UK Travel Planning

Set Jetting in the UK: Top Movie and TV-Inspired Destinations to Visit in 2026

• Tracy Collins • Episode 185

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This week we explore the growing trend of set-jetting – travelling to destinations inspired by TV series, films, and books.

With major new releases, returning favourites, and big anniversaries coming up in 2026, set-jetting is only getting bigger. From Bridgerton and Outlander to Downton Abbey, Harry Potter, and classic novels like Wuthering Heights and Pride and Prejudice, this episode looks at how what we watch and read is shaping UK travel plans.

We share places we have visited because of TV, film, and books, alongside real listener stories from the UK Travel Planning community. We also cover the practical side of planning these trips – including tickets, transport, timing, and why guided tours can often be the best option.

Whether you’re already planning a set-jetting trip or just starting to dream, this episode will help you turn inspiration into a UK itinerary that actually works.

📝 Show Notes - Episode 185

🎧 Listen to next:

  • Episode #168 – England Trip Report: Castles, Countryside + Iconic Sights
  • Episode #176 – A Literary-Themed UK Family Adventure (Part 1)
  • Episode #127 – Solo Travel in London: Trip Report with Melissa Jones

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SPEAKER_06:

So many UK trips start the same way with a TV series, a film, or a book that makes you think I want to experience that for myself. With new releases and big anniversaries coming up in 2026, set jetting is bigger than ever. In this episode, I'm sharing where people are going in 2026 and what you need to know before you plan a set jetting trip of your own.

SPEAKER_10:

Welcome to the UK Travel Planning Podcast. Your host is the founder of the UK travel planning website, Tracy Collins. Each week, Tracy shares destination guides, travel tips and itinerary ideas, as well as interviews with a variety of guests who share their knowledge and experience of UK travel to help you plan your perfect UK vacation. Join us as we explore the UK from cosmopolitan cities to quaint villages, from historic castles to beautiful islands, and from a picturesque countryside to seaside towns.

SPEAKER_06:

Before we get started, we'd like to thank our sponsor, Walks and Devour Tours. If you're planning a trip to London, you'll already know the challenge. There's a lot you want to do and only a limited amount of time to fit it all in. That's where the right tour makes all the difference because you want experiences that are the best use of your time with more access, less waiting, and a deeper sense of the city. That's why we recommend Walks and Devour Tours. They offer walk-in tours and food tours designed to make your time count, often with early or after hours entry. You'll also be with exceptional local guides who add the stories and context so you leave with a richer understanding of what you're seeing and a trip that feels genuinely memorable. If you're visiting London as a couple with family or you simply prefer a more intimate experience, Walks and Devour Tours also offer private tour options. To learn more, you'll find the link in the show notes. Now let's get into this week's episode. Okay, hello everybody, and welcome to this week's episode. Now this this episode, I was actually really excited to do this episode because I love there's so many amazing TV series, movies, books, just so many places that have inspired Doug and I over the years to go and visit places. And so if you've ever watched a TV series or a film or and you kind of thought, I really want to go there, you are definitely not alone. And that's exactly what set jetting is all about.

SPEAKER_08:

Ah, I wonder what it was.

SPEAKER_06:

Yes, and yes, you're here. Doug's dull set tones because Doug has also gate-crashed this episode of the podcast again for another week.

SPEAKER_09:

That's right.

SPEAKER_06:

Um, but he loves TV and movies as much as I do. About a lot of older ones than I do.

SPEAKER_08:

I was gonna say a lot of nostalgic or black and white films I'm a big fan of.

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah, you're a big fan of the black and white stuff and a lot of the older stuff, but uh we we I don't know, we just we we love being able to watch so many of the different movies and also guests kind of where so often where they're set as well.

SPEAKER_08:

We don't agree on a lot of things, but we do we do we do actually agree on a lot of programmes, don't we?

SPEAKER_06:

We do. So uh let me actually define the set jetted because if you like Doug haven't heard about it, you haven't heard about it, it's like a big thing now. Um so that's actually travelling to a place because you've seen them on screen, so on a TV series or on a movie, and you want to experience the location for yourself. Um so you'll also hear people talk about literary travel, um, which are obviously trips that are inspired by books, but in the UK, honestly, those two ideas often overlap because so many of our books have been termed into films and TV series. That's right, they really have. I mean, if you listen to episode 176 with Lauren, um I chatted with her for a trip report and she designed her whole itinerary around books that should read to her kids. It was a fantastic itinerary. Yeah, absolutely fantastic. So, this kind of idea obviously literary travel, and now we've got the set jetting as well, where you actually want to go and see where these um these series or films were actually kind of brought to life. Um, so you know it it is amazing. And uh heading into 2026 now, there is such a lot going on this year. Um, I know that set Visit Britain, for example, I've been talking about set jetting. There's a lot of talk about set jetting in the press, um, and there's a lot going on in the UK this year that are gonna bring more visitors who particularly are looking at that kind of set jetting itinerary. Um, so we're gonna talk about what is coming in 2026 because you don't know, do you?

SPEAKER_08:

I have no idea.

SPEAKER_06:

No, I've done some research, so I'm very excited about some of this stuff.

SPEAKER_08:

I know about trains.

SPEAKER_06:

Oh, I know you do. Well, you know, I know, I know. But you also like TV and movies.

SPEAKER_08:

It's true, and books.

SPEAKER_06:

You do, I do. Anyway, so we're gonna talk about some of the places that are gonna be big in 2026 because people are gonna want to visit because of what's coming, TV or movie-wise. Um, we're gonna talk a little bit about where we visited over the years.

SPEAKER_08:

That's right, we've been talking places together, and I've been on my own.

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah, well, we have, but there's there's some honestly, there's so many places in the UK, it doesn't matter where you go, you're gonna find somewhere that's something that's being filmed there.

SPEAKER_08:

That's certainly true.

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah, absolutely. Um, so we're gonna talk about that then. Um I'm gonna be sharing where you've told me you've been because you've seen something on TV or you've watched a movie, or a place that you are to inspired to go to visit because you've seen or you watched or you hooked on a a particular show, a film, or a story that you really enjoy.

SPEAKER_08:

Sure.

SPEAKER_06:

So we're gonna be doing that. So do you want to know what's coming in 2026?

SPEAKER_08:

Go on and tell me.

SPEAKER_06:

Okay. Well, first of all, there's a new series of Bridgetton coming out.

SPEAKER_08:

Okay.

SPEAKER_06:

I know you're not as enthusiastic about that as I am.

SPEAKER_08:

No, uh maybe not. I was I was actually in Bath last year when there was a festival on.

SPEAKER_06:

Yes, I think it was a Jane Austen festival, though rather than the Bridgetton festival. That was it not the same thing, no, no. Um but it is set in that um that sort of Georgian time Regency. Um Regency, I've got it right. Um, so I love Bridgerton. I actually, when I was in Bath last year, I did a walk and tour, a um Bridgetton-inspired walking tour, which was really good.

SPEAKER_09:

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah, so that was excellent, really enjoyed that. Um, so that's gonna be good. So places like Bath and Hampton Court Palace, uh, which are featured in their shows, are like recognised as like included in a lot of tours if you're interested in Bridgerton. Um there is this one I am particularly excited about. It's not a series, but it's a new uh movie and it's a new adaptation of Wuther and Heights. Oh, okay. And this is by Emerald Fennel, um, who we we actually remembered from Call the Midwife. She was actually a nurse, a midwife in Call the Midwife. I remember I remember her from that series, but now she's a very, very well known uh and respected director. Oh she's actually directing Wither and Heights. Um, so that I would imagine Yorkshire will be inundated this year.

SPEAKER_08:

Great place.

SPEAKER_06:

It is a beautiful place, and obviously Wuther and Heights will know the book, set on the Yorkshire Moors.

SPEAKER_08:

Okay, so this is in Haworth.

SPEAKER_06:

It's not in Howarth, that's where they lived, isn't it? That's where the Bronte's lived.

SPEAKER_08:

It is, the parsonage.

SPEAKER_06:

Yes, they lived at the parsonage.

SPEAKER_08:

And I've been there because I did the Keithley Worth Railway, which is also paid in the railway, chilling.

SPEAKER_06:

You always have to bring trains, isn't it?

SPEAKER_08:

Well, I know. This might is my focus.

SPEAKER_06:

Okay, well, Wither and Heights. Have you did you not read the book when you were at school?

SPEAKER_08:

I might have done, yeah.

SPEAKER_06:

Oh, I might have to. But that's a little while ago. Absolutely. Okay, so Wither and Heights, Kathy Heathcliff, set on.

SPEAKER_08:

Isn't there a single involved with this?

SPEAKER_06:

No, no. Oh, mate, you think, okay, Bosch. I'm not gonna sing that on you. Don't sing it either, please. Okay, right. Well, look, the new the new Wuther and Heights movie is out.

SPEAKER_08:

Right.

SPEAKER_06:

And it's gonna bring Yorkshire even more attention as if all creatures great and small, I have to throw that, is not already bringing loads of attention to Yorkshire. That is true. Uh, but I I imagine the Yorkshire Moors are gonna be inundated with people wanting to see where this was filmed. Okay. Anyway, so I want to mention that because that's one I'm particularly excited about seeing. Um and I'm interested to see what Emerald Fennel does with it as well, how she how she adapts it and and what she does. So that'll be a good one. Um we're gonna stick with the period dramas because we've already gone, we've gone from Bridgetton to Wuther and Heights. Now we're going to Sense and Sensibility, which is obviously Jane Austen.

SPEAKER_09:

Yes.

SPEAKER_06:

Um, so I think there's a new series out. I might get this wrong. There might be a movie, it might be a movie or a series, I'm not 100% sure. But I have read uh that there's a new version of Sense and Sensibility out. Now that's usually filmed around the Peak District. I'm just thinking about um the other Jane Austen film, which has gone out of my head. Um Pride and Prejudice, that's right. Oh, yes. This is the one Colin Firth, he comes out of the fountain. I think that might be at um uh Chatsworth House.

SPEAKER_08:

Oh, I know Chatsworth House very well.

SPEAKER_06:

There's also Limehouse, which is also used. Oh, we didn't consult with someone a few years ago who was doing a lot of that, and I should remember it. I think it was Limehouse, but anyway, that's gonna be uh Derbyshire. So Derbyshire is gonna be even more popular. Pick just straight beautiful part of the world. Yeah, so a little bit more gritty, actually. There's a new Peaky Blinders movie out in March.

SPEAKER_08:

I'll probably watch that one.

SPEAKER_06:

Yep. So I think they've done a lot of that in the Black Country Living Museum in the West Midlands.

SPEAKER_08:

Okay.

SPEAKER_06:

So I I used to take the kids on trips to that when I was a teacher. Um, so that'll be interesting. So if you're into Peaky Blinders, um, that'll be out in I think that's in March. Obviously, you've got the ongoing popularity of a series like Outlander, Vera. I think there's a new series of Vera coming out, um, and All Creatures Great and Small. We all love All Creatures Great and Small.

SPEAKER_08:

Maybe the last series of Vera then, because she stopped doing them.

SPEAKER_06:

Actually, oh well, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe there isn't another one coming out. I'm just maybe it's wishful thinking on my behalf.

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah, I think she's finished film the last one at some point last year.

SPEAKER_06:

Okay, well, maybe it's not out yet.

SPEAKER_08:

Maybe so.

SPEAKER_06:

Okay, well, anyway, there's they're they always are popular. So Outlander, obviously, Scotland, Vera, Northumberland, which is where I'm from, and All Creatures Great and Small again in the that's the new series.

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah, there was a 70s version.

SPEAKER_06:

There was a 70s version of Creatures Great and Small, which is we get nostalgic about, don't we, when we watch it.

SPEAKER_08:

But the new one is excellent. It's really, really good. It's really good.

SPEAKER_06:

And there's the series, like, I mean, this isn't new for 2026, but it's still um endearing or encouraging visitors to Richmond and London, is the Ted Lasso. Yeah, yeah. And we're big fans of Ted Lasso. And I know yeah, Discover Real London, I was talking to Ollie, and they have a tour of Richmond. You can do that black cab tour, which is going to take you and show you all the Ted Lasso.

SPEAKER_07:

Fantastic.

SPEAKER_06:

I have got an article on it as well, actually. Now, anniversaries this year. I bet you didn't know this. I'm gonna feel you're gonna feel old when I say this, but it's the 25th anniversary of Harry Potter.

SPEAKER_08:

No way.

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah, can you believe that? 25 years. I remember going and buying the book for Dominique when she was looking.

SPEAKER_08:

So you queue up because there's a big demand for the books.

SPEAKER_06:

I think I know, I think I was kind of slow off the mark. So I I think I got it. I I remember getting the very first one was out, but um, yes, who knew that it was going to be as big as it was at that point?

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah, it's really good. Um, and also There is a train journey connection with Harry Potter's, of course.

SPEAKER_06:

Well, we have done that. Yeah, we can talk about that in a bit. Um the Glennfin and Viaduct, and then of course it is, and this one's really cute. Some somebody cute, and it's not you, is a hundred years old this year. Well, we're nearly a hundred. Not quite a hundred. Um, it's Winnie the Pooh. Would you believe it?

SPEAKER_08:

Fantastic. We all grew up with Winnie the Pooh.

SPEAKER_06:

Absolutely. Now I have not been to Hundred Acre Wood.

SPEAKER_08:

No, I've not been uh very close to what going on quite a few years ago when our daughter was very small.

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah, you know something, I think that's somewhere I would really like to go. And I know we have um done consults with people who've gone out to 100 acre wood and um we've recommended. I reckon you can't go to 100 acre wood without playing poo sticks.

SPEAKER_08:

I think so.

SPEAKER_06:

Okay, so I mean, why is this stuff so popular? Because I guess we can all watch it over and over again. I mean, we've just watched at Christmas, we watched all Harry Potter films again.

SPEAKER_08:

Well, we did, we did.

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah, we we watch All Creatures Great and Small. I don't know about you. Do you just binge watch stuff? Because I do. Yeah. Though the thing is I do struggle to wait until the series comes out so that I can you know, like what these days like Netflix will give you like six and then they make you wait a month and you get the next six. I think they did that with Bridget in last time around. It was very frustrated. And I can't wait. No, you didn't, but I couldn't wait. But I think uh I don't know, there's just so many so many of you can see all these British series that you couldn't before. Actually, and we did a consult recently with somebody who was uh it was a video review actually. I'm sure it was a video review, and she was inspired by um Escape to the Country. Oh, that's which we hadn't have to. That's not it. That is um that is actually people uh who are very wealthy who've got big houses usually in London, and they can afford to sell these big houses in London and then move to the countryside, and then so they've got like£25 billion from selling their house in London, yeah, and then they go out to the countryside.

SPEAKER_08:

They look at the downsizing 10 bedrooms, yeah.

SPEAKER_06:

Often that's that it that seems to be the way, but they go and check out all these pretty villages, yeah. Um, anyway, she she was kind of planning her trip around that, which was really, really cool.

SPEAKER_07:

Good idea, yeah.

SPEAKER_06:

And often because and I guess we're gonna talk in a bit as well about actually when you plan stuff, like if you have got somewhere that you want to see because of you know you are you're set jetted, um, it sometimes it actually can not be a little bit more difficult than you realise. In fact, you have to think about it when you're doing your itinerary, but I'm gonna talk about that in a bit. Um, at the end, I'm gonna give you some tips and things, some things that you need to think about if you are considering adding somewhere that you um have watched in a movie or read about a book or watched a series and you go, I really want to go there. Anyway, so should we talk about some things that we've done over the years? Okay, go key. Alright, okay. So should we start off with The Cotswold?

SPEAKER_08:

The Cotswolds, yeah.

SPEAKER_06:

Lots of things have been filmed in the Cotswolds. Lots and lots. Um I have to I have to start with Doug's favourite actually, Father Brown. I love Father Brown. And we had to go. What was the name of I bet you're not gonna be able to remember it, what was the name of the Cotswold village that we went to?

SPEAKER_08:

Um Blockley Brockley.

SPEAKER_06:

Is it Blockley? Blockley. You can go and get your phone and check it in a second. I think it was Blockley. Yeah, anyway, we had to go. I've been I think we've been twice now, so we should remember what it's called. Um, and you've got all the Father Brown where the the church is, and you got all the photos there. We went with friends the first time, but I didn't think they ever watched it. They had none of a clue, and then the next next time, just me and you went to have another look, and I was like, okay. Um, so that was that Doug did that for him, right? Because he's a Father Brown fan. So if you haven't watched Father Brown, do you want to kind of give a quick synopsis of Father Brown?

SPEAKER_08:

It's uh it's crime programmes. So Father Brown's a priest, and he has an eye for detail and eye for soul. So he solves all these crimes. Yeah, there's only short programmes, but uh Mart Williams plays the priest and it is excellent.

SPEAKER_06:

You're there's always a lot of murders that seem to go on in the Coxwalls. Well, there is I'm thinking of Midsummer murders.

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah, well, is there a village in the Cotswolds that's not had a murder?

SPEAKER_06:

Well, I don't think the actual real village is in the Coxwalls. Let's just say that. Midsummer, I don't know of any place called Midsummer in the in the Cotswolds. There's any Midsummer I think Midsummer is the name of an area. Oh, okay. Okay. Well, anyway, um that's interesting.

SPEAKER_08:

Somebody'll tell us the answer to that, but I'm pretty sure there is an area called Midsummer, but the villages are names are fictitious, but they're obviously being filmed somewhere.

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah, exactly. I don't I think there is actually a book about how how not to get murdered in a Cotswold village or something like that.

SPEAKER_08:

Um I don't know.

SPEAKER_06:

Well, we've been at the Cotswolds plenty of times, and neither of us have been murdered, so right.

SPEAKER_08:

That is true.

SPEAKER_06:

Um so another place so I went we went to to the to Blockley. I think it is Blockley now, think about it, yeah. Uh for you, and and I want to go to Diddley Squat now. You're not you don't watch the TV series, but we we know that so many of you are massive fans of um you know the the farm, Jeremy Clarkson's farm. So Diddley Squat. So we went there, that was quite cool. It was, and it's been really useful because so many people have asked us about Diddly Squat and going and visiting it and then logistics around it.

SPEAKER_08:

It was a nice bacon sandwich, and I didn't get a Victoria Sponge though, so maybe they do one now.

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah, it was cool. I I I mean we had to queue up for quite a while, just get a tiny little shop. Yeah, um, but it was really worth that. I really enjoyed it, and um I say it's one of those that we get asked about all the time.

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah. Um parking's of a premium there. Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_06:

We did have to park down a lane and kind of walk down. Um, other things, other movies that are being filmed in the Cotswolds, you've got Bridget Jones's diary, The Holiday. You wouldn't have watched any of these, no. Um, and actually, I know I'm not gonna share I'm not gonna share where it is, but if you go on one of the Go Cotswolds tours, they take you to one of those villages. We go to sleep, yeah. I'm not gonna tell you um so yeah, which is where one of those is filmed. Again, I'm gonna tell you which one, but anyway, so you have to go on a Go Cotswold tour. Um, so Cotswolds, yeah, fantastic. I mean they love it because it's classed as kind of quintessentially England, isn't it? Cotswolds.

SPEAKER_07:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06:

Um we've been the Lake District. We have and what did we do in the Lake District?

SPEAKER_08:

We went to the Beatrix Potter uh Hilltop House Hilltop, yeah, her house, hilltop, where she used to live.

SPEAKER_06:

Um so we did a tour on there because again, the lake district actually, you're better off not having a car, you're better off logistically wise taking a tour because uh local transport's actually really good, but we took a tour to see that. And that was really good, and that was really cool. And I've got a great picture where I'm holding up one of Beatrix Potter's books, and and actually the the the illustration on the front, and you can see the same the same building behind.

SPEAKER_08:

Ah, that's right.

SPEAKER_06:

It's just you know, yeah, and that's where you really feel that you are in the same you're standing in the same place that these these people lived and walked and wrote the books and uh I think it's more powerful.

SPEAKER_08:

I think it's really powerful with books. If the books because the books remember are well written, you've got it in your mind's eye, what it would look like.

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah, I suppose you can kind of with a book you can imagine you can imagine it yourself when you have that in your own mind. But but I I I think that I don't know, it was great. I mean, well, one of the next place I'm gonna talk about it it isn't from a book, it's actually a TV series, and that was when we're done in Cornwall.

SPEAKER_08:

Ah, in Port Isaac.

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah, so how many people talk to us about Doc Martin?

SPEAKER_08:

Most of the people we talked about. Yeah, it's really popular.

SPEAKER_06:

Obviously, Doc Doc Martin and Paul Dark are the two for Cornwall.

SPEAKER_08:

Is Port Isaac, not Port When.

SPEAKER_06:

Yes, so Doc Martin was filmed in Port Isaac, not Port When, which is what it's called. That's the picture. But that is really cool when you walk down and you see that harbour, and you see what was the school building, and you see where his uh the doctor's surgery was. And I remember we saw where the chemist was. I think it was an ice cream shop.

SPEAKER_08:

I can't remember what it's like. Yeah, I think it was an ice cream shop.

SPEAKER_06:

Uh it was really, really cool. I just and yeah, that that did not disappoint. We went on a beautiful, beautiful day. We actually didn't do a tour.

SPEAKER_08:

It was a summer evening.

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah, yeah, summer evening when we drove there, didn't we? Yeah, it was lovely. I really, really enjoyed that. Um, and then I'm going to talk about I've actually mentioned Vera earlier on because I was kind of hopeful there was another series. So I'm gonna have to find that out now. Um, so Vera was filmed in Northumberland, which is where I'm from. Yeah, um, so I take great joy in trying to recognise all the different locations.

SPEAKER_08:

You are good at that. Yeah. You have recognized a lot of places, don't you?

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah, so places like um Holy Island have featured on Vera. Um, and I'm glad it's drawn attention to Northumberland because I I know I keep sharing this all the time. Um, and I don't know if people in Northumberland are happier about me doing this or not, but um, because I I don't want it is a kind of and I hate the word, but I'm gonna say hidden gem, but it is really a lesser visited destination from tourists from overseas. I'd say British people are very aware of how beautiful Northumberland is. Um but I think if you're visiting from overseas, you're gonna know all about Cornwall, you're gonna know all about the Coxwolds. You potentially may know about Dobish and the Peak District, you'll definitely know about the Lake District, but I bet you don't know about Northumberland.

SPEAKER_08:

Well that's very true.

SPEAKER_06:

Um so watch Vera if you want some inspiration. It's a bit gritty, actually, the show, but but you'll see how beautiful it is. That northeast coast is is gorgeous. And the last one I thought I'd talk about, but uh, you may have some more that you want to mention. Um, and we've actually just recorded it's it's out in two more weeks, actually, is an episode all about visiting High Claire AK Downton Abbey.

SPEAKER_07:

That's right, yeah.

SPEAKER_06:

Um, and I've been twice, you've been once.

SPEAKER_07:

I have.

SPEAKER_06:

Um, and we really, really enjoyed that. And that was somewhere that I that really just you you that is probably the place that I've been the most where I literally uh could imagine myself in the programme. Like just with the music going.

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah, yeah. It's the one we get asked about most on um uh consults.

SPEAKER_06:

It is, yeah. I get into ICLA. But I think it's also the one that I just I don't know, I just it just loved being in ICLA because you c you would just somehow have the music going in your head the entire time. It's really funny. Is there anywhere else you can think of that You you may have been or that I've been that you kinda uh you want to mention that from a literary or uh a a set jetting point of view.

SPEAKER_08:

Well, yeah, this thing's like um the fourth rail bridge which appeared in the first 39 steps film that was on on place. Okay. The obviously um the Keith DeWorth Railway for the Rowway children.

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08:

That's always comes to mind. High Claire, which has also appeared in uh Jeeves and Wooster in the 80s. Uh that was well known, well known by me. Um obviously, yeah, the Harry Potter films in and the sites in London as well, just for that.

SPEAKER_06:

Yes, yes, actually, yes. Well we have got articles about um Harry Potter sites all over the UK, um, London, York, all over kind of Scotland.

SPEAKER_08:

There's a lot of training Grace is set in Brighton. That's uh very well known, that's very good. Um we've just watched uh a programme called Whitstable Pearl, which is obviously set in Whitstable.

SPEAKER_06:

Oh yes, I love that. In fact, that's actually that has made me want to go to Whitstable. Yeah, so um it's really funny, isn't it? Because it's true, there's something about when you see this and you think I haven't been to Whitstable, I now want to go. Do you think there's actually a restaurant called Whitstable Pearl?

SPEAKER_08:

Possibly, it looks like it looks like a building that's uh I want to check that out.

SPEAKER_06:

I have to say, uh, this now planning to be in the UK in a few months' time that I am very interested in going to some of these destinations, like Whitstable for a start off, which I've never been to before. Um, 100 acre wood, like which I'd like to go to. That's a fashionable.

SPEAKER_08:

Then there's in the in Cornwall's the pole arc as well.

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah, well, we yeah, um because I get my part of my ancestry is from the tin with tin miners in Cornwall. I'm always pretty inspired by that. And Cornwall is amazing. Um, and we do help people a lot with visits to Cornwall because actually it's further away than you think. It doesn't look like when you look on a map, you think, oh, it's just down there. Yeah, just down that bit there, actually.

SPEAKER_08:

Nice train journeys down there. Yeah, yeah. Um there's one um set in Stratford upon Avon.

SPEAKER_06:

Oh, yeah, you like that one. What's that one called? Um Shakespeare and something? Shakespeare and Hathaway. Is it Shakespeare and Hathaway? Yeah, you like that one. Actually, thinking about when I was just when I was talking before about the feeling that you get when you're walking in the footsteps of you know, whether it's um great writers or whether it's just actors and actors, actresses in a in a movie, is like I thought what when I was at Anne Hathaway's house outside Stratford upon Avon, that really blew my mind. That those other original flaws, and I was thinking, Oh my goodness, Shakespeare walked on this floor.

SPEAKER_08:

That is a feeling I like that and some of the castles I've been in.

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah, yeah. Anyway, that's kind of going at the literary side of things.

SPEAKER_08:

There's an endless list.

SPEAKER_06:

But there's so many places, and again, it kind of all blurs together because you you have there's so many places that it's a book and it's a film and it's a series, and it's just like just about everywhere seems to have something, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_08:

There was a famous film, uh Black and White film called Brief Encounter, which was uh scene at a station.

SPEAKER_06:

Which station?

SPEAKER_08:

Carnforth.

SPEAKER_06:

Oh where is that?

SPEAKER_08:

That's on the West Coast Main Line.

SPEAKER_06:

And you love being there, no doubt. Yes. Oh yeah, gosh. Well, it's not just us that are inspired to do you know travel around the UK because of the TV series or the movies or the books that we've read. Um, because I know that you are as well, because I asked in our Facebook group and on Instagram, and I asked um people to leave me a message, or if they were brave, to leave a speakpipe message so I could share it on this episode, which I'm going to do. So thank you so much for those of you who did that. And we've really got some fantastic stories about this. So when I asked about this about TV shows and films that inspired or inspire in future UK trips, where do you think came up more than anywhere else, Doug? Um Outlander. Yep, Scotland. Well, actually, not necessarily just Outlander, but Scotland. Scotland came up like honestly, that was that was a place.

SPEAKER_08:

So um yeah, since Outlander, there's never been so many people, mostly ladies going to touch standing stage.

SPEAKER_06:

I do that every time, you know what? And I've never ever gone through and seen a Jamie. We all try it, but nothing happened. But anyway, I just want to mention so for Facebook, I want to thank uh Lisa, Sherry, and Robin for sharing uh their trips. And again, we've got Outlander mentioned a couple of times. In fact, Sherry says that she she actually watched Outlander after she booked a Scotland trip, and then she realised there were places that she wanted to go to, so she went to Devil's Pulpit and just she like she organised things so she could see it. Um and then I know Lisa she she loved going and visiting the Outlander um places that she'd seen on screen, and that changed the whole experience for her. Yeah, um, and then actually not just Outlander, I'm gonna also mention Shetland as well, um, which is somewhere I'd love to visit. I'm going to lots of the Scottish Islands this year, but not I'm not sure if I'll make it to Shetland. I'd love to, because they're a little bit more tricky to get to. But she's hoping to visit Scotland, Robin, is because not just because of the TV show, but also because of the knitting. Knitting culture. I don't know, do you make Shetland jumpers when you're in Shetland?

SPEAKER_08:

Um I I guess.

SPEAKER_06:

Actually, you need to let me know, Robin, what it is about knitting in Shetland. I wasn't sure. But anyway, she the not only the TV series that inspires her, but it's also some.

SPEAKER_08:

The only jumpers I can think of are the Guernsey pullover from the Channel Islands.

SPEAKER_06:

Oh, okay. And now we have got two messages that were left on Speakpipe. The first is from Lavinia, who absolutely loves Outlander, and she I just love how she describes her trip. Um, and then a short message um from Tracy all about just going to Shetland again. So that's come up twice now. Shetland and Outlander seem to be um be coming up as kind of uh inspiring. Uh and then also we have in Scotland we have a message uh from Deborah, and this is slightly different because she was inspired to visit two castles because of a movie, uh quite an old movie. Can you guess what movie it would be?

SPEAKER_08:

Um Brave Heart.

SPEAKER_06:

No.

SPEAKER_08:

I don't know.

SPEAKER_06:

I think Monty Python. Ah, the Holy Grail. Yes. So anyway, she's inspired. So I'm gonna Tis but a scratch. Yes, so you can now listen to the lovely messages. Thank you very much to Lavinia and to Tracy and to Deb for leaving those.

SPEAKER_05:

I was really, really interested in going to Scotland after watching Outlander. Um, and I think the history of Outlander and and the story was oh look, the story was just so beautiful and just grabbed me from the start the love story, but the fact that she was a nurse and I'm a nurse as well, so really resonated. Plus, some days I really do feel like escaping. Okay, maybe to find some Jamie, uh a Jamie somewhere. So I think the story was just wonderful, Outlander was just magical, and I just needed to go to Scotland. And once I was there, I think I mean Outlander was still very important, but I think the history just grabbed me more, and I loved the place, the the the fact that you know the buildings were just from history, and we were walking through it, and it just felt so beautiful and magical. I really, really love Edinburgh, but I have also been to other places in Scotland. Um, I have been to most of the outlander locations as well, and even did a photo shoot. I know crazy, but so wonderful. Um, highly recommend a photo shoot in um Edinburgh as well, um, and one of them at the Baker's Close, which I will send a photo on the comments in your Instagram post. Alright, well, um signing off here, but uh thank you so much for the opportunity.

SPEAKER_04:

I am travelling with my mother and my sister, and the three of us are all big fans of the TV show Shetland, and my sister especially, so we are spending her birthday this year uh staying in Lowick and checking out the island for a few days.

SPEAKER_01:

So if you find yourself in Scotland and you happen to be a fan of Monty Python, there are two castles you cannot miss. The first is Stalker Castle, which is privately owned and you can't visit it, but you can you can see it from a distance. Um, it was featured in the Holy Grail, and the best part about that is there is a lovely cafe up on the hillside with a great view of the castle, and they have the best food. Wonderful coffee. Another castle you don't want to miss is Dune Castle. It's about a two-hour drive from Stalker Castle. It's a lovely drive through Glencoe. Dune Castle is a wonderful castle to visit, regardless. But the infamous French taunting scene in the Holy Grail was filmed there, along with parts of Outlander and I believe parts of Games of Thrones. But regardless of that, it's a castle you don't want to miss.

SPEAKER_06:

So I think Scotland's a perfect example of where inspiration is strong, but you have to kind of because of the distances and things like ferries and transport. If you're planning to go to any of the kind of more remoter places, I'm thinking Shetland, you really have to think about it. There are lots of tours that you can do for Outlander though. Yes, lots and lots of tours. Yeah, so that that Scotland. So Scotland's very, very popular. Um and then the next next place that came up actually, uh, when I was uh mainly on Facebook, I don't didn't really get any uh didn't get any voice messages about this, but um Danielle mentioned visiting Bamborough Castle and York because of reading and watching The Last Kingdom. We haven't watched that, but I've watched them all. The Last Kingdom?

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah, set at Bamborough Castle.

SPEAKER_06:

Yes, yes, oh yeah, you must have done that when I was away somewhere travelling.

SPEAKER_08:

Most likely.

SPEAKER_06:

Well, didn't we sit in the King's chair or something at Bamborough Castle last time, wasn't it?

SPEAKER_08:

Bamborough, yeah, is it called in the what was it called? Babenberg. Bamborough, Bamberg.

SPEAKER_06:

I thought you were mispronouncing. I was like, it's Bamborough, mate. I know what it's called. I'm from there.

SPEAKER_08:

I think Babenberg was the early name of it. Forgive me if anybody's uh an expert on that.

SPEAKER_06:

Okay, and then Laura and Norell both said Northumberland is firmly on the list because of Vera, uh, especially for the coastline and the scenery. Oh, most definitely. And also, I mean Northumberland has so much stuff. We've just got beautiful countryside, we've got so many castles, we've got a gorgeous coastline, we've got lovely islands you can go and visit.

SPEAKER_08:

And my favourite bookshop in the UK, favourite bookshop ever.

SPEAKER_06:

We've got Roman ruins. Honestly, it is the county that just keeps on giving.

SPEAKER_08:

And nice people.

SPEAKER_06:

Absolutely. Well, I'm not that I'm from there. Yeah, um, but again, it's more spread out. And and when we help people plan the trip to Northumberland, the first thing I'm gonna say is like, are you gonna drive?

SPEAKER_07:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06:

Because transportation in Northumberland's pretty pants. It really is not great. Um, we don't have like the main train line goes through, you can get off at Newcastle, you can get off at Morboth, and then you know then you're kind of through, and that's it. If you want to go and visit all the beautiful places, you can get off at Hexham. Yeah, um, you know, very special place. I'm not saying well, but very special.

SPEAKER_08:

Well, the old power station in Anarch is the bookshop.

SPEAKER_06:

Yes, exactly. So a lot of the train line was actually shut down. So if you're gonna travel right, you're gonna need a car. So again, um, I actually do have a lot about Northumberland on the website, so you can check it out.

SPEAKER_08:

That's a fantastic county to visit, isn't it? It is.

SPEAKER_06:

It's just we need to have a better system and be able to get around. You can't I don't know. I mean, I am tempted this year, and I may try it, is actually go to my sister's because she lives in Northumberland and actually just see how far and how much I can do on public transport. My fear is that because it's such a large county, it's gonna take a lot of time to get around places, so it's gonna take most of my day travelling around.

SPEAKER_08:

It's a planning. I mean, I used public transport um our trip around North Wales a couple of years back, and it's it's it's planning.

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah, yeah, just plan it again. Okay, then the next one obviously is Yorkshire. So um Danielle and Mandy in the Facebook group both mentioned being drawn to the Yorkshire Dales after watching all creatures great and small. I mean, we'll love it. And of course, with the new weather and heights adaptations I've already talked about, um, you know, the the the Yorkshire Moors are gonna be like the Moors on the Dales distinctly different, but both stunningly beautiful. Absolutely. Uh next destination that uh was mentioned via um Speakpipe was uh Cornwall and Devon. They came through as a strong theme. Um Mindy shared about Agatha Christie's books that inspired a week in Devon, including a visit to Greenway. Ah, yes. Where Agatha Christie lived.

SPEAKER_08:

Now, uh Karen and Devon would also be the Burr Islands.

SPEAKER_06:

Yes, I'd love to go there. That's something like that. We've talked about that for 20 years about Gotter Burr Island. So if you own own Burr Island Hotel and you'd like to invite us, we would be happy to come to Burr Island and review your hotel. Most of it. Um now, Karen, I'm gonna let Karen take the floor now. Um, who's gonna talk about Cornwall and her trip there?

SPEAKER_02:

Hi Tracy, it's Karen from Perth. You asked about what movies and TV shows have inspired us to go to travel destinations. I always wanted to go to Cornwall, but I particularly wanted to go after watching shows like Doc Martin, um Pol Dark and Fisherman's Friends, the movies. In Fisherman's Friends, you see the Minnock Theatre, which I hadn't been aware of before. So when my husband and I went to Cornwall on our last visit to the UK a few months ago, we went to the Minnock Theatre and that was amazing and well worth a visit. And also, as I said, Polar Dark is one of my favourite TV shows. And when I was doing my uh husband's family history, I discovered that his Cornish ancestors were actually tin miners in Cornwall around St Austel area. So um he's now watching Polarc again with me because he wants to learn more about uh where his ancestors came from.

SPEAKER_06:

Now again, Cornwall is an amazing place to visit. Um it looks compact when you look on a map, but actually getting around and parking and just logistically it's it can be quite challenging, can't it?

SPEAKER_08:

It certainly can, and there's lots of small narrow roads, and it's not the best railway coverage either, unfortunately.

SPEAKER_06:

And just getting places like the Minnet Theatre, which which Karen mentioned, is it's not easy. You can't you've got it, you have to cover a car. Heading through Mausville to get there is yeah, and like you've got you know dot where Dot Martin is, where St. Uh Port Isaac is, and then getting to the coastline. Yeah, exactly. So it's it's a lot, and getting from one the north north uh Cornwall to South South Cornwall can take you some time.

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah, it's not a great distance, it's just not easy to do.

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah, absolutely. Then again, uh Downton Abbey in Highclair Castle came up. It remains one of the most requested experiences that we talk about, don't we? In consulates. Um, and again, that was mentioned by Lisa, by Kel Bell and Laura. They all mentioned Highclair Castle as a must-do, thanks to, of course, Downton Abbey. Um, and you can listen to um what Kathy had to say about her visit to Highclair, which she made last year, which is lovely after five years waiting to go.

SPEAKER_03:

Hi, Tracy. This is Kathleena from Kansas in the U.S. And I wanted to tell you about my experience visiting High Clear Castle. Um I'm a big fan of Downton Abbey, have been since the beginning. I've watched every season multiple times and all the movies as well. And so I was really thrilled to get to visit High Clear Castle. But there's a little bit of a story to this. I originally had tickets to visit High Clear back in June of 2020. And of course, when the COVID pandemic hit, it canceled my entire UK trip. It was my first going to be my first trip ever. Um and so I reached out to the High Clear Castle office and explained the situation. And this was the best example of customer service at all ever, but especially during COVID, because not only did the office say, it's okay, no problem, we'll hold your tickets for you until the pandemic is over and you're able to come again. If you can't ever make it back, we'll offer you store credit instead. And also they said for when the pandemic does clear up, we're gonna hold slots available for you for any possible date. So it'll never be that the date that works for you is sold out. Just amazing. I was so impressed. Well, it actually took me five additional years to ever get back to my plans for um traveling to England and the UK. And so I reached out again to them and said, okay, I'm actually finally coming in June of 2025. I know you probably didn't expect to extend this offer that long, but is there any way that I could still take you up on that and pay the difference for any increase in cost of tickets? And they absolutely graciously worked with me. And we found a date that worked within the time that I was going to be in England. And so I was able to go. It was awesome. Here's some tips I would give to any listeners. Absolutely go in the morning and go even a little early. And the first thing I did was explore the gardens. Absolutely, I would recommend that because I was pretty much the only person on the grounds. I think one other couple, a mom and daughter, had just arrived shortly after me. So don't miss the gardens. They're gorgeous. You don't really see them in the show very often, but they're amazing. And then I also arranged to have tea. That was one of it was sort of a special event that day. And so we had tea on the lawn. That was amazing. The best tea I'd had at any place in England. Um so the tour guides were awesome. They talked about the family, the history of the home, they talked about the show and other movies like The Secret Garden and others that have been filmed there. Um, it was just one of the highlights of my England trip. So I absolutely would recommend any fans of Downton Abbey to please go see High Clare Castle.

SPEAKER_06:

So I think the thing is with High Clare, you do need to plan your visit. And in two weeks' time, we've got a full episode coming out which covers everything about visiting High Clare Castle, when it's open, how tickets work, how to fit it into your kind of itinerary. And then make sure you get tickets, don't leave it to the last minute. Yeah, yeah. Now I can't not talk about literary travel as well because okay, mainly we're talking about set jetting, but you can't ignore how many people are inspired by books as well. So um Jim shared in the Facebook group about tracking down Charles Dickens locations in London and visiting the Charles Dickens Museum, which I may do actually this year. And then Judith shared about she's planning a Jane Austen focused trip around Bath and Winchester to mark the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth. And I'm planning to do some of this that myself this year. Um and then Egg mentioned being inspired by 2005 Pride and Prejudice, adaptation, and planning a visit to Chatsworth. So I shouldn't have forgotten about Chatsworth, should I?

SPEAKER_07:

No, I know.

SPEAKER_06:

Um, and then we got a message from Cindy how literally travel the UK and has been inspiring her since she was at school. So we can listen to Cindy now.

SPEAKER_00:

Hello, Tracy from Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana, in the USA. We went to Shakespeare Plays. I also read uh Charles Dickens, Great Expectation, Tale of Two Cities, Oliver Twist, and on and on. That left me very much in awe and wanting to do everything and see everything in the UK. I've been to the UK four times, going in mid-April, but maybe I will see you. I love this country and I never get tired of it. Thank you.

SPEAKER_06:

So thanks so much to all of you who left me a message by Speakpipe and for taking part in this episode. And thank you to those of you in our Facebook group as well who left us and those messages and let us know. So I think uh what I was mentioning before is really if you're gonna plan a set jetting trip or include any set jetting in your itinerary, there's a few things that you need to think about. First one was tickets, isn't it? We're talking about tickets.

SPEAKER_09:

Yeah, that's right.

SPEAKER_06:

Um, because a lot of the film and locations and sites have got limited opening days or timed entry. For example, some of the stately homes and the smaller historic properties. So you really should check out. Like we talked about High Claire, didn't we? We've been chats with quite a few times. So you need to check those places out. The second thing, um, really, so I guess you've decided which show it is that you want to kind of go and see, either this the set or the location, is to think where the location is. Um, because often they'll film something in one part of the UK and then film another part of it in another part of the UK, which happens to be like the opposite. Part of the country. So you have to kind of look at logistically where it's really easy for High Clare because mainly mainly you can just go to the castle. There are other parts of the country because the parts of York, I think, and Northumberland have been are featured in Downton Abbey. But the main thing everybody wants to see is High Clare Castle. So it's kind of deciding what is it, what it is that you want to see. And also just looking at kind of like does that fit into your itinerary? So if you're based in London and um you're only in London for a week, but you want to go and see kind of where the polk stuff was filmed, you're going to be struggling time wise.

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah, you've got to fit in logistics to get to and from places.

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah, exactly. And that was the next thing I'm going to think about. It's like public transport can be limited in places like talked about Northumberland, haven't I? So you've got to think about how you're going to get around. So you may need a car, and I know Doug will be very sad, but sometimes you can't get the train to some of these places.

SPEAKER_08:

Unfortunately, that's true.

SPEAKER_06:

You can get to Eyclair though. That's quite easy to talk about that. But yeah, so you need to do your research or book myself and Doug for a consult or get us to review your itinerary video review because we can tell you if it'll work or if it doesn't. We've done that for many people. Yeah, absolutely. Streamline. Absolutely. Yeah, streamlined it, make it work. If you these are the places we really want to go to, what can you do and how best to do it? Uh so we can save you a lot of time and money, honestly, just helping you with the logistics.

SPEAKER_07:

Find the best fit.

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah, exactly. The other thing you can do is you can take a guided tour because they'll work. They I mean, there's a lot of really well done guided tours, which you can you'll learn a lot more than kind of just wandering around a place like an area yourself. I mean, when we went to Port Isaac, we didn't do a Doc Martin tour, but I actually would have because we had to kind of recognise the stuff ourselves, which wasn't that hard, but I'd like to have done a tour, yeah, definitely. Um, I mean, the inspiration you get from watching stuff is great, but really you just need to make sure that you plan it so that you can visit these places.

SPEAKER_08:

That's right, yeah.

SPEAKER_06:

I mean, I think we've helped people before actually change their itinerary around so they could go fit at particular places that that they wanted to go into because they hadn't looked at the days that certain places were open.

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah. Don't assume you can just turn up and get in.

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah. Anyway, I think I've loved talking about this. I love talking about TV and movies and oh, I might think we're gonna go and see Hamnet this week, aren't we? We are so yeah, really, really enjoy it. So um I actually want to know from you guys. Like, tell me what is it, you know, is there a book, is there a movie, is there a TV series that you really, really, really want to are you inspired to go and see when you visit the UK?

SPEAKER_08:

It doesn't have to be modern one, it could be like me, some old films or old books.

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah, yeah. Because I mean these days like we'll just all have more access to everything, really. We can we you know, there's there's all the old TV shows are there, um, you know, and it's great, and it's really good that they're remaking a lot of things as well. Yeah, that is is really fun. So I'm gonna link to everything that I talked about. I'll um we've only scratched the surface. Yeah, but I'll I will, as I say, link to some of the recommended theme tours that I really like and add a discount code as well. Um, do listen to our episode about Highclair Castle. We have no discount for High Highclair Castle. Let me just tell you that you have to book that with them. Um, so yeah, we've got that coming out in two weeks' time. So do subscribe so you don't miss that episode if that's somewhere that you want to go.

SPEAKER_07:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06:

Um yeah, so I've I've asked about Speakpipe. I want you to come and listen in two weeks' time. Um, and then what else would we like people to do? Leave us a review?

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah, just leave us a review.

SPEAKER_06:

Um, yeah, so if you've enjoyed the podcast, we would both really appreciate it if you could leave us a review in your favourite podcast app because it does help more travelers find the show. And really, um, we really, really need to help with that. It's been it's been a while. I've been encouraging people, we have so many people tell us on a weekly, daily basis how much they love the podcast. We just need you to leave a mess, leave a leave a um review. Please, please, please leave us a five-star review. Um, it really, really helps.

SPEAKER_07:

Definitely does.

SPEAKER_06:

Um, but until next week, when I'm talking about all things food in London, which is going to be really cool. Um, from myself and Doug, happy UK travel planning. Thank you for tuning in to this week's episode of the UK Travel Planning Podcast. As always, show notes can be found at uktravelplanning.com. If you've enjoyed the show, why not leave us feedback via text or a review on your favourite podcast app? We love to hear from you, and you never know, you may receive a shout out in a future episode. But as always, that just leaves me to say until next week, happy UK travel planning.