Gloucester on the Big Screen

Discover films and TV show sets filmed right here in Gloucester. You’ll be shocked at how much of Gloucester you’ve already seen sitting on the sofa, in the comfort of your own home. Gloucester is known for its gorgeous cathedral, stunning docks, and breathtaking heritage sites. Whether you’ve visited the four Gate Streets and beyond or not you’ll be surprised at just how much of Gloucester you’ve already seen on screen…

Here are 14 times you’ve seen Gloucester have its moment on the big screen… (plus a couple of pivotal historical characters that have been laid to rest in the city).

1. Harry Potter & The Philosopher’s Stone (2001)

2. The Chamber of Secrets (2002)

3. The Half-Blood Prince (2009)

The cathedral cloisters were transformed into the hallowed corridors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry still attracting Potter fans, both young and old, from all over the world.

4. Doctor Who (2019 & 2008)

The BBC’s British science fiction series known for its Tardis travelling through time has been filmed more than once in none other than Gloucester’s stunning cathedral grounds.

Local diehard fans of the programme were starstruck as they gathered to watch the Judoon stomping its way through 21st Century Gloucester on the hunt for a fugitive. Some lucky fans even snapped up a selfie with the Doctor herself, Jodie Whittaker. (2019)

David Tennant and the Tardis arrived in the City as Gloucester Cathedral grounds were used for the filming of Doctor Who’s 2008 Christmas Special - The Next Doctor. The city was the perfect setting for the episode due it’s stunning 19th-century architecture, an ideal place to film the Victorian-set episode (2008).

5. Mary Queen of Scots (2019)

Summer of 2017 saw Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie take to the cathedral cloisters as Mary Stuart attempts to overthrow Elizabeth and become Queen of England in the blockbuster film.

Based on the Gallery in Hampton Court you’ll see glimpses of Gloucester Cathedral, as well as Haddon Hall of Derbyshire as Elizabeth and her subjects, make their way through the court hallways. When Mary Stuart is condemned to years of imprisonment just before her execution *spoiler* you may notice that the cathedral crypt was in fact where Mary was taken captive.

6. The Spanish Princess (2019)

America cable network, Starz, produced this historical drama based in Tudor England, following Catherine of Aragon as she navigates the royal lineage of England with her eye on the throne. The show unveils a lovesick Henry VIII in his teenage years, played by Actor, Ruairi O’Connor, and his love affair with Catherine. When Margaret Beaufort berates Catherine about the lack of an heir, you will notice that the scene was shot in Gloucester Cathedral’s iconic cloisters. Parts were also shot at nearby Berkeley Castle for scenes based in Westminster Palace courtyard. Based on the bestselling Philippa Gregory novels and a follow up to The White Queen (also filmed in Gloucester).

7. Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (2021)

Following the adventurous tale of the mischievous Peter Rabbit, the movie is rumoured to feature Gloucester more than once. First up is a shot is overlooking Gloucester Docks, with the familiar sight of Tommy Nielsen’s shipyard in full view.

A second bird’s eye view of College Court, the beautiful walkway that leads to the Cathedral, just off Westgate Street. This features a fictional shop that takes its name from Beatrix Potter book, the Tailor of Gloucester. It is also said that Peter plots a heist at Gloucester’s farmers market.

The mischief in Gloucester doesn’t stop there! A shot where the characters are "frolicking" in the countryside at the top of a steep hill could be Cooper's Hill, which is used for the annual cheese rolling event that sees contestants chase wheels of Double Gloucester cheese down the steep, grassy hill in Gloucestershire.

8. Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass (2016)

The sequel to Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland from Disney Studios was filmed in Gloucester Docks after producers saw images of the Gloucester Tall Ships Festival. Production took over the Docks for a week with Alice herself (Mia Wasikowska) taking part in the maritime scene. “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,” said Supervising Location Manager James Grant, according to thelocationguide.com.

9. Sherlock (2015)

Filming took place in January 2015 for a special Christmas episode of the BBC’s Sherlock, ‘The Abominable Bride’, featuring Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Mark Gatiss, and Amanda Abbington. Gloucester Cathedrals’ gorgeous gothic architecture was the perfect fit for the Victorian setting of the 1890s based production.

10. 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.

11. The Hollow Crown (2012, 2015)

Originally part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, the BBC’s prestige adaptations of William’s Shakespeare’s Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 and Henry V - starring Jeremy Irons and Tom Hiddlestone, featured Gloucester Cathedral doubling up as the Royal Palace of Westminster.

The second part of the series stars Benedict Cumberbatch and was also filmed in Gloucester Cathedral.

12. Amazing Grace (2006)

The story of William Wilberforce and the Abolitionists movement to end the transatlantic slave trade was filmed in Bakers Quay which you can see during the passage of the Phoenix scene. Starring Ioan Gruffudd, Albert Finney, Michael Gambon, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

13. 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 for Sky, starring David Jason.

14. Rosie and Jim (1999)

Who remembers Rosie and Jim floating along on the old Ragdoll? In the Children's ITV episode ‘Blacksmith’ they travelled to Gloucester Docks to see how iron melted and moulded into different tools and objects. You’ll see the docks before the regeneration phase was started in 2009.

15. The Last Kingdom (2015)

The BBC historical fiction series, based on the novels by Bernard Cornwell which airs on Netflix was not filmed in Gloucester but features prominently Lady Aethelflaed played by Pride and Prejudice actress, Millie Brady. Aetheflaed, daughter of Alfred the Great is Gloucester’s warrior queen, who fought off the Vikings and built her kingdom - St Oswald’s Priory, she was later laid there to rest.

16. Outlaw King (2018)

The Netflix action-drama features Scottish leader Robert the Bruce played by Hollywood superstar, Chris Pine, and his struggle for independence against King Edward II of England. Again, whilst not filmed in Gloucester, the real-life Edward was buried in Gloucester Cathedral after being murdered southwest of Gloucester in 12th-century fortress, Berkley Castle back in 1327.