IT is no secret that York is home to some of the most beautiful and historic backdrops for film and TV shows.
From your favourite BBC shows to blockbusters, the historic streets of York and countryside scenes in surrounding areas are a hit with some of the world's most celebrated directors and writers.
And, as another movie star descends in a North Yorkshire town of rural Ryedale, we look back at some of the filming locations chosen for popular productions new and old.
1. Tom Cruise spotted in the North Yorkshire countryside, April 2021
Sarah Jones, who runs Pear Tree House B&B and Holiday Cottage in Pickering, was walking her dog when she spotted Tom Cruise filming for 'Mission: Impossible 7'.
"Not only do we love Pickering and our stunning countryside but it was chosen for filming Tom's new film," Sarah said.
You can read more about that here...
2. Gentleman Jack in York city centre
The crew behind Sally Wainwright's BBC drama 'Gentleman Jack' began using York's well preserved buildings and celebrated houses from the very first series.
Fairfax House, a Georgian merchant's house on Castlegate turned museum, featured in the first series of Gentleman Jack as the interior of Lister's former lover Vere Cameron's London home.
Other buildings included in filming were Grays Court Hotel and Holy Trinity Church on Goodramgate - where Anne Lister exchanged rings and vows with her lover Ann Walker.
In November 2020, the drama returned to the city with film sets in the precincts of York Minster, College Green and the Castlegate area.
Crews also returned to Fairfax House once more.
3. Girlfriends, York and surrounding areas
ITV series 'Girlfriends', written and directed by Kay Mellor, featured the streets of York and its hospitality venues.
Filmed in the Summer of 2017, the main York location used was Cosy Club on Fossgate.
Harrogate and Leeds also made an appearance in the six-part series.
4. Bridgerton, Castle Howard near York
Following in the footsteps of other period dramas filming at Castle Howard, Netflix hit Bridgerton used the stateley home's façade, entrance hall and grounds for filming in 2019.
Castle Howard became the fictional Clyvedon Castle, residence of Simon and Daphne after their wedding.
The nearby village of Coneysthorpe features too.
5. Brideshead Revisited, Castle Howard near York
It's impossible to mention Castle Howard and not think about Brideshead Revisited, the TV adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's novel first made in 1981.
Producers Miramax returned to Castle Howard in 2008 to shoot a new film version of Brideshead Revisited, starring a wealth of British acting talent including Matthew Goode as Charles Ryder, Ben Whishaw as Lord Sebastian Flyte, Hayley Atwell as Lady Julia Flyte, Emma Thompson as Lady Marchmain, and Michael Gambon as Lord Marchmain.
You can read about more film sets at Castle Howard here...
6. The ABC Murders, North Yorkshire Moors Railway
BAFTA nominated writer Sarah Phelps made use of many North Yorkshire locations for The ABC Murders.
This included the scenic North Yorkshire Moors Railway and nearby stateley home Newby Hall, Ripon.
7. Testament of Youth, the old Terry’s Chocolate Factory in York.
This moving coming of age story set during World War I used the old Terry's Chocolate Factory in York for certain scenes while the steam engines and vintage stations of the North York Moors Railway were also used.
8. Harry Potter, York Railway Station
The pedestrian bridge across the platforms at York Railway Station features in Harry Potter & The Philosopher’s Stone. It doubles as Kings Cross station, where Harry boards The Hogwarts Express.
9. Chariots of Fire, York Railway Station
Many of the film’s interior shots of the station seen in the 1981 film are actually snippets of York Railway Station.
10. Elizabeth, York Minster
This film depicts the reign of Elizabeth I and the trials and tribulations of monarchy.
Producers tried to find a suitable substitute for Westminster Abbey and found it in York Minster cathedral- this is where Elizabeth’s coronation was filmed.
11. Scampston Hall, near Malton
Those who love a mystery may have watched BBC’s 2015 TV movie version of JB Priestley’s An Inspector Calls.
But did you know they used the dining room at Scampston Hall as a set?
12. Death Comes to Pemberley, York Minster
York Minster featured in the 2013 three part adaptation of P.D. James’ homage to Jane Austen.
As well as the minster, found in the heart of York, film crews also used Castle Howard.
13. Fast & Furious, near Selby
Hollywood action movie Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw was shot on location at the decommissioned Eggborough power station, near Selby, for a week in Autumn 2019.
Starring The Rock, Idris Elba and Jason Statham, the cooling towers and surrounding area standing in - with a generous application of computer generated imagery - for "the toxic wasteland of Chernobyl".
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