Set-jetting in England, from Bridgerton to Peaky Blinders: The new travel trend all movie fans are crazy about is written by Karina Janø.
Locations, locations, locations
Are you also traveling to rentals or studios where your favorite movie or series is filmed? Then you're part of the 'set-jetting' travel trend. For film lovers and series aficionados, set-jetting is the form of travel where fiction and reality meet.
Many people know Hollywood's gigantic film studios or the popular locations from Game of Thrones, So England might not be the first country you think of when you think of set-jetting, but it's actually producing more films and series than ever before.
From the studios behind the enchanting Harry Potter films, whose sets you can visit, to popular costume dramas like The Crown and Downton Abbey. And in fact, the popular films with the arch-American Tom Cruise on impossible missions, Mission Impossible, are also filmed in the UK.
In this article, we let a selection of English locations bring the stories and emotions to life, so join us on a cultural pilgrimage of excitement, romance and nostalgia.
Here we guide you to three English cities where you can get up close to your favorite stories: From romance in the streets of London and the English countryside to historical drama in Bath and gangster legends in Birmingham.
Set-jetting in Birmingham: Peaky Blinders
The popular series Peaky Blinders has been made into a film, and if you're a fan of the series' universe, you should head to Birmingham on a set-jetting trip, where you can sink deep into the universe of the story. The series centers on a gangster family in Birmingham in 1919, the gang The Peaky Blinders, and their cold-blooded leader Tommy Shelby played by Cillian Murphy.
A fun way to see the city is to go on a walking tour with a guide. This could include Slogging Gang's Guided Walking TourThe tour guide is completely 'in character' as Tommy Shelby and vividly tells about the city's history, real gangs and the connection to the series.
Then it's obvious to stop by. West Midlands Police Museum or maybe the city's escape room, which also has a Peaky Blinders theme. End the day with a kayak trip on Birmingham's historic canals and delve into the city's industrial past as you paddle past Peaky Blinders' haunts.
When hunger strikes, dinner is on the menu. The Old Crown case. Done is said to be one of Birmingham's oldest pubs, with a history of 656 years.
An overnight stay at the iconic Grand Hotel in the city center, will make you feel like a real movie star. The hotel, which is now one of the city's landmarks, opened in 1879 and has welcomed royalty, movie stars and famous musicians over the years.
'The Grand' hosted Tom Cruise during the filming of Mission: Impossible 7, but has also had legends such as The Beatles, Johnny Depp, Winston Churchill, the Rolling Stones, Charlie Chaplin and Bob Dylan as guests. The building itself is incredibly beautiful, and the rooms are spacious and comfortable.
There is also a good brasserie in the hotel, Isaac's, and the glamorous bar Madeline.
But you can't lie in your blankets for too long. To see the locations where Peaky Blinders was filmed, you need to hop on the train to Black Country Living Museum in the West Midlands, which forms the backdrop for all six seasons of the series.
This open-air museum is an exciting visit in itself. The museum shows life and work in the region from the 1850s to the 1960s, with replicas of high streets, retro houses, businesses, pubs and even a 'chippy' – a fish and chip shop. Don't miss a lunch here, sitting on benches in the old dining room without tables.
Set-jetting in Bath: Bridgerton
Bath's Georgian, honey-colored houses are not only decorative and historic, they also form the backdrop for Netflix's most extravagant costume drama, Bridgerton.
The city has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 and takes its name from the Roman baths, built on the hot springs that flow into the city. In the 18. century The city developed into an elegant city with neoclassical sandstone buildings and has gradually set the stage for many historical dramas.
Follow in the footsteps of 'the ton', as the series is called, and start with a guided tour with accompanying music in your headphones. Recognize streets, houses and facades from the series from Royal Crescent to The Holburne Museum and get déjà-vu while also gaining historical knowledge about the city.
It is recommended to go into The Holburne Museum, which in the first two seasons of Bridgerton forms the facade of Lady Danbury's lavish residence. The museum was the city's first public art gallery and houses both fine and decorative arts built around the collection of Sir William Holburne.
Also keep an eye out for the Featheringtons' house and Madame Delacroix's dress shop as you pass through Bath's cobbled streets and hear some delicious behind-the-scenes gossip about the making of Bridgerton. If your feet get tired after the promenade, you can book a tour of horse-drawn carriage with Courtyard Carriages.
After this, it is only fitting to enjoy an afternoon tea in beautiful surroundings. One of the best places is at Roseate Villa, which is a boutique hotel in a Victorian villa, and which is also a good place if you want to stay overnight in style.
Afternoon tea at Henrietta Bar & Restaurant is traditional but with a modern twist. Enjoy a wide selection of teas, finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones and exquisite cakes elegantly served and made en casaThey even have a special Bridgerton-inspired afternoon tea.
Should it be completely over the top, as Bridgerton is, you have to jump on one hot air balloon ride and get a 360-degree view of Bath, weather permitting. If you're a fan of the series, you'll know that a hot air balloon was featured in a dramatic scene between Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington in season 3.
But Bridgerton isn't the only famous location you can experience on a set-jetting trip to Bath. If the titles Sense and Sensibility or Pride and Prejudice stir something in you, you can visit The Jane Austen Centre, which is also located in Bath. The famous writer lived in Bath from 1801 to 1806, and the city became her muse.
Here, actors show you around the museum, and you can try on an authentic Regency-style dress. You can also try writing with quill and ink or take a photo next to one of their Austen wax figures.
Set-jetting in London and Sussex: Bridget Jones
We've reached the fourth Bridget Jones film of our clumsy anti-heroine, who despite life's obstacles charms her way into everyone's hearts. Like the previous films, the latest one was shot in the heart of London, including around Borough Market and the South Bank.
Here you will also find the house where Bridget Jones' apartment is located on the first floor in the films at the address 8 Bedale Street. Here is now the Khao Bird Thai restaurant. Although the house was only used from the outside in the films, you can visit the restaurant and drink a cocktail called 'The Blue Soup', which pays homage to Bridget's culinary skills.
A good place to stay nearby is Native BanksideFrom here it is only a short walk to Bridget's house and Borough Market, which is a lavish food market with everything from delicacies, fruit and vegetables to street food and gourmet coffee.
You could spend many hours here, but also continue to The Royal Exchange, where Bridget and Mark kissed in the snow, the Royal Courts of Justice, where she interviewed Mark for Sit Up Britain, or the London Aquatics Centre where Bridget did her birth preparations.
But true fans know that “a mini-break means true love”, like when Daniel Clever takes Bridget to the countryside on a convertible in the first film. A short drive, or perhaps more realistically, a short train ride from central London is Ockenden Manor beautiful in Haywards Heath. The 1500th-century building offers four-poster beds and fireplaces, but also a lovely large spa and a really good restaurant.
In the absence of a 'Tarts and Vicars' party, you can take a detour to Bolney Wine Estate and take a tour of the vineyards followed by a wine tasting. It may surprise some, but southern England actually produces some of the best bubbles in Europe due to its cool climate.
The site's wine production facilities were officially inaugurated in 2019 by Queen Camilla of Great Britain herself. A fitting end to a trip with the queen of diaries, Bridget Jones.
Have a great trip to England and good set-jetting!
Add comment