This year is most definitely the year of holidays for me. I have spent beyond my means (oops…) on quite a few trips away, including a big trip to Vietnam later on in the year. I thought that while I am young and able to travel, why not make the most of it! So I am constantly on the lookout for new places to travel to.
With so many different films being release every year, it is no wonder that specific locations are becoming more popular with tourists. I for one always look up film set locations when I am watching something shot in a beautiful place.
For some people, it has become a hobby, and as Travelbag points out, for others there are many film locations on their bucket list (I know that Game of Thrones inspired a lot of mine!). Whatever reasons you have, there’s no denying that visiting film locations can be a lot of fun. Here are some of the best to check out:
Twilight – Washington And Oregon
An entire Twilight industry has grown from the books and TV series. Tourists from all over the world travel to Forks and La Push in Washington, which is where the series was set. There are daily bus tours to take the visitors around the locations used, including taking in the school where Edward and Bella first met.
Some tourists then head to Oregon, as this is where most of the series was actually shot. A three-day guided tour gives an insight into the real Twilight world. Tourists can chat to the locals about the filming and the crews and get to see the deep green forests that surround the Multnomah Falls.
Harry Potter – London
The Harry Potter Studio just north of London opens up the whole world of the books and films. A tour around the studio lets you see the sets from the most successful film series of all time. Kids and adults alike are enthralled by it and there are extra thrills such as fighting some real-life death eaters. The kids win, of course. You can wander down Diagon Alley, see Gringotts Bank and even come face-to-face with the head of the Basilisk snake.
Head back into London to King Cross Station and you will find Platform 9 3/4. You can have your photo taken with a trolley seemingly disappearing into the wall. If you have any time left to move on to Oxford, you would be able to visit other Harry Potter sights such as the Hogwarts Library.
Lord Of The Rings – New Zealand
‘Middle earth’ tours explore parts of rural New Zealand, which was the location where the Lord Of The Rings trilogy was filmed. The same locations were used in The Hobbit movie and there are tours to private farms and other properties that all show what life in ‘Middle Earth’ was like.
There is the chance to handle the costumes and weapons used in the films and to have a delicious lunch overlooking the peaks of the Remarkable Ranges.
Mamma Mia – Greece
Although the story in Mamma Mia is fictional, some of the locations used are very real. You can island hop by boat to see the places that were used for filming and relax on the Kasteri Beach where a lot of the shots were made. The charming village scenes were taken in Damouchari with many of the locals acting as extras and they are very happy to chat with tourists about the experience.
These are a very small sample of the film locations you can visit and there is no doubt some favourites of your very own. Where have you got on your list to visit next? Was it inspired by a film set?
*This is a collaborative post but all thoughts are my own.
