Hullywood Film Trail and Beyond
Film Locations Near Us:
Historic Towns, Picturesque Scenery and The Hullywood Film Trail
We consider ourselves quite fortunate to live in a beautiful part of the world, close to the coast as well as the Yorkshire Wolds, the Historic town of Beverley, the bustling cities of York and Hull within east driving distance. It will come as no surprise then, that famous films and series’ have been shot locally to us. Hull has the ‘Hullywood Film Trail’ with an augmented reality mobile app with trails around the city showcasing its photogenic locations, although that is not all; in our surrounding area from Castle Howard, to Bridlington, to York have all featured in famous films and shows.
The Hullywood film trail
The Hullywood film trail will take you on a fascinating tour of the historic maritime city, Hull has been a film destinations for decades now, featuring in older comedies such as the Only Fools and Horses episode To Hull and Back (1985) featuring a comic diamond scam and Clockwise (1986), the absurdist classically British comedy starring John Cleese shot in Paragon Arcade, a popular shopping location.
Hullraisers (2022) is a sitcom from Hull born and bred Lucy Beaumont, set in Hull.
The Channel 4 drama National Treasure (2016) featuring Robbie Coltrane was filmed in Hull’s Guildhall.
Hull’s Old Town serves as the ideal location for historical dramas with its winding, cobbled streets easily turning back the appearance of time with little set dressing. This is shown in Enola Holmes 2 (2022) featuring stars such as Millie Bobbie Brown of Stranger Things fame, the enigmatic Helena Bonham Carter and The Witcher’s Henry Cavill.
Netflix’s Bodies (2023), a historical, science fiction, mystery thriller show was also filmed on Hull’s Old Town, as well as Princes Quay shopping centre.
The historical drama Amazing Grace (2006) showcases some of Hull’s history, following the Hull native William Wilberforce’s decade long fight for the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. One filming location was Wilberforce House, Wilberforce’s birthplace, which is now a museum that tells the story of his life.
More historical dramas feature Hull’s striking architecture, such as The Crown season 6 (2023) and A Royal Night Out (2015) both feature Alfred Gelder Street and Queen Victoria Square.
Beyond Hull
Closer to home, Beverley Minster has been featured in Victoria (2019) with Jenna Coleman, as a stand in for Westminster Abbey, featuring again in Gunpowder (2017) with Kit Harrington of Game of Thrones fame. Likewise the BBC’s Death Comes to Pemberley (2019) features Beverley’s Guildhall with its striking original features as the courtroom.
Further afield, Bridlington’s Old Town was featured in the Dad’s Army (2016) film, Castle Howard was in Netflix’s hit series Bridgeton and of course York, a location as prevalent in literature as it is in film: inspiring Harry Potter’s diagon alley and also serving as the location for the opening of Suzanna Clarke’s sensational epic novel Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, later being used as a filming location when the BBC brought the magical drama to our TV screens.
With its rich history, diverse architecture, and stunning landscapes, East Yorkshire continues to attract filmmakers looking for the perfect backdrop. From period dramas to contemporary comedies, the region has played a role in bringing countless stories to life. As more productions choose Hull and its surroundings, and with plans for a dedicated film studio on the horizon, the area’s reputation as a prime filming destination is only set to grow. Whether you’re following the Hullywood Film Trail or spotting familiar landmarks on screen, there’s no denying that East Yorkshire has firmly earned its place in the world of film and television.
