent shingle to Highland viaduct. You can follow it end-to-end over 10 to14 days, or dip into individual legs as standalone trips.
1. Dungeness, Kent
Doctor Who • The End of the F**ing World • The Woman in Black*
Dungeness doesn’t look like anywhere else in Britain, which is why directors love it. Miles of shingle stretch to the horizon, broken by fishermen’s huts, rusting boats and the angular outline of a nuclear power station. It’s bleak, beautiful and oddly calming, with a sense of being on the edge of the world.
On screen, it has doubled as alien landscapes in Doctor Who, a place of emotional exile in The End of the F**ing World*, and a gothic backdrop in The Woman in Black. In person, it feels just as otherworldly. You can wander along the beach, peer into the strange, creative gardens dotted among the huts, and visit the iconic black lighthouse.
It’s an ideal touring stop because it’s compact and slow. There’s no rush here. Park up, walk, breathe it in, then return to your pitch with sand still clinging to your boots.
Campsite summary
Romney Meadows Caravan & Camping Park (Romney Marsh)
- Distance: Around 3 miles from the shingle at Dungeness
- Type: Independent caravan and camping park with touring pitches
- Facilities: Hook-up, modern showers, spacious pitches, dog-friendly
- Vibe: Peaceful, open and rural, with a relaxed coastal feel
- Best for: Couples, families, dog owners and longer stays
- Why it works: An easy, stress-free base with flat access and quiet surroundings. Ideal for cycling or driving out to Dungeness early or late in the day, when the landscape is at its most dramatic
2. Puzzlewood, Forest of Dean
Star Wars • Doctor Who • Merlin
If you’ve ever watched a fantasy or sci-fi series and thought, “That forest looks unreal,” there’s a good chance it was Puzzlewood. This ancient woodland is a tangle of moss-covered rocks, twisted roots and winding paths that feel more Middle-earth than Gloucestershire.
It has stood in for alien worlds in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, enchanted realms in Merlin, and countless mysterious locations in Doctor Who. The reason is obvious the moment you step inside: light filters strangely through the canopy, the ground rises and falls unpredictably, and every turn reveals something cinematic.
Visiting is straightforward, with a signed trail that guides you through the most dramatic sections. It’s brilliant for children, magical for photographers, and immersive in any season. Lush in summer, atmospheric in autumn, haunting in winter.
Campsite summary
Broadstone Fisheries Campsite (Forest of Dean)
- Distance: Approximately 6 miles from Puzzlewood
- Type: Independent lakeside caravan and camping park
- Facilities: Hook-up pitches, clean showers and toilets, fishing lakes, café on site, dog-friendly
- Vibe: Peaceful, rural and relaxed, with wide open views across the water
- Best for: Couples, families, anglers and anyone who enjoys space and quiet
- Why it works: A calm, scenic base after a day in Puzzlewood’s dark, magical woodland
3. Lacock, Wiltshire
Harry Potter • Pride & Prejudice • Downton Abbey
Lacock is what many people imagine when they picture an English village: stone cottages, narrow lanes, timbered pubs and an abbey that has barely changed in centuries. It’s also one of the most filmed places in the country.
The cloisters of Lacock Abbey became Hogwarts corridors in the Harry Potter films. The village streets have stood in for everything from Pride & Prejudice to Downton Abbey. What makes Lacock special is that it isn’t dressed up for visitors – it simply is.
You can walk the same paths as film crews, explore the abbey rooms, and then sit outside a pub that looks exactly as it did on screen. It’s compact, walkable and wonderfully immersive.
Campsite summary
Piccadilly Caravan Park (Lacock)
- Distance: Around 1 mile from the village
- Type: Small, independent touring park
- Facilities: Hook-up, modern showers, level pitches
- Vibe: Friendly, tidy, village-edge convenience
- Best for: Couples, short breaks, first-time tourers
- Why it works: You can leave the van behind and walk straight into one of Britain’s most filmed villages
4. Oxford
Harry Potter • Inspector Morse • Endeavour
Few cities feel as cinematic as Oxford. Spires rise above ancient quads, bridges arch over the Cherwell, and every corner seems to echo the past. It’s been a filming location for decades, from Inspector Morse and Endeavour to Harry Potter.
Christ Church College famously inspired Hogwarts’ Great Hall, while other colleges and libraries appear throughout the films. Even if you’re not hunting specific spots, simply walking the city feels like stepping into a period drama.
Touring-wise, Oxford works best as a “park up and explore” stop. Leave the van on site, use public transport, and enjoy a full day wandering without city-centre stress.
Campsite summary
Greenacres Farm Campsite (near Oxford)
- Distance: Around 4 miles from the city centre
- Type: Commercial campsite with touring pitches
- Facilities: Hook-up, showers, shop, riverside walks
- Vibe: Rural edge-of-city calm
- Best for: Sightseers, cyclists, longer stays
- Why it works: Direct bus links into Oxford mean you can avoid urban driving entirely
5. Bourne Wood, Surrey
Gladiator • Avengers • The Witcher
Hidden just outside Farnham, Bourne Wood is one of Britain’s most heavily filmed forests, yet few people have heard of it. Its wide clearings, towering trees and adaptable terrain have doubled as Roman battlefields in Gladiator, alien landscapes in Marvel films, and monster-haunted paths in The Witcher.
Unlike managed parks, Bourne Wood feels wild and cinematic. Paths wind through towering pines and open glades where entire film sets have once stood. It’s less about spotting a single “iconic shot” and more about soaking up an atmosphere you recognise from dozens of scenes.
It’s also a reminder that some of the most dramatic screen locations are hiding in plain sight.
Campsite summary
Horsley Camping and Caravanning Club Site
- Distance: Around 25–30 minutes drive from Bourne Wood
- Type: Camping and Caravanning Club site
- Facilities: Grass and hardstanding pitches with electric hook-up, showers, toilets, dog-walk area, children’s play area, recreation room and onsite shop
- Vibe: Peaceful, leafy and family-friendly with a big lake at its heart
- Best for: Families, walkers and anyone wanting a scenic Surrey Hills base
- Why it works: A well-rated club site that pairs countryside calm with good facilities. Ideal as a quieter stop when exploring Bourne Wood and the wider Surrey countryside
6. Stanage Edge, Peak District
Pride & Prejudice (2005)
Few film moments capture wild romance better than Keira Knightley standing on the wind-blasted edge of the Peaks in Pride & Prejudice. Stanage Edge is a long, dramatic gritstone escarpment with huge views across the Derwent Valley, and it still feels every bit as cinematic as it did on screen.
In real life, it’s a place for big skies, changing light and wide horizons. Walk along the edge and you’ll see climbers tackling sheer rock faces, hikers following ancient paths, and photographers waiting for the clouds to break. Even on a busy day, it’s easy to find a quiet stretch and feel completely alone.
For tourers, it’s a perfect “stretch-your-legs” stop. You can arrive in the morning, walk for as long or as little as you like, then head back to the van with that satisfying tiredness only open landscapes deliver.
Campsite summary
- Distance: Around 10 minutes’ drive from Stanage Edge
- Type: Caravan and Motorhome Club site
- Facilities: Electric hook-up, toilets, showers, waste disposal, water points, dog-walking areas
- Vibe: Friendly, open and scenic. Classic Peak District moorland setting
- Best for: Walkers, climbers, couples, families and anyone wanting direct access to Peak scenery
- Why it works: Close to multiple walking routes, including Stanage Edge, with good facilities and easy access onto open moorland. Ideal for hikers who want to set off straight from their pitch
7. Alnwick Castle, Northumberland
Harry Potter • Downton Abbey (Christmas special)
Alnwick Castle is grand in a way that feels made for cinema. Its towering walls, wide courtyards and sweeping lawns have doubled as Hogwarts and as a stately setting for Downton Abbey. For many visitors, it’s the “broom lesson” location from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone that seals the deal.
Unlike many historic sites, Alnwick leans into its screen fame. There are film-location tours, broomstick sessions for children, and plenty of interpretation that links what you see to what appeared on screen.
It also sits in one of the UK’s most rewarding touring regions. Northumberland’s coast, castles and empty roads make it ideal for slow travel, with Alnwick as a natural hub.
Campsite summary
Waren Caravan Park (near Bamburgh)
- Distance: Around 20 minutes drive from Alnwick Castle
- Type: Large commercial touring park
- Facilities: Full services, sea views, shop, café, dog areas
- Vibe: Open, coastal, family-friendly
- Best for: Families, longer stays, beach lovers
- Why it works: Combines film heritage with one of the UK’s finest coastlines, all from a comfortable base
8. Port Isaac, Cornwall
Doc Martin
If you’ve ever watched Doc Martin, you’ll recognise Port Isaac instantly. The harbour, the steep lanes, the clifftop paths – it’s all exactly as it appears on screen. The fictional “Portwenn” is very much a real working village.
Fans can wander past “Doc’s house”, stand on the harbour wall, and explore streets that feel like walking into an episode. What surprises many visitors is that Port Isaac isn’t a theme park; it’s a living community with fishing boats, shops and pubs going about their day.
It’s also one of those places that rewards arriving early or staying late, which makes it perfect for tourers. You can beat the day-trippers, enjoy the village in quieter moments, and then retreat to your pitch.
Campsite summary
Trevaylor Touring Park (near Wadebridge)
- Distance: Around 7 miles
- Type: Independent touring park
- Facilities: Hook-up, modern showers, level hardstandings
- Vibe: Calm, well-kept, practical
- Best for: Couples, coastal explorers, shoulder-season touring
- Why it works: Close enough for easy visits, far enough to avoid Port Isaac’s tight lanes and parking challenges
9. St Abbs, Scottish Borders
Avengers: Endgame
In Avengers: Endgame, this small fishing village became “New Asgard”. Bright paint appeared on doors, fake shops were added, and suddenly the Scottish coast was home to Thor.
Once filming ended, St Abbs returned to normal, but fans still recognise the harbour and cliff-top paths instantly. Even without the Marvel connection, it’s a superb place: dramatic headlands, seabird colonies, and clear water that draws divers from across the UK.
It’s a wonderful reminder that blockbuster backdrops are often just ordinary places made extraordinary by light, camera and story.
Campsite summary
Starney Bay CL (near St Abbs)
- Distance: Around 3 miles
- Type: Caravan and Motorhome Club Certificated Location
- Facilities: Simple pitches, peaceful setting
- Vibe: Quiet, personal, coastal
- Best for: Couples, birdwatchers, off-grid fans
- Why it works: A low-key base that matches the unspoilt feel of the Borders coast
10. Glenfinnan Viaduct, Highlands
Harry Potter
Few structures are as instantly recognisable on screen as Glenfinnan Viaduct. The sweeping curve of concrete arches, set against lochs and mountains, became iconic as the Hogwarts Express thundered across it.
In person, it’s even more impressive. You can walk the viewpoint trail, stand beneath the arches, or time your visit to watch the steam train cross. The surrounding landscape – lochs, peaks and open moorland – feels like the end of the road in the best possible way.
As a final stop, it’s perfect. You’ve travelled the length of Britain, from shingle to mountains, and now you’re standing in one of its most cinematic landscapes.
Campsite summary
Glen Nevis Caravan & Camping Park (Fort William)
- Distance: Around 20 minutes’ drive
- Type: Large Highland touring park
- Facilities: Full services, mountain views, shop, café
- Vibe: Spacious, dramatic, adventure-ready
- Best for: Longer stays, walkers, families
- Why it works: A comfortable base for Highland exploring, with easy access to Glenfinnan and beyond
Making the route your own
This is a south-to-north journey that can be followed in one long tour or broken into bite-sized chapters:
- Kent to the Forest of Dean makes a perfect spring or autumn escape
- Wiltshire and Oxford suit short breaks
- The Peaks and Northumberland work brilliantly in summer
- Cornwall and the Highlands reward slower travel
The joy of touring is that you don’t just see these places, you immerse yourself in them. You arrive early. You stay late. You watch the light change. You make tea when everyone else rushes off.
And that’s what turns a filming location into a real destination.