On the lookout for Nottingham film locations that you can visit? Many iconic TV shows and movies were filmed in Nottingham and this part of England is definitely worth a visit for this reason (though it isn’t the only reason!). Read on for information about specific movies and television shows that were filmed in both the city and the wider county, with links to exact locations that you can visit and accompanying important details!
Contents
- Nottingham, England
- Movies and TV Shows Filmed in Nottingham
- This Is England (2006)
- Weekend (2011)
- The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
- Sherwood (2022)
- Easy Virtue (2008)
- A Room for Romeo Brass (1999)
- Bronson (2008)
- The Crown (2016 – 2023)
- Testament of Youth (2014)
- Oranges and Sunshine (2010)
- Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960)
- TwentyFourSeven (1997)
- Last Train to Christmas (2021)
- Visiting Nottingham as a Film Fan
Nottingham, England
Seeing as I lived in Nottingham for three years whilst studying at university, it was only right that I do a write up on the city from the point of view of a movie buff!
I thoroughly enjoyed my time living in Nottingham and there are lots of places worth visiting within both the city itself, as well as the county. Lots of great eateries, I must say. But I digress…
Known for its connections with the tales of Robin Hood, Nottingham has a rich history stemming from areas like Sherwood Forest, the Lace Market, Hockley and the extensive system of underground caves that can be explored beneath the city.
Its diverse aesthetics and architecture make it an expansive choice for filmmakers to help bring stories to life on the big and small screens.
Movies and TV Shows Filmed in Nottingham
I want to note that there have been a LOT of movies and TV shows filmed – either in full or in part – in Nottingham and the county of Nottinghamshire. This list of TV shows and movies filmed in Nottingham is by no means exhaustive and does not include every single feature or series that utilised this part of England.
I wanted to keep it concise, so if you know of any productions that have used Nottingham as their setting and don’t see them in the list, this is why. Plus, not every production used filming locations in Nottingham that can be visited by the general public.
There are some Nottingham filming locations that were used in productions, but there isn’t sufficient information as to whether or not they are open to the public for visitation.
For example, “Thornley Manor” featured in season two of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1983 – 2004) is actually Beesthorpe Hall in Caunton, Nottinghamshire.
According to online sources, Beesthorpe Farm is open to the public, but it is unclear as to whether the hall is as well, so I haven’t included it in the main list.
Always double check visitation rights and abilities based on what your plans are; some buildings you can visit, but access inside is not offered.
With that being said, let’s look into the locations used by TV shows and movies filmed in Nottingham that you can visit and in doing so, quench the desire to visit the sets in person!
Note: As always, please be respectful to the locals and the places that you are visiting! Some of the locations listed are residential streets and areas, so be mindful that they will be the homes of people; care should be taken and consideration should be shown.
This Is England (2006)
The movie that made director and writer Shane Meadows a household name in the world of cinema and helped progress the careers of a number of British TV and film icons like Vicky McClure and Stephen Graham.
This is England is a critically acclaimed film set in 1983, that follows Shaun, a troubled young lad who befriends a gang of Skinheads. The film looks back and reflects on the struggles of the working class in that era. It’s a true achievement in the sphere of independent cinema.
Areas of Nottingham used in the film (that you can visit) include:
- General area of Lenton (underpass and cafe)
- Limmen Gardens (Shaun’s house)
- Eve Lamb Lane
Weekend (2011)
Another critically acclaimed independent film with Nottingham as its backdrop: Weekend presents a story about a love connection found between Russel and Glen which develops into something unforgettable.
This intimate movie was shot entirely on location in Nottingham. If you’re journeying to Nottingham by train, you’ll already tick one of the places off the list without taking a step into the city on foot!
Locations in Nottingham featured in the film include:
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy is unbeatable in the DC universe.
In the third installment of this trilogy, Batman feels compelled to make a reappearance despite the events of the previous film, when antagonist Bane threatens to destroy Gotham.
Oh, Wayne Manor? Yeah, that was actually Wollaton Hall. I spent a summer’s day on the grounds of Wollaton Hall and it was absolutely delightful.
The estate is reachable by bus and entry is free (parking fees apply). There are toilets, a cafe and a museum (tickets required) all there for us to explore. For more information, you can visit the official website here.
If you’re lucky and go during the right time of year, you may even see some of the deer that call the grounds of Wollaton Hall their home!
Sherwood (2022)
Naturally, a BBC crime drama focused on a Nottingham-based story is called Sherwood. A double murder is committed in a former mining town, triggering the uncovering of secrets of the past.
Complete with a stellar cast including the likes of Lesley Manville, David Morrissey, Claire Rushbrook, David Harewood, Lorraine Ashbourne, Robert Glenister, Robert Linsday and more, Sherwood is actually inspired by true events that lead to one of the largest manhunts in British history.
Locations in Nottingham used during filming include:
Easy Virtue (2008)
Another movie filmed in Nottingham for romance fans. In this remake of the 1928 silent film of the same name, Ben Barnes – a young Englishman – and Jessica Biel – a stylish American – play a newly married couple.
When Larita (Biel) is introduced to her new inlaws (Colin Firth and Kristin Scott Thomas), she brings with her an attitude to blow all of the dust of the stuffy English away.
The family estate which features in the film is the beautiful Ancastor-stone faced manor known as Flintham Hall.
The hall itself is not currently open to the public, but there are surrounding public walking paths that offer great views of it.
A Room for Romeo Brass (1999)
Despite not being from Nottingham, Shane Meadows is certainly a fan of the area and a number of his movies were filmed in Nottingham. This is the second film of his that I’m including on this list.
The friendship of two twelve-year-old boys is put to the test when they meet an eccentric stranger with an ulterior motive. He enlists their *help* to pursue the older sister of one of the boys.
The film features Nottingham a considerable amount, including the village of Calverton.
Bronson (2008)
Fans of Tom Hardy’s acting skills will know of his chilling performance as real life infamous prisoner, Charles Bronson, in this dedicated biopic.
Nottinghamshire featured considerably throughout in various capacities.
Locations in Nottingham featured in the film include:
- Welbeck Abbey, Worksop (Rampton Psychiatric Hospital)
- St Ann’s
- Sherwood
The Crown (2016 – 2023)
Though most of this hit Netflix show were filmed in and around recognisable royal locations, some alternative places were used when filming permission wasn’t possible to acquire.
For some exterior shots of Windsor Castle, Belvoir Castle features due to the architectural similarities. Situated on the Nottinghamshire-Leicestershire border, Belvoir Castle is a stunning early 19th century building with extensive grounds, both of which are open to the public.
Adult tickets for access to the grounds start at £10 and for access to the castle as well, tickets start at £26. You can book through the website here.
They even have a tearoom and afternoon tea is on offer, which feels entirely appropriate!
Testament of Youth (2014)
This World War I set feature film inspired by the memoir of Vera Brittain shines a light on the actions of a courageous woman who abandoned her studies in Oxford to become a war nurse.
Alicia Vikander, Kit Harrington, Taron Egerton, Jonathan Bailey and more all star in this period drama.
Welbeck Estate makes a regular appearance throughout the film. It’s a historical landmark with a farm shop, gallery and more. For more information, you can visit the official website.
Oranges and Sunshine (2010)
Inspired by a true story, Oranges and Sunshine is set in 1980s Nottingham: a time when social worker Margaret Humphreys took on the British government and held them accountable for the child migration scheme that deported children in care from the U.K. to Australia.
Humphreys worked to reunite the children (now adults and who wished to do so) with the families that they were forced to leave behind.
A decent portion of the film was shot on location in Nottingham, as well as various locations across the U.K. and Australia.
Locations in Nottingham featured in the film include:
- Nottingham Council House
- Old Market Square
- Nottingham Railway Station (linked above – see Weekend)
Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960)
I actually studied this film in my third year of uni, as it featured in a module focusing on British cinema that I took. Saturday Night and Sunday Morning is a prime example of British New Wave cinema.
In all honesty, this film is pretty bleak. But, fans of this era of cinema are likely to appreciate the intention of this film in shifting cinema into a different direction.
A lot of this film was shot on location in Nottingham. Some of the areas used include:
- Savoy Cinema, Lenton
- Derby Road
- Raleigh Bicycle Works
TwentyFourSeven (1997)
It’s another Shane Meadows feature! I said he’s a fan, right?
You can also see Nottingham featured in Meadows’ Once Upon a Time in the Midlands (2002), particularly the area of Carlton.
Bob Hoskins leads a cast including the legendary Annette Badland in a story about working class youth falling into gang culture. It explores the positivity that can come from a boxing training facility being opened specifically to get vulnerable juveniles off the streets and into something productive.
The streets of Nottingham feature considerably.
Last Train to Christmas (2021)
Those who have read my Christmas posts will know that I love the festive time of year. So, why not round off this list of TV shows and movies filmed in Nottingham with a Christmas cracker?
This quirky film centres around Tony (Michael Sheen) as he travels home for Christmas with the family. Things get weird as he discovers that each carriage making up the train takes him back through time to different points of his life.
As expected, it’s Nottingham train station that features (linked above – see Weekend), which makes a grand total of three movies filmed in Nottingham train station that I’ve included in this list!
Visiting Nottingham as a Film Fan
As mentioned in the beginning of this post, Nottingham is worth visiting for many reasons. Not just for the film locations! However, the city and the wider county is full of recognisable locations as featured on the big and small screens.
The number of TV shows and movies filmed in Nottingham continues to grow as creatives in the industry recognise the area as the imagination playground that it is.
Let me know in the comments if you are planning on visiting Nottingham. Either as a film buff or for other recreational purposes!
References:
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