Harry Potter to James Bond: Famous films made in Wiltshire

With several nearby rural areas used for the Harry Potter franchise and areas of Swindon featured in the James Bond series, the county is famed for its shooting spots.

As Christmas approaches and we find ourselves watching more television shows and films inside to keep entertained and warm, why not watch something that was filmed on your doorstep.

The release of Wonka this week also marks the perfect time to cover what was filmed locally with Bath being used as a filming location.

So without further ado, here is our ultimate list of famous movies filmed in Wiltshire and slightly beyond for your viewing pleasure:

Wonka (2023)

Wonka was released in December of 2023. (Image: Jaap Buittendijk / © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.)

Kicking off our list with the newest film, Wonka releases in December 2023 with Timothée Chalamet starring as the titular character.

The film tells the origin story of Willy Wonka, star attraction and creator of confectionary in the various incarnations of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Among many locations used for this film, the nearby city of Bath was used for some scenes and although we know it is not in Wiltshire, it is close enough for this list.

Wonka transformed parts of Bath into a captivating winter wonderland with snow machines turning the Colonnades, Parade Gardens, Bath Abbey, and the delightful Orange Grove into a film set.

Downton Abbey (TV 2010-15, Film 2019)

Downton Abbey enjoyed a successful run on both the small and big screens.

Arguably the country’s most famous period drama, Downton Abbey has gone from strength to strength since its television debut in 2010.

Multiple films have spanned in the meantime after several award-winning seasons with some of the locations filmed at being in Wiltshire.

The military parade featured in the movie was filmed in the picturesque village of Lacock where the cobbled streets and timeless charm created an authentic early 20th-century atmosphere.

Pride & Prejudice (2005)

The 2005 film adaptation of the literary classic starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen was filmed in parts at Stourhead.

A timeless story full of romance, the modern adaptation remains close to many watchers’ hearts and the Wiltshire locations helped bring it to life.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

This famous scene was filmed in the corridors of Gloucester Cathedral. (Image: Warner Bros.)

What would Christmas be without a Harry Potter marathon? The boy wizard’s second outing carried a darker tone to the first, but still provides that magical, whimsical feeling which perfectly complements the festive season.

Wiltshire was used as a filming location for the fantasy film as the hushed classroom where Harry speaks parseltongue was filmed at the Chapter House of Lacock Abbey and the corridor outside is the Abbey’s Cloister.

Additionally, although not in Wiltshire, nearby Gloucester Cathedral was also used for Hogwarts’ corridors in the film, including where the iconic haunting message, painted in blood, was written that warned pupils and staff of the chamber opening.

1917 (2019)

1917 was directed by Sam Mendes.

Ditching the magic and whimsy of Hogwarts for the pain and reality of war, the next film on the list is one of the most recent to have been filmed in Wiltshire. Sam Mendes’ war epic, 1917, wowed audiences back in 2019, going on to claim two Oscars.

The film tells the story of a pair of young British soldiers crossing the trenches in World War One to reach a senior officer and stop a dangerous attack from happening that will affect the lives of hundreds of soldiers.

Wiltshire featured heavily in the film as Salisbury Plain was used to play northern France in the film. Six different film locations were used in the 300-square-mile area. The iconic tunnel scene was filmed in a barn at Salisbury Plain and a farmhouse near to the village of Shrewton was also used.

The World Is Not Enough (1999)

Pierce Brosnan's third appearance as James Bond featured the use of a Swindon building disguised as a Turkish oil refinery. (Image: PA)

On a lighter note to the gritty realism of our previous entry, the next movie on the list features the most famous spy in the world, who happened to be doing some espionage in Wiltshire. None other than James Bond came to the county in the 1990s.

Pierce Brosnan’s third outing as Bond following the success of Goldeneye sees him unravel a scheme to increase petroleum prices by triggering a nuclear meltdown in the waters of Istanbul.

Despite being a major Hollywood production, Swindon was chosen as one of the several filming locations when the film was being made. Groundwell’s old Motorola HQ was set as a Turkish oil refinery, giving the Wiltshire town a memorable cameo.

The Princess Diaries (2001)

The fictional state of Genovia, featured in The Princess Diaries, was brought to life in Wiltshire. (Image: Walt Disney Pictures)

Returning to the whimsical nature of fantasy fiction, another classic film that is perfect to watch when wrapped up warm at Christmas is The Princess Diaries starring Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews.

The coming-of-age film follows a shy American teenager (Hathaway) who discovers she is the heir to the throne of a European kingdom. The young royal must decide whether to claim the throne she has inherited or renounce the title.

Most of this Disney film was filmed over in the States in San Francisco but the fictional European state of Genovia, which Hathaway’s character is due to rule, was actually filmed in Wiltshire, with Longford Castle used as a primary shooting spot.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

The house of Professor Slughorn is located within Wiltshire. (Image: Warner Bros.)

We have chosen to end the list as we started it with Harry Potter as what would Christmas truly be without at least a couple of films featuring Daniel Radcliffe’s famous boy wizard, with many people being of the opinion that the magic movies are Christmas canon.

This later instalment of the series, the sixth of eight films in total, takes a much darker tone to its predecessors as Harry discovers an old book marked as "the property of the Half-Blood Prince" and finally begins to learn more about Lord Voldemort's past.

Wiltshire was once again selected as a filming spot to bring the wizarding world to life with the village of Lacock being used as the location of Professor Slughorn’s house, where Dumbledore takes Harry. This can be seen on the west side of Chapel Hill near Church Street.