Top TV & movie locations
With its breathtaking peaks, shimmering lakes, and enchanting wooded valleys, the Lake District is a place that easily captures your heart. It's no wonder it's been the charming backdrop for many Hollywood movies and TV productions.
Here's a list of some fantastic films that gave the Lake District the starring role it truly deserves!
The Witcher ( 2023)
Hodge Close Quarry
Attention all Witcher fans!
Rydal Cave, Rydal Water, Blea Tarn, and Hodge Close Quarry Lake and Hodge Close Quarry Cave all can be seen in Seasons 2 majestic Witcher showdown. If you've ever wished to wander the same picturesque places where Geralt, Ciri, Vesemir, Jaskier, Yarpen, and others ventured in the Lake District, then a visit to the Lakes needs to be added to your bucket list, as all the places are easily accessible and free to visit.
Star Wars VII – The Force Awakens (2015)
Panoramic view of Skiddaw over Bassenthwaite Lake
Welcome to Takodana.
In Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens movie producers combined parts of Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite to make this forested planet, and they even featured the famous Skiddaw mountain. If you want to feel like you're in space, check out Watendlath Fell in Borrowdale Valley – it's like a little slice of the Star Wars universe right here in Cumbria!
Snowhite and the Huntsmen (2012)
Blea Tarn with the reflection of the Langdale Pikes and Side Pike
The magical Lake District, with its enchanting landscapes, proved to be a perfect fit for a blockbuster film starring Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron.
Look out for Blea Tarn and the Langdale Pikes in the background as the brave hero and her dwarf entourage embark on their journey to reclaim the throne. Cathedral Cave in Little Langdale serves as the entrance to a hidden paradise for fairies and whimsical creatures. During filming, Theron and Stewart stayed in Windermere and even dropped by the Waterage Inn in Ambleside for a drink one evening, much to the delight of the locals.
Kids Movies
Peter Rabbit ( 2018 & 2021)
Traditional slate House in Ambleside
Windermere and Ambleside serve as the backdrop for the adventures of Peter Rabbit and his friends in the film adaptations of Beatrix Potter's classic tales.
The scenic landscapes, rolling hills, picturesque lakes, and charming cottages of the Lake District provide a visually stunning and enchanting setting for these beloved characters' escapades.
Postman Pat
Postman Pat Village scene
The creator of Postman Pat John Cunliffe lived in Kendal for over 5 years and drew inspiration for the much-loved family show from the picturesque Lake District.
The concept of the Greendale Post Office is inspired by the charming Beast Banks Post Office in Kendal and you can recognise the rolling hills of the lakes when he is whizzing with his red post van through the countryside.
Paddington 2 (2017)
Rolling Hills in the Lake District as backdrop for the train chase
While the movie may not be entirely accurate in portraying the Cumbrian countryside around Ullswater as a location for a steam-powered train chase, it's not uncommon for filmmakers to take creative liberties with locations to create visually stunning scenes. Paddington 2 indeed features a variety of locations across England, including Primrose Hill, Camden's canals, Portobello Road, historic jails, and other landmarks.
The Bilton Viaduct over the River Nidd in North Yorkshire near Harrogate was part of the actual train chase and because we all love Paddington and his jam sandwiches, we let him get away with the movie makers creative liberty.