Step into the movies: 10 iconic film locations to visit for free or with a discount this March
25th February 2025
With the Oscars—arguably the biggest night in cinema—just around the corner, the UK boasts no shortage of stunning locations that have appeared in Academy Award-winning films and other iconic movies.
Whether you want to walk in James Bond’s footsteps, explore the magical world of Harry Potter, or step inside the grand period homes from your favourite costume dramas, there’s plenty to discover.
Many of these famous film locations are offering free or discounted entry during National Lottery Open Week from 15-23 March. Simply bring along a National Lottery ticket or scratchcard to take advantage of the offer.
Check out our guide to 10 must-visit film locations—but be sure to watch out for any ongoing shoots, or you might just find yourself in the spotlight!
- National Trust’s Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire, became Malfoy Manor in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It’s also where Lord Voldemort plans the Second Wizarding War and where Harry, Ron and Hermione are taken by Snatchers after discovering Lord Voldemort’s Horcruxes. Transport yourself to the Wizarding World, with free entry during National Lottery Open Week.
- The Eden Project in Cornwall, home to the iconic Mediterranean and Rainforest biomes, served as Bond villain, Gustav Graves’s ice palace in Die Another Day (2002). Free entry during National Lottery Open Week.
- Ang Lee’s Oscar winning Sense and Sensibility used the Georgian masterpiece that is Saltram House in Plymouth as Norland Park, the estate that must be given up by the Dashwood’s. The film was also shot at Montacute House in Somerset. Those looking to celebrate the 250th birthday of Jane Austen’s this year, can enjoy free entry to Saltram House, Blickling Estate in addition to other National Trust properties during National Lottery Open Week.
- National Trust’s Stowe in Buckinghamshire is another repeat film location, from Stardust and X-Men First Class to Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies. It also serves as the Reichstag in the opening scene of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Free entry during National Lottery Open Week
- For devoted Potterheads, Glencoe National Nature Reserve is a must-visit destination steeped in the magic of the wizarding world. This breathtaking landscape served as a backdrop for several iconic scenes in the Harry Potter film series. Most famously, it was the location for Hagrid’s hut and the Hogwarts covered bridge, as seen in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004). It was also featured in later films, including The Goblet of Fire (2005), The Order of the Phoenix (2007), The Half-Blood Prince (2009), and The Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011), making it a spellbinding pilgrimage site for fans. For Bond fans, Daniel Craig’s Bond and M (Dame Judi Dench) embark on a journey through the Scottish Highlands and Glencoe to evade Silva in Skyfall (2012). Free access to the National Trust for Scotland Glencoe visitor centre for the whole of National Lottery Open Week.
- Castle Fraser in Inverurie was used as a backdrop for scenes in The Queen (2006) the film which Helen Mirren won an Oscar for her portrayal of Elizabeth II. Free entry from 15-18 and 21-23 March and free entry to other National Trust for Scotland properties during National Lottery Open Week.
- The iconic Tower of London has featured in many blockbuster films. In 2015, it made an appearance in the Mission: Impossible franchise – Rogue Nation. Tom Cruise’s character, Ethan Hunt defuses a bomb at a terrace restaurant situated close to the Tower of London. Meanwhile the landmark appears in Mary Poppins Returns (2018) and Spider-man: Far From Home (2019), where Peter Parker, MJ and Ned Leeds take on Mysterio in the streets of Central London. Half price entry from 15-23 March and other Historic Royal Palace venues during National Lottery Open Week.
- Eltham Palace in Greenwich was used to portray Slugworth’s house and factory interiors in the blockbuster film, Wonka (2023). Access free tours around Eltham Palace and other selected English Heritage venues during National Lottery Open Week.
- National Trust’s Giant’s Causeway has made an appearance in a number of films including Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008) and Dracula Untold (2014), with the basalt stones doubling as a fictional mountain in Transylvania. Free entry during National Lottery Open Week.
- Tredegar House was the location for the British Army’s WWI base in northern France, for the filming of Journey's End (2017) starring Sam Claflin. Stable Hall at Tredegar House even transformed into a general’s office for the film and some the extras, many of whom were local re-enactors, camped out overnight, to get into the mindset of the soldiers they were portraying. Free entry during National Lottery Open Week in addition to other National Trust properties.
