1000s

From ‘ordinary’ terrace that attracts 1000s of tourists to bus from 90s classic

EVER watched a TV show or film and wished you could live in the characters’ worlds for a day?

Now, a growing number of iconic TV and film properties are opening their doors to fans to book to stay overnight.

Gavin and Stacey fans can stay in Uncle Bryn’s terrace house – with it being featured on Airbnb Credit: WNS
Uncle Bryn, played by Rob Brydon. filming on Trinity Street Credit: WNS

Gavin and Stacey viewers, for example, can book the exact house that was home to Uncle Bryn (played by Rob Brydon) on Airbnb.

Based on the iconic Barry Island in Wales, it is decorated just as it was in Bryn’s ‘bachelor paradise’ during episode three of series three.

It can house six guests across two bedrooms, with two nights in September for three guests setting you back £455.

But it’s not the only filming location you can walk onto. 

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Here are 10 iconic TV and film sets around the world where you can spend the night…

De Vere House (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1)

You can rent a room in what was used as Harry Potter’s childhood home Credit: airbnb
The exposed brick and fire creates a very cosy atmosphere in the house Credit: airbnb
You can separately book one of the two ensuite De Vere House rooms Credit: Warner Bros
Harry and Hermione visit the house in the penultimate film Credit: Alamy

While it may not be Hogwarts, you can also have a magical stay sleeping at Harry Potter’s birthplace and childhood home in Godric’s Hollow.

Located in medieval Lavenham, the Grade I-listed De Vere House was built in the 14th century and features four-poster beds and traditional stone fireplaces.

You can separately book one of the two ensuite rooms, which have access to a guest sitting room where you can toast marshmallows and crumpets over the fire.

The stay also includes a full English breakfast and fluffy robes – but sadly no flying broomsticks.
You are required to book two nights minimum, which costs from £390.

Yew Tree Farm (Miss Potter)

Guests can stay at Yew Tree Farm in the English Lake District, which was once the home of Beatrix Potter Credit: Getty
The farm stared in the movie Miss Potter, with Renée Zellweger Credit: handout

Experience a slice of history by booking the exact home owned by Beatrix Potter herself in the 1930s.

The Grade II-listed 17th-century Lake District property also doubled as Hill Top Farm in the 2006 Miss Potter movie starring Renée Zellweger and Ewan McGregor

The three-bedroom holiday rental comfortably sleeps six and comes with dark oak beams, four-poster beds, and antique furniture that belonged to Beatrix Potter. 

Guests can enjoy the surrounding fells, meet roaming Herdwick sheep, and relax in a private outdoor hot tub on the estate.

You can typically book the property out for around £750 per night.

The Spice Bus (Spice World)

You can rent out the iconic Spice Bus from the Spice World movie Credit: ATP
Posh Spice at the helm of the bus in the Spice World movie Credit: Alamy

It’s not only bricks and mortar filming locations that you can book. 

Spice Girls fans can have a night in the Union Jack-decorated Spice Bus, which featured in the 1997 pop movie Spice World.

Parked on the Isle of Wight, the original 1978 Bristol double-decker bus is now a cozy retreat that sleeps up to three people from £99 a night.

While it can be booked for nostalgic stays, it could also be the ideal party or hen do backdrop too.

Highclere Castle’s London Lodge (Downton Abbey)

Have a lavish time at Highclere Castle in Hampshire, which is the home of Downton Abbey Credit: PA:Press Association
While you can’t stay in the main house, you can stay in a lodge on the grounds Credit: Alamy

Downton Abbey fans can step into the world of the privileged family by checking into filming location Highclere Castle.

While you can’t sleep in Lord Grantham’s main bedroom, you can stay on the Crawley family’s estate at the restored London Lodge for from £350 a night.

During the day, guests can wander the estate’s rolling parklands and enjoy views of the main castle facade. 

Porthpean House (About Time)

You can rent out Porthpean House, seen in the movie About Time, for holidays or even weddings Credit: Facebook/The Big Beautiful Beach House
The Cornish property was the home of actors Domhnall Gleeson and Bill Nighy Credit: Alamy

Nestled right above the coastal waters in St Austell, Cornwall, this 19th-century manor served as the beloved family home of Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) and his dad (Bill Nighy) in Richard Curtis’s About Time film. 

Known off-screen as Porthpean House, the 12-bedroom property sleeps up to 21 guests and opens straight out onto rolling lawns that lead down to a secluded beach. 

Guests can spend their time in the grand drawing room complete with a piano, play croquet on the grass, or potter barefoot down to the water just like the Lake family. 

Not only is it available for private family rentals, but also weddings too. 

Lostwithiel Manor (Poldark)

The ginormous property has been used for multiple shows including Poldark Credit: Oliver’s Travels
The manor gives off royal vibes with the enormous dining room Credit: Oliver’s Travels
Poldark has been filmed on the grounds as have many other shows Credit: BBC

This wildcard rental is The Lostwithiel Manor Estate that sits deep in the Cornish countryside, four miles from Lostwithiel.

It’s a property perfect for a wedding, or special event due to its sprawling size.

Lostwithiel Manor that has been the filming location for so many shows from The Three Musketeers, My Cousin Rachel, Delicious starring Dawn French and of course, Poldark.

One guest said: “Fires and candles lit every morning. Flowers from the garden on the tables. Relaxed, attentive staff with a genuine love of the house and its history.”

The nine-bedroom property has a library, gallery, a drawing room with a working fireplace, and a beautiful garden room.

If you fancy getting married or having a party at a filming hot spot, head to Oliverstravels.

Bella Swan’s House (Twilight)

The actual house used as the home of Kristen Stewart’s character, Bella Swan, in the first Twilight movie is on Airbnb Credit: refer to caption
The house in the movie was set in Forks, Washington State, but the real house is located in a quiet neighbourhood in Oregon, and has cardboard cut-outs of the stars Credit: refer to caption

If you grew up watching Twilight, you will recall the iconic 1930s home used for the interior and exterior filming of Bella and Charlie Swan’s house.

Costing around $450 (£350) per night, the Oregon property has been kept as a homage to the 2008 hit film.

Movie memorabilia and photographs fill every room of the five-bedroom property, and you can even eat at the same dining table where Charlie and Bella shared their meals on screen.

Villanelle’s Art Nouveau Apartment (Killing Eve)

Stay in Villanelle’s grand apartment from Killing Eve Credit: Airbnb
The beautiful dwelling in Barcelona was used by the glamorous assassin Credit: BBC

Many Killing Eve fans will recall the striking flat that assassin Villanelle stayed in during the third season of the show. 

Located in Barcelona‘s trendy Gràcia district, it features lofty ceilings and stained-glass details.

Not only can you soak up the stunning architecture in the two bedroom flat, which is around £232 per night, but you also get access to a garden pool.

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Brits left £1,000s out of pocket as UK travel company announces ‘gut-wrenching’ closure

STUDENTS have been left thouands of pounds out of pocket after a UK travel company unexpectedly went bust.

Customers have called the news “gut-wrenching”, as bosses say they “deeply regret” the decision to shut close after nearly three decades.

Global Vision International (GVI) has been plunged into liquidation after 28 years Credit: Getty – Contributor
Now, those who booked holidays with the company are unsure if they will get their money back Credit: GVI

UK gap year students may lose thousands after volunteer travel company, Global Vision International (GVI), cancelled all its holidays.

The Exeter-based company offered a range of conservation and “voluntourism” placements all over the world, becoming especially popular with school leavers and gap year students who paid to take part.

On July 1, after 28 years, the company was plunged into liquidation in a move that bosses say they “deeply regret”.

CEO of GVI, Andrew Valentine, said in a statement: “It is with an incredibly heavy heart that I write to share that GVI is today closing its doors.”

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“I deeply regret the effect that GVI’s closure will have on staff, projects and customers, and we are committed to providing clear information to those affected as GVI goes through a formal liquidation process.”

GVI states on its website that “all current and future GVI programs have been cancelled”.

It continues to inform customer that “all impacted participants will receive formal correspondence detailing the liquidation process and instructions on how to lodge a claim”, and how to get their money back.

Amy Taylor, 21, a wildlife conservation and zoo biology student from Manchester, told BBC Newsbeat that GVI’s closure was “gut-wrenching”.

The student forked out £4,000 to pay for her once in a lifetime South Africa internship, hoping it would help her “stand out” on the job market -but now she is just filled with “disappointment”.

Linus Rowland-Bell, 23, from Liverpool worked two days a week alongside his university studies to pay for a programme in Peru.

Advertised as an internship in the Amazon rainforest, he found out about it through his university careers fair, paying £2,258 in total for his trip.

“The thought of all that money, all that time that I’ve saved up, that excitement completely vanishing into the ether, it was terrifying,” he told Newsbeat, after receiving the news of the liquidation.

GVI focussed on offering conversation excursions in locations such as South Africa and Peru Credit: GVI
Customers are now having to deal with the liquidators to help get their money back Credit: GVI

Rowland-Bell received a full refund, but many more are waiting for more information from the liquidators.

Taylor further said she was relying on her bank to reclaim the money, as her insurance was booked through GVI.

“If I don’t get the money back, I can’t go anywhere else and I don’t really trust anyone at the moment to be able to go anywhere else.

“It didn’t seem like they were struggling – everything looked professional.”

The Sun reached out to RG Insolvency, who are overseeing GVI’s liquidation, that declined to comment.

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