From rolling hills and ancient castles to beautiful woodlands and high-end studios, it's no wonder that Surrey has provided the setting for some of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters. The area provides picturesque settings and gorgeous views while also possessing reliable transport links; it has quickly become a filming hotspot. Check out this list of 25 movies you might not have known were filmed on your doorstep...
1. Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)
The fifth Transformers film which stars actors Mark Wahlberg, Josh Duhamel, and Stanley Tucci, sets the scene of a world in which humans persecute the Transformers and leader of the Autobots, Optimus Prime, is gone. In order to rescue the planet, Cade Yeager and Bumblebee team up with an English aristocrat and a university professor. A pivotal battle scene in this science fiction film was shot at Forestry Commissions in Bourne Wood, Farnham.
Did you know… the movie did not receive great reviews from critics and was nominated for 10 awards at the 38th Golden Raspberry Awards.
2. The Mummy (2017)
In this action-packed film, Sergeant Nick Morton (Tom Cruise) finds the tomb of Egyptian Princess Ahmanet, but while transporting the cursed sarcophagus on a plane to Britain, the aircraft suffers a bird strike and plummets to earth. Morton survives but must now battle against the evil of the freed mummy. The movie stars actors Tom Cruise, Annabelle Wallis, and Sofia Boutella. It may come as a shock to readers that the grounds of Waverley Abbey House and ruins of Waverley Abbey appeared in this movie. Interestingly, scenes of The Mummy film (1999) were shot at Frensham Ponds, near Farnham.
Did you know… the zero gravity scene which took place in a falling plane took 64 takes to capture, most crew members threw up during filming except the main actors Tom Cruise and Annabelle Wallis.
Times: Look out for Frensham Ponds at 0:32:59 in The Mummy (1999).
3. Wonder Woman (2017)
This 2017 superhero movie, starring Gal Gadot and Chris Pine, follows the story of Diana, the princess of the Amazons, trained to be a fearsome warrior on the remote island of Themyscira. When, in 1918, US pilot Captain Steve Trevor crashes his plane close to the island, Diana learns that the world is in the midst of a horrific war. She leaves home to help fight alongside Steve, discovering the full extent of her powers on the course of this adventure. Some of the forest scenes in the movie were shot at the popular filming location Bourne Wood, Surrey.
Did you know… when Gal Gadot was auditioning for Wonder Woman she actually had no idea what the part was. Invited in for a screen test by director Zack Snyder, she was told to read the lines from the script for the ‘secret’ role.
4. Beauty & The Beast (2017)
This lavish live-action production of the beloved Disney animation starred Emma Watson as bookish Belle and Downton Abbey actor Dan Stevens as the Beast. Whilst enjoying the remake of this classic featuring a singing candlestick and macho villain among other fan favourites, you may not have known that the action was taking place in your home county. Most of the sets of this production were built at Shepperton studios, and outdoor scenes including Belle’s father getting lost in the dark forest were shot at Winterfold Forest and Hurtwood, near the village of Shere.
Did you know...when filming the ballroom dance scene actor Dan Stevens had to wear stilts whilst waltzing with Emma Watson to give him the towering height of the Beast.
Times: You can spot Jelly's Hollow in Winterfold Forest at 0:19:09.
5. Alice Through The Looking Glass (2016)
It only seems fitting that scenes of Alice through the Looking Glass were filmed in Surrey, given Lewis Carroll’s close connections with the county. In this 2016 movie Alice (Mia Wasikowska) returns to weird world of Wonderland in order to help her friend The Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) who has been acting even more strangely of late. Scenes from this whimsical tale are set in Shepperton and Longcross studios, while the asylum viewers see in one scene is actually Horsley Park, Surrey.
Did you know…Mia Wasikowska was a big fan of her costumes in the production, particularly because of their comfort and practicality: ‘In this one, I got to wear lots of trousers and things that were a lot more accessible. Alice, in this film, is really active. I had a suit at the beginning and at the end, and even that Oriental skirt is pants, so that was really great.’
6. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Another Marvel production, this movie sees Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) decide to revive a peacekeeping programme, Ultron, with disastrous consequences. Ultron wants to destroy humanity in order to bring peace to Earth, the Avengers team up and are put to the test as they try to ensure the survival of the planet. This blockbuster stars actors Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, and Jeremy Renner. Scenes in the interior of the Avengers Tower were shot at Shepperton studios in one of the largest sets used in Marvel franchise. Meanwhile, Bourne Wood is also used in many action-packed scenes including the motorbike chase.
Did you know… the trailer racked up 34 million views in the first 24 hours of being posted on Youtube, beating the record set by Iron Man 3.
7. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
In this Marvel blockbuster Chris Hemsworth reprises the role of the hammer-wielding hero to bring the universe to order; peace is threatened after villain Malekith unleashes an evil weapon. On this adventure Thor is reunited with love interest Dr. Jane Foster. The opening battle scenes in this movie between the two kingdoms actually took place at Bourne Wood, the famous filming location, near Farnham.
Did you know… a ramp had to be used in the kissing scenes and close ups between Natalie Portman and Chris Hemsworth due to their height difference.
8. Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
This 2012 spy blockbuster, directed by Matthew Vaughn, follows Eggsy Unwin, a talented but uncouth youngster who is recruited into a brutal training programme for the secret Kingsman agency. The film stars the then up-and-coming actor Taron Egerton alongside Hollywood hard hitters Colin Firth and Samuel L. Jackson. Readers will be surprised to learn that Harry Hart’s (Colin Firth) vicious massacre scenes in the church were actually filmed inside the Garrison Church of St Barbara in Deepcut, near Farnborough.
Did you know… Stunt coordinator Bradley James Allen has revealed that Colin Firth performed 80% of his own stunts in the movie after training for 6 months for the role.
Times: The Garrison Church of St.Barbara's can be spotted at 1:16:56.
9. Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)
This intergalactic Marvel movie sees Peter Quill steal a powerful orb which is coveted by brutal villain Ronan the Accuser. In order to protect himself against Ronan’s wrath, he amasses a team of outsiders and with their help works to save the galaxy. This Oscar nominated film features a star-studded cast including Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, and Vin Diesel. Parts of this space adventure were filmed in Surrey; the scene where the aircraft explodes was shot at Tilsey Farm in Bramley.
Did you know…actor Dave Bautista had to endure five hours a day of make-up application, all while standing up, for the role of Drax.
10. World War Z (2013)
In this apocalyptic epic, directed by Marc Foster, Gerry Lane a one-time United Nations employee fights against a Zombie infection that is sweeping across the world and is threatening to end mankind. This box office hit starred Brad Pitt alongside supporting actors Mireille Enos and James Badge Dale, and grossed $540 million worldwide. Readers may be surprised to discover that scenes at the South Korean airfield were actually shot at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Cranleigh. This site also hosts the BBC show Top Gear.
Did you know…85 assault rifles supposed to be used as props in the movie were seized by a Hungarian anti-terrorism squad, after it was discovered that the weapons were fully functional.
11. Diana (2013)
This biographical drama, from director Oliver Hirschbiegel, follows the final two years of the princess’ life covering events such as her divorce from Prince Charles and her relationships with heart surgeon Hasnat Khan and socialite Dodi Fayed. The film is based off the 2001 Kate Snell book Diana: Her Last Love and stars actress Naomi Watts in the title role. Scenes set in the lavish Imperial Suite at the Ritz Hotel were, in fact, shot at Fetcham Park, a popular wedding venue in Surrey.
Did you know… Diana’s former lover, Hasnat Khan, has heavily criticised this portrayal of his and Diana’s relationship claiming that it was based off: ‘Diana's friends talking about a relationship that they didn't know much about, and some of my relatives who didn't know much about it either.’
12. War Horse
This 2011 Steven Spielberg adaptation of the beloved Michael Morpurgo novel launched the career of actor Jeremy Irvine, who played the golden-hearted farm boy Albert in this wartime epic. Albert follows his horse Joey to the Western Front after his equine best friend is sold to the cavalry. They separately experience the horrors of a blood-soaked war before miraculously being reunited after the armistice. Many locations in Surrey were used to bring this classic to life; the scenes of trench warfare were shot at Wisley Airfield where 750 crew members spent six weeks digging 250 yards of trenches. Meanwhile, the scene in which Joey drags artillery up the hill in place of Topthorn was filmed at Bourne Wood.
Did you know… Steven Spielberg suffered a bit of a mishap at Wisley Airfield; he slipped, ending up entirely submerged in a flooded trench and had to be pulled out by crew members.
13. The Dark Knight (2008)
This Christopher Nolan directed film starred Christian Bale, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger, who received an Academy award for his performance as the Joker. The blockbuster set a precedent for the comic book movie genre and received critical acclaim. The story follows Batman (Bale) as he tries to protect Gotham from the chaos caused by the sinister Joker, while at the same time struggling to retain his integrity. Many of the scenes in this movie were filmed at the famous Longcross Film Studios, Chertsey.
Did you know… the prosthetics supervisor on the film, Conor O’Sullivan, took inspiration for the Joker’s scars from a man who delivered fruit machines nearby to his workshop: ‘the man delivering them had a ‘Chelsea smile.' I plucked up the courage to ask him for a photo […] the photos proved to be a very useful reference.’
14. The Holiday (2006)
This romantic comedy, directed by Nancy Meyers, sees two ladies equally unlucky in love, Iris (Kate Winslet) and Amanda (Cameron Diaz), swap homes for the holidays for a bit of headspace. However, their break from men does not last long; while Iris heads to Los Angeles and sparks a romantic connection with Miles (Jack Black), Amanda vacations in Surrey and may have found her match with Iris’s brother Graham (Jude Law). Scenes from this feel good movie were filmed in the charming village of Shere, the location for Iris’s picture-perfect cottage which was custom built for the production. Another scene where Amanda is browsing in a village market when she arrives in Surrey was filmed in a candle shop in Godalming.
Did you know… the appearance by Dustin Hoffman in the film was never planned; the actor was driving past set and stopped to have a look at what was going on. As he was a friend of the director, a cameo was created for him.
15. Hot Fuzz
This cop comedy, the second film in Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg’s Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, sees uptight London PC Nicholas Angel transferred to sleepy Sandworth in Gloustershire. From the outside Sandworth appears to be a picture-postcard village, but as Nicholas, along with his new partner Danny (Nick Frost), look into a series of bloody ‘accidents’ occurring under their noses it transpires that this village holds a dark secret. Viewers may spot Waverley Abbey, the ruins of an old monastery, during the final chase scene of this film.
Did you know…when director Edgar Wright was a teenager he in fact worked at the supermarket, Somerfield, which features in the movie.
16. Bridget Jones The Edge of Reason (2004)
This sequel picks up shortly after where the original romantic comedy left off; Bridget (Renée Zellweger) is enjoying life with intellectual, successful Mark Darcy (Colin Firth). However, there is trouble brewing in paradise when Bridget becomes jealous and suspicious of Mark’s glamorous intern Rebecca. As if things could not get any worse, Bridget’s slimy ex-lover Daniel (Hugh Grant) reappears on the scene and temptation beckons. In the final scenes of the movie, viewers may recognise a snowy St. James’ Church in the quaint village of Shere, where Bridget’s mother renews her vows.
Did you know…it was revealed on the Oprah Winfrey Show that the fight scene between Hugh Grant and Colin Firth was not choreographed.
17. Gladiator (2000)
Ridley Scott’s Oscar-winning epic tells the story of General Maximus (Russell Crowe), a talented military man and a favourite of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Before the Emperor dies he chooses Maximus as his successor, which causes his son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) to fly into a jealous rage. Commodus seizes power, murdering the general’s family and forcing him into the arena to serve as a gladiator until his death. You may be interested to learn that the opening battle scene in this historical blockbuster, featuring Roman soldiers and Germanic tribesmen on horseback, was filmed in Bourne Wood, near Farnham. The ancient woodlands as well as nearby countryside provided the perfect backdrop for scenes in the forests of Southern Germany.
Did you know…the cuts on Russell Crowe’s face following the opening battle scene were not fake. He sustained the injuries when his horse got spooked, scratching his face across some tree branches.
Times: You can spot Bourne Wood at 0:04:46.
18. Love Actually (2003)
This 2003 star-studded blockbuster follows the stories of a collection of characters and their love lives during the festive season. Airport scenes are a staple in this popular romantic comedy, so it may surprise readers to know that none of the actors set foot in an airport when shooting those iconic moments. In fact, the Epsom Downs racecourse provided the setting of the arrivals hall in Heathrow Airport. Meanwhile, Sandown Park was transformed into the Milwaukee International Airport.
Did you know… the famous scene where Hugh Grant shimmies around to ‘Jump For My Love’ in 10 Downing Street was not one that the actor was particularly keen on; he tried to delay the filming for as long as possible.
19. Casino Royale (2006)
Casino Royale, the 21st film in the popular James Bond series, stars actor Daniel Craig as the English spy and Eva Green as his love interest. The film, which features the iconic scene of Craig emerging dripping from the ocean, sees the spy engage in a risky game of poker in an attempt to prevent a criminal gang from funding terrorists. Similarly to Love Actually, airport scenes in this film were shot in Surrey. Dunsfold Park, the famous setting for BBC’s Top Gear, played host to scenes set in Miami International Airport.
Did you know… Daniel Craig put on 20 pounds of muscle to beef up for the role; however, the actor was not a stranger to exercise having been a semi-professional rugby player in the past.
20. The Omen
Arguably one of the most iconic horror films of all time, The Omen features a scene at Guildford's own cathedral. Damien, a young boy who later transpires to be the Antichrist, is travelling with his parents when he suddenly spots the passing spire of a cathedral. As the building looms into view, he is thrown into a rage, foams at the mouth and tries to bite his mother.
Did you know... the Cathedral’s dean, Victor Stock, heavily disapproved of the choice to allow the landmark to feature in the movie: ''It was a disaster, it should never have been done. People who were a bit thick were frightened to come into the building. If I was dean then, I never would have allowed it. After that, the damage was done...It was terribly difficult.''
21. The Harry Potter Franchise
One of the most beloved franchises of all time, Harry Potter has captured the hearts and minds of adults and children alike across the world, as well as launched the careers of the likes of Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson. So readers may be surprised to learn that some of the magical scenes of Harry Potter were, in fact, shot in Surrey. Virginia Water Lake featured as the Hogwarts Lake, which you can spot in The Prisoner of Azkaban when Harry takes a ride on Buckbeak. Meanwhile the site also makes an appearance in The Goblet of Fire; it provides the backdrop for the scene in which Hermione acts as an ‘owl’ delivering messages between Harry and Ron, as well as a scene where Harry chats to Neville who is wading in a lake. Bourne Wood in Farnham was also used in the last three films of the franchise. Meanwhile, the station café in which Harry sits reading The Daily Prophet (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) was shot at Surbiton Station, South West London.
Did you know… The Harry Potter franchise dwarfed its competitors in terms of commercial success; the least successful movie of the franchise grossed $90 million more than the most successful Twilight film.
Times: You can spot Virginia Water Lake in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire at 0:45:42. Meanwhile, Bourne Wood can be seen at 1:16:56 in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.
22. Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)
This dark adaptation of the original Brothers Grimm fairy tale sees the evil Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron) murder her husband the King and keep his daughter, Snow White (Kristen Stewart), imprisoned. When Snow White escapes into the Dark Forest, the Queen bribes a Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) to track her down so that she can devour her heart and be granted immortality. You will be shocked to discover that the 800-strong crew of this Hollywood blockbuster turned up at Frensham Ponds near Farnham to transform the site into a fishing village for the production. The site hosted the shooting of a pivotal battle scene, in which the village was incinerated, and this was not CGI, the actual set was torched and burnt for three days, witnessed by locals. After filming wrapped, the production team donated funds towards the protection of the wildlife site.
Did you know…during a take Kristen Stewart accidentally made contact when taking a swing at Chris Hemsworth, leaving him with a black eye. That was the take then selected to appear in the film.
23. Skyfall (2012)
The 23rd film in the James Bond Series, Skyfall, sees Daniel Craig reprise the role of the British spy in a thriller where the continuation of MI6 seems under threat following the theft of a State computer drive and a hacking. The blockbuster stars the likes of Dame Judi Dench, Javier Bardem and Ralph Fiennes and features an Oscar winning theme song from Adele. The spacious Ministry of Defence site Hankley Common, near Elstead, was used for the setting of Skyfall Manor, Bond’s childhood home. Interestingly, the site also featured in other Bond movies including The World is Not Enough and Die Another Day.
Did you know…Daniel Craig reported crying when he first heard the theme song penned by Adele: ‘From the opening bars I knew immediately, then the voice kicked in and it was exactly what I’d wanted from the beginning’.
Times: You can spot Hankley Common at 1:47:37.
24. Superman II (1980)
This superhero movie, directed by Richard Lester, stars actors Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder and Gene Hackman. In this blockbuster, Superman scarifies his powers in order to commit to a relationship with Lois Lane, however unbeknownst to the superhero, a trio of criminals have been released from the Phantom Zone and gained superpowers. Superman must leap into action to save the fate of the planet. The production team of this film built a mock-up of a small American town complete with a tarmac road, shops and a car park at Chobham Common, the largest National Nature Reserve in the South-east of England. This site provided the setting for the area where the super villains land on earth.
Did you know… the film got into some hot water over Marlboro cigarettes product placement, including a billboard featured in the film and the decision to make Lois Lane a chain-smoker. It sparked a congressional investigation into the advertising of tobacco to minors.
25. Inception (2010)
Inception, directed by Christopher Nolan, is a multi-award winning movie, which features a cast of acclaimed actors including Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, and Marion Cotillard. The blockbuster follows the story of Dom Cobb (DiCaprio), a thief with the ability to enter the subconscious of others and extract secrets. This talent has cost Cobb his life; he is wanted internationally and has been stripped of everything he has ever loved. In hope of redemption, he embarks on an impossible mission with a specialised team…inception, planting an idea into a target’s subconscious. The scene in which Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) demonstrates the paradox of the ‘Penrose steps’ is shot in the lobby of the office at 200 Hillswood Drive, Chertsey. False steps were used to create the illusion of an MC Esher-esque staircase.
Did you know… actress Ellen Page did not have to audition for the role of Ariadne. She met Nolan for a meeting unrelated to the film; a week later Page was sent the script, she read it and was offered the part.
Times: You can spot Hillswood Drive at 0:40:04.
Comments (2)
Comment FeedHosley Towers
Wayne Smith more than 3 years ago
Hosley Towers
Wayne Smith more than 3 years ago