Lake District filming locations

Explore the beauty of the Lake District through its iconic film and TV locations

*“You’ll all suffer. I’m going to be a star!“*

Film and TV Gems

Exploring the Cinematic Charms of the Lake District

Withnail & I – The original Lake District classic

“We’ve gone on holiday by mistake.” So says Richard E Grant’s character Withnail in the cult classic, and one of the best and most quotable British films ever made, Withnail & I.

Set primarily in the Lake District, it tells the story of two out of work actors who leave their squalid flat in London to stay in Withnail’s uncle Monty’s Cumbrian cottage.

Called Crow Crag in the film, most of the exterior and downstairs interior scenes were shot at Sleddale Hall near Shap, and it has become a popular sight of pilgrimage for fans, even though there’s no official public access.

Although much of the film was shot in various locations in the Lakes, don’t come to Cumbria looking for the Penrith tea rooms – those scenes were shot in Milton Keynes.

Here at Lakeland Retreats, much as we love Withnail & I, we don’t think coming to the Lake District for your holiday is ever a mistake, and we can guarantee your visit to one of our holiday cottages will be a more enjoyable experience than Withnail and Marwood’s at Crow Crag.

With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of other films that have been shot or set in the beautiful Lake District. How many have you seen?

Films Shot on location in the Lake District

Swallows and Amazons

Two versions of Arthur Ransome’s much-loved children’s adventure story Swallows and Amazons have been shot in the Lakes. The most recent version (2016) features scenes set in Coniston and on Coniston Water.

Wild Cat Island – where the children sail to – is in reality Peel Island. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can swim out to the island and have your own adventure.

The Walker family’s farmhouse, Holly Howe, was filmed at Boon Crag Farm near Coniston.

28 Days Later

If there was a zombie apocalypse tomorrow, we can’t think of a better place to wait it out than in the Lake District. And the makers of 28 Days Later obviously agree.

When the main characters, Selena, Hannah and Jim escape London, it’s Cumbria they head for, ending up in a cottage near secluded Ennerdale Water.

Make your own escape to peace and tranquillity in one of our more remote holiday cottages.

Snow White and the Huntsman

If it’s a fairy tale landscape you need for your film, it has to be the Lake District, right?

Based on a story by the Brothers Grimm, Snow White and the Huntsman features scenes shot in lovely Langdale, including at the purpose made Cathedral Cave and Blea Tarn, with views of the Langdale Pikes providing a stunning backdrop too.

Check out our fairy tale cottages in Langdale & Nearby Coniston.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

The Millennium Falcon over Derwentwater. X-Wings over Thirlmere. That can only mean one thing – Han Solo’s in town.

JJ Abrams’ 2015 film Star Wars: The Force Awakens makes extensive use of Lake District locations – eagle-eyed viewers will recognise Derwentwater, Thirlmere, Blencathra, Walla Crag and Watendlath Tarn.

In a county far, far away, find your dream holiday cottage near Derwentwater in Keswick.

Miss Potter, and Peter Rabbit

No round-up of films shot or set in the Lakes is complete without mentioning Beatrix Potter.

Both Miss Potter (a film about her life) and Peter Rabbit (an adaptation of one of her best-loved and most famous stories) unsurprisingly feature numerous scenes set locally.

In Miss Potter, Yew Tree Farm in the Yewdale Valley stands in for Hill Top (Beatrix’s home), and Keswick, Derwentwater, Grasmere, Whitehaven, Loughrigg Tarn and Loweswater make up the stellar supporting cast of gorgeous locations.

And, in Peter Rabbit, look out for Windermere and Ambleside.

Heading for a spot of Beatrix Pottering? Find your next favourite family holiday cottage.

Killer’s Moon

Filmed at Armathwaite Hall near Keswick, Killer’s Moon is a 1970s British horror film set over one night of terror.

A coachload of schoolgirls breaks down in the Lake District, where they are forced to take refuge for the night in a remote hotel. And then things really start to go wrong.

Don’t go out of your way to watch it though – in his book Shepperton Babylon, Matthew Sweet described it as the most tasteless movie in British cinema history!

The stunning landscape around Armathwaite Hall, however, we can recommend, and check out our holiday cottages in nearby Keswick.

The Rainbow, Mahler, Tommy, and others

Pioneering and controversial British film and television director, Ken Russell, lived in Borrowdale for many years and made great use of the Cumbrian landscape around his home to shoot numerous scenes in his many films – usually to save money when he was out of favour with Hollywood, which he was most of the time. He even used his own house on more than one occasion, including in The Rainbow.

Look out for the opening and closing scenes of Tommy, which were shot in the Borrowdale Valley.

TV Series Filmed in the Lake District

The Lakes

The entire TV series “The Lakes,” created by Jimmy McGovern, was filmed in and around the stunning Lake District in Cumbria, England.

The Lakes filming locations

Patterdale: This charming village on the shores of Ullswater served as the main setting for the series. The Ullswater Hotel, located right on the lakeside, was used as the fictional “Lakeside Hotel” where much of the drama unfolds.
Glenridding: This small village near Patterdale was also featured in several scenes, including exteriors of the fictional village pub and some lakeside shots.
Aira Force: This picturesque waterfall, located near Keswick, provided the backdrop for a romantic picnic scene between the main characters Danny and Emma in the first episode.
Bassenthwaite Lake: This large lake in the northern Lake District was used for some of the boating scenes.

Overall, “The Lakes” captures the essence of the Lake District, showcasing its stunning scenery, quaint villages, and the close-knit communities that call it home. If you’re a fan of the series, you’re sure to recognize many of these locations on a visit to this beautiful part of England.

The A Word – 2020

The A Word is a BBC television drama series, based on the Israeli series Yellow Peppers.

The series follows a young boy and how his family cope with the revelation that he has autism spectrum disorder.

The A Word Lake District filming locations

Newlands Valley: This stunning valley serves as the setting for the Hughes family’s home, offering breathtaking countryside scenery.
Keswick: The show heavily features this charming town, capturing its streets, shops, and the beautiful Derwentwater lake. Keep an eye out for The Moot Theatre, Hope Street, and Friar’s Crag.
Thirlmere: This reservoir and its surrounding area feature in numerous outdoor scenes, including the Fellside Café (filmed at High Bridge End Farm) and the High Tarn Fell Race.
Coniston: This picturesque village with its iconic lake provided stunning backdrops for scenes around Coniston Water, including Coniston Pier and Brantwood House.
Buttermere: The tranquil lake and village of Buttermere add another layer of natural beauty. Look for filming locations around the lake and in the village’s pubs and cafes.
Broughton-in-Furness: The town square and Louise’s house (near the square) were filmed here.
Ambleside: This popular Lake District town makes brief appearances in the series.
Windermere: The iconic lake and its surroundings can be glimpsed in a few scenes.
Honister Pass: This dramatic mountain pass is featured in some driving scenes.
The Black Bull Inn in Coniston, a 400-year-old coaching inn, appears in a season 2 episode.

Home from Home – 2016

Home from Home is a BBC sitcom set in the Lake District, England.[1] The Hackett family buy a wooden lodge on a park site and immediately Father Neil tries to outdo the better-off neighbours.

Home from Home filming locations:

Although the series “Home from Home” is set in the Lake District, the actual filming took place in various locations around Cumbria, not all within the official National Park boundaries.

Pooley Bridge: This quaint village served as the primary filming location, particularly capturing the village’s pub, church, and surrounding countryside.
Hillcroft Park campsite: Situated near Pooley Bridge, this campsite housed the production crew and became a backdrop for some scenes.
Siddick, near Ullswater: Some exterior shots of characters’ homes were filmed in this village.
Penrith: The town’s streets and buildings appear in occasional scenes.
Calthwaite: This village provided the setting for the school scenes featured in the series.
Staveley: Some residential scenes were filmed in this village near the eastern border of the Lake District National Park.

The Hotel – 2011

The Hotel is a fly-on-the-wall British television documentary series. Series One consisted of eight episodes and was set at The Damson Dene Hotel in the Lake District.

Swallows and Amazons – 1963

While Arthur Ransome’s beloved story of “Swallows and Amazons” is intrinsically linked to the Lake District, the 1963 TV series actually used a wider range of locations for filming:

Coniston Lake: The iconic lake features prominently, capturing sailing scenes, the island camp (filmed on Peel Island, nicknamed “Wild Cat Island”), and various shoreline areas.

Bouth: This village on the eastern shore of Windermere provided some backdrops, including the boathouse where the Swallow and Amazon were built.

Windermere: Shots of the picturesque lake and surrounding hills were included.

Outside of the Lake District scenes were shot in West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and Lime Grove Studios

The Trip – 2010

The Trip is a 2010 British television sitcom series and feature film directed by Michael Winterbottom, starring Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon as fictionalised versions of themselves on a restaurant tour of northern England.

Episode 2 from November 2010 saw the pair visit “L’Enclume” followed by episode 3 on the 15th of November where they visit “Holbeck Ghyll”.

If you’ve been inspired to take your own trip, check out our guide to the Michelin Star restaurants of the Lakes.

Deep Water

Plunge into the tension of Deep Water, the enthralling ITV series unfolding against the scenic backdrop of Staveley and Hawkshead lakes. Drawing inspiration from Paula Daly’s Windermere novels, the show unfolds against the breathtaking landscapes of the Lake District. Notably, the iconic image of the three ladies by the lakes was captured on our very own pier at The Pullwood Bay estate.

Dolittle and Jamaica Inn

Before we let the credits roll, we have to mention the pretty market town of Kirkby Lonsdale, which has had its market square transformed for the screen twice in recent years.

In 2013, the market square stood in for Cornwall for part of the filming of a new BBC TV adaptation of Daphne Du Maurier’s classic Jamaica Inn.

While in 2018 the cast and crew of Hollywood blockbuster Dolittle moved in.

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