Cotswold Film & TV Locations Trail

At a Glance

• What kind of film and TV is shot in the Cotswolds? This trail covers Cotswold locations from recent hits (Mobland, Rivals, Clarkson's Farm) and long-running favourites (Father Brown, Downton Abbey, Bridget Jones's Diary).

• Closest to Bourton on the Water and Stow on the Wold: Great Tew (Mobland), Blockley and Moreton in Marsh (Father Brown), Snowshill (Bridget Jones's Diary), Northleach (This Country) and the Cotswold Motoring Museum (Brum) in Bourton itself.

• Needs a longer drive: Tetbury and Chavenage House (Rivals) and Bampton (Downton Abbey) make for good days out from the North Cotswolds.

• Good to know: Several of the grandest houses seen on screen are private homes, so this guide only covers places you can visit.

The idyllic English countryside of the Cotswolds makes it a favourite film and TV location. Whether you've just finished a binge-watch or you're a long time fan, you can turn your Cotswolds break into a film and TV trail - a great way to explore the best spots and tick off some of your favourite scenes.

Mobland: The Falkland Arms, Great Tew

Guy Ritchie's crime drama is set mainly in London, but it has also taken viewers into a Cotswolds pub: The Falkland Arms, a classic countryside inn in the Oxfordshire village of Great Tew. This is an easy stop for lunch or a drink if you're exploring the eastern edge of the Cotswolds.

Worth knowing: the Harrigan family's country home in the series is a private residence near Stow on the Wold, so it isn't open to visitors.

Rivals: Tetbury and Chavenage House

Disney+'s adaptation of Jilly Cooper's Rivals turned the pretty town of Tetbury into the fictional "Cotchester", and filming also took place at Chavenage House nearby (which has appeared in other period dramas, like Poldark, too). Corsham was another key location you can visit nearby.

Worth knowing: check whether Chavenage House is open to visitors on the day you plan to go.

Clarkson's Farm: Diddly Squat Farm, Hawkstone, The Farmer's Dog

Visiting Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat businesses has become a pilgrimage for fans of the Amazon Prime show. If you're staying in a Bourton on the Water cottage you can walk to the Hawkstone brewery, or drive over to The Farmer's Dog for a drink and browse in the tent (if you want to eat there book well in advance). For visits to the farm itself, be prepared to queue - especially in summer! Visit any of the local pubs around Charlbury and you might even bump into some of your favourites from the series!

Bridget Jones's Diary: Snowshill

The village of Snowshill was used as a village location for Bridget Jones's Diary (you'll recognise Bridget's parents' local church!). A must-see on any Cotswold itinerary, it's a quiet, photogenic village and good to visit when you're exploring the area around Broadway.

Brum: The Cotswold Motoring Museum, Bourton on the Water

Rather than a filming location, at the Cotswold Motoring & Toy Museum you can meet the star of the show! The museum is home to Brum, the little yellow car from the children's TV series, right in the middle of Bourton on the Water - a good wet-weather stop for a nostalgic few hours or to entertain children.

Downton Abbey: Bampton

The village of Bampton in Oxfordshire is best known as the home of the village scenes in Downton Abbey, including St Mary's Church. 40 minutes or so from Bourton and Stow, you can tie it in with a tour of the Woodbrothers distillery (get 50% off when you book with us!) or a visit to the market town of Burford.

This Country: Northleach

Much of the BBC comedy was filmed in the village of Northleach, with the Sherborne Arms in the marketplace featuring as the Keepers Arms in the series. A short drive from Bourton on the Water, Northleach is worth a visit for its own sake as a particularly well-preserved medieval village.

Father Brown: Blockley and the North Cotswolds

The BBC's 1950s crime drama, has been filmed across the north Cotswolds for years. Look out for Blockley, Moreton in Marsh, Stanway House, Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe Railway and the village of Notgrove - several of which are a short hop from our Moreton in Marsh cottages.

Harry Potter: Gloucester Cathedral

Gloucester Cathedral became part of Hogwarts for the Harry Potter films. It's a good half-day out to also explore the city and its docks if you're a Harry Potter fan.

Planning a Cotswold Film & TV Locations Trail

The simplest way to do it is to pick a base and tick off locations in a day or two. Bourton on the Water and Stow on the Wold put you within easy reach of the north Cotswolds locations, while Tetbury and Bampton each deserve their own day.

• Stay in Bourton on the Water: see our Bourton on the Water cottages.

• Stay in Stow on the Wold: see our Stow on the Wold cottages.

• Bringing the dog along? See our dog-friendly cottages guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where was Mobland filmed in the Cotswolds? The Cotswolds scenes include a pub visit at The Falkland Arms in Great Tew, plus a private country house near Stow on the Wold that isn't open to the public.

Where was Rivals filmed? Largely in and around Tetbury (which stood in for the fictional town of Cotchester), with other locations including Chavenage House and the town of Corsham.

Can you visit Diddly Squat Farm? Visitors can go to the farm near Chipping Norton, but it's a working farm and gets very busy - try the shop at The Farmer's Dog.

Which film and TV locations are closest to Bourton on the Water? The Cotswold Motoring Museum (home to Brum) is in the village itself; Snowshill, Blockley, and Moreton in Marsh are all within a short drive.