Filmed In Gloucester

Gloucester’s stunning architecture is quickly becoming a firm favourite with film and TV producers. Films fans can search Gloucester Cathedral for the hallowed corridors of Hogwarts School from the Harry Potter series, find the Mad Hatter in Gloucester Docks from Disney’s Alice Through the Looking Glass, discover BBC’s Sherlock Holmes solving his case in the Crypt of Gloucester Cathedral, and much more!

Discover the productions featuring Gloucester below:

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Catherine Called Birdy (2022)

This 2022 film is a medieval comedy based on the 1994 novel of the same name. Part of the filming took place in the Gloucester Cathedral Cloisters. You can even spot them in the trailer!

Boy in the Corner (2022)

The backward system of society pushes another dream-filled boy to the curb, with his aspiration suppressed, he is at risk of falling into the attractive arms of gang life. The film premiered at Gloucester Guildhall.

The Pembrokeshire Murders (2021)

Former Gloucester Prison played feature in the Pembrokeshire Murder series where Detective Superintendent Steve Wilkins, played by Luke Evans, investigates two unsolved murder cases that occurred on the Pembrokeshire coastline in 1980s.

Gloucester Prison, closed since 2013, was used as a location on the series for the prison scenes after John Cooper’s arrest, played by Keith Allen. The Detective needs to find more evidence before the perpetrator is released, do you think we will still find him hidden in one of the cells?

Peter Rabbit 2 (2020)

Based on Beatrix Potter’s characters and tales of Peter Rabbit, this movie features scenes of Gloucester. The iconic College Court was recreated in a studio, featuring all famous House of the Tailor of Gloucester, also a Beatrix Potter Museum & shop now. The film also sees some beautiful scenes of the historic Gloucester Docks and the Cathedral.

Peter Rabbit and his friends also visit a fictional Gloucester Farmers Market, however, Gloucester has its very own Farmers Market every Friday for you to visit!

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, marching through Berkeley Street, Gloucester Cathedral grounds and inside the Cathedral itself. This episode features 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.

The Informer (2019)

This Warner Bros. production sees an ex-convict working undercover who intentionally gets himself incarcerated again in order to infiltrate the mob at a maximum-security prison. This was filmed at Gloucester Prison.

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 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 Mia Wasikowska playing Alice and Johnny Depp playing the Mad Hatter. This maritime scene in the docks doubled as period London circa 1850 and featured 300 crew, 150 extras, 40 technical vehicles, 18 horses and two llamas, five magnificent tall ships.

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)

For the Harry Potter film series, Gloucester Cathedral was transformed to become one of the five locations making up the magical Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Keep your eyes peeled as you walk around and you may find the entrance to the Gryffindor Common room, petrified Ms Norris or even Harry & Ron skipping class!

The production filmed in very strategic ways to use these cloisters for various scenes across the first three movies, but they had to make some changes to disguise and protect the space such as covering modern electrical points with panels painted to look like the stone walls – these are still in place at the Cathedral now.

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)