Filmed In Gloucester

Gloucester’s stunning architecture is quickly becoming a firm favourite with film and TV producers. Film fans have delighted in exploring Gloucester Cathedral in search of the hallowed corridors of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series. Recently, Mary Queen of Scots, episodes of the BBC’s Sherlock and Wolf Hall have been filmed in Gloucester Cathedral, whilst Disney’s blockbuster, Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass filmed in Gloucester Docks.

Peter Rabbit 2 (2020)

Based on Beatrix Potter’s tale on Peter Rabbit, the movie features scenes of Gloucester. 

Spanish Princess (2020)

See Gloucester Cathedral transformed for the TV series featuring the beautiful Spanish princess, Catherine of Aragon played by Charlotte Hope, as she navigates the royal lineage of England with an eye on the throne.

Doctor Who – Fugitive of the Judoon (2020), The Next Doctor (2008)

The Judoon search modern day Gloucester for a fugitive, featuring the thirteenth doctor played by Jodie Whittaker.

Gloucester Cathedral grounds were also used as a filming location for the Doctor Who’s 2008 Christmas Special – The Next Doctor, featuring David Tennant.

Mary Queen of Scots (2018)

Starring Margot Robbie and Saorise Ronan, the story follows Mary Stuart’s attempt to overthrow her cousin Elizabeth I and become Queen of England, only to be condemned to years of imprisonment before being executed. See if you can spot the cloisters of Gloucester Cathedral.

The White Princess (2017)

Filming took place in Gloucester Cathedral for this TV series based on the Philippa Gregory book. The story follows Elizabeth of York, the White Queen's daughter, and her marriage to the Lancaster victor, Henry VII.

Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass (2016)

From Disney Studios, the sequel to Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland hit the big screen in 2016. The production took over Gloucester Docks for a week with Alice herself (Mia Wasikowska) taking part in the maritime scene. The producers chose Gloucester Docks for the film after seeing images of the Gloucester Tall Ships Festival.

Supervising Location Manager James Grant said: “There are not many places in the UK that can double as a period London dock. Gloucester is one such place and it was here we set our ambitious one-day shoot, which included 300 crew, 150 extras, 40 technical vehicles, 18 horses and two llamas, five tall ships and two techno cranes.

“Gloucester City Council were keen from the outset to showcase the city and what it could provide, pulling together all the different departments and organisations under its umbrella to give us a period London circa 1850. Gloucester is a great setting if you want to pull off large-scale filming, be it period or contemporary.”

Sherlock (2015)

Filming took place in January 2015 for an episode of the BBC’s Sherlock, featuring Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Mark Gatiss and Amanda Abbington. The episode was broadcasted at Christmas 2015.

Wolf Hall (2015)

Mark Rylance stars as Thomas Cromwell opposite Damien Lewis as King Henry VII in a lavish adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s Booker Prize-winning novel, Wolf Hall. Part of the filming took place at Gloucester Cathedral during the summer of 2014.

The Hollow Crown (2012 and 2015)

Originally part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, the BBC’s adaptations of William’s Shakespeare’s Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 and Henry V - starring Jeremy Irons and Tom Hiddlestone, featured Gloucester Cathedral doubled as the Royal Palace of Westminster. The second part of the series, due in 2015, stars Benedict Cumberbatch and was also filmed in Gloucester Cathedral.

Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince (2009), The Chamber of Secrets (2002), The Philosopher’s Stone (2001)

The Harry Potter film series sees Gloucester Cathedral cloisters transformed into the hallowed corridors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry attracting Potter fans, both young and old, from all over the world.

Amazing Grace (2006)

Featuring Bakers Quay in Gloucester Docks, “Amazing Grace” used this background to recreate the atmosphere of the East India Docks in London circa 1780. The film tells the story of William Wilberforce and the Abolitionists movement to end the transatlantic slave trade, starring Ioan Gruffudd, Albert Finney, Michael Gambon and Benedict Cumberbatch.

Terry Pratchett’s The Colour of Magic (2006 TV Movie)

Gloucester’s beautifully restored Victorian warehouses at the docks provide the backdrop for Terry Pratchett’s feature-length adaptation of the first Discworld novel, starring David Jason.

Rosie and Jim (1999)

In the Children's ITV episode ‘Blacksmith’, Rosie and Jim travelled to Gloucester Docks to see how iron melted and moulded into different tools and objects.

Honourable Mentions

Outlaw (2007)

Vanity Fair (1998 TV)

Maurice (1987)

Martin Chuzzlewitt (1994 TV)

The Onedin Line (1971 TV)