As Seen On Screen

If you’ve ever wondered where your favourite TV series was filmed or been momentarily distracted by a stunning view in the background of a film and thought you’d like to go there, you are not alone.

In fact, screen tourism is a growing phenomenon with more people than ever choosing to visit a location they’ve seen on screen. Whether you are inspired by the dramatic scenery or want to re-live your favourite screen moments you are in good company.

Lancashire’s historic buildings, countryside and seaside resorts have provided a backdrop for a wide variety of TV programmes and film, some you might have spotted and others that were cleverly disguised. Here's some to name but a few: 

Starting way back in 1945, Carnforth Station posed as the Miltford Junction in the ultimate romantic classic ‘Brief Encounter’. David Lean’s classic film ranks second in the British Film Institute’s Top 100 ‘best British films’ list and has continued to capture the imagination of audiences for over 70 years. 

‘Whistle Down the Wind’ (1961), was filmed in the village of Downham, in the Ribble Valley, and has remained largely unchanged since the film was shot. Several landmarks from the film can still be found in and around the village.

Stonyhurst College enhanced its profile with an appearance in the 1990 film ‘Three Men and a Little Lady’, sequel to ‘Three Men and a Baby’ starring Tom Selleck and Ted Danson, with the exterior of the College being featured on the big screen.  More recently, Stonyhurst was featured in the ghostly TV movie, ‘The Tractate Middoth’ (2013), directed by Mark Gatiss.

The Blackpool Tower Ballroom has been a permanent fixture in the ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ calendar since 2013 and was the sole venue for the first two series’ and the final of the 2011 series. 

Continuing the dance theme, ‘Shall We Dance’ (2004), starring Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez, featured a scene shot in the Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens.

Bookings to the Inn at Whitewell and Hipping Hall (2016 Boutique Accommodation of the year in the Lancashire Tourism Awards) went through the roof after Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon visited during ‘The Trip’ (2010), a six-part comedy drama which saw the pair travelling around Lancashire, Cumbria and Yorkshire posing as restaurant critics.

Did you spot Queens Street Textile Mill in the Oscar winning ‘The Kings Speech’ (2010)? The Mill was the backdrop to a speech made to northern mill workers. Interior shots of the mill were also used for the TV drama ‘An Inspector Calls’ (2015).

Lancaster Castle was only closed as a prison in 2011 and was then used in the 2014 film ‘Get Santa’, starring Jim Broadbent, and this part of the Castle is now included on the guided tour if you’re interested to see the location in more detail.

You won’t miss Blackpool in the 2016 film ‘Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children’. Look out for the Blackpool Tower and Circus, North Pier and the promenade in the Tim Burton blockbuster starring Samuel L Jackson. Tim Burton enjoyed his time filming in Blackpool so much, that he switched on the illuminations in 2015 and he also directed the 2012 music video ‘Here With Me’ by The Killers, which features Winona Ryder and was also filmed in Blackpool.

Rivington Pike and the surrounding landscape near Chorley provided a suitably dramatic location for ‘A Monster Calls’, released in early 2017, starring Sigourney Weaver and Liam Neeson as the voice of the monster. It features the local Rivington landscape as the backdrop in several scenes, which were filmed back in October 2014.

You may also recognise Queen Street Mill, Burnley, the country’s last surviving steam-powered weaving mill in ‘Peterloo’ (2018) and keep your eyes open for ‘Curfew’, starring Sean Bean and airing on Sky One in January 2019. The country lanes around Beacon Fell play host to this new street racing drama.