England’s ‘quiet corner’ overlooked in favour of the Cotswolds set for boom in tourists after huge Hollywood movie
HAMNET, the new Shakespearean film starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal is thrusting this lesser-known UK county into the spotlight.
Herefordshire stood in for Stratford-upon-Avon in the new film and it’s predicted that people will soon be visiting its pretty villages over that of its popular neighbour.
The Independent called Herefordshire the ‘quiet corner of England’ and explained that the county hoping for more tourists with what they’re calling the ‘Hamnet effect’.
In 2024, cast and crew descended on a small Herefordshire village to transform it into looking like Shakespeare’s Stratford.
The hope is that the county will become popular like its neighbour – the Cotswolds which is just 25 miles down the road.
As we all know the Cotswolds is known for its charming villages with cottages built from limestone brick that sit along cobbled streets around winding rivers.
Well, you can still get such charm in Herefordshire, and it sees much fewer visitors – around six million each year compared to the Cotswolds’ 25million.
One of Herefordshire’s villages that appeared heavily in Hamnet was Weobley, which is nicknamed a ‘black and white’ village thanks to its many half-timbered houses.
The Hollywood production transformed the village into one from the 1500s, which was done fairly easily thanks to its old buildings.
While you won’t find many shops in Weobley, there are a few places to have a bite to eat like The Green Beach Cafe, or the local Indian restaurant, Lal Bagh which has a Tripadvisor Travellers‘ Choice Award and 375 five-star reviews.
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Weobley also has two pubs, Ye Old Salutation Inn and The New Unicorn Inn.
But fans of Hamnet should head into The Wobbly Badger cafe which took centre stage for the exterior of Shakespeare’s family home in the film.
There are lots of other villages that are part of Herefordshire’s ‘black and white villages’ – and there’s even a dedicated tour route to see them.
One of the other villages in the trail is Pembridge, or Eardisland, which sits on the banks of the River Arrow – and looks similar to Bourton-on-the-Water.
Even smaller villages include Eardisley, Dilswyn, Leominster and Kingsland.
It’s not just Hamnet that was filmed in Herefordshire, as one very famous Netflix series also made its home there.
Sex Education starring Asa Butterfield and Gillian Anderson was filmed in Symonds Yat East, which sits in the counties of Herefordshire.
The recognisable red and white chalet where Otis and Jean live sits high above the River Wye.
It’s the UK’s fifth longest river and has an incredible backdrop of rolling green hills – and getting onto the water is one of the best ways to see it.
There are plenty of companies offering kayaking, canoeing or stand up paddleboard sessions for around £60 per person along the river.
Herefordshire is also well regarded for its cider production thanks to its acres of orchards that cover the countryside – it’s been made there since the 17th century.
Scattered around the county are orchards and breweries that you’re welcome to pop into.
VisitHerefordshire even has ‘Cider Circuits’ with dedicated cycling loops to see as many as possible.
If you head to Westons Cider Mill in Ledbury, you can sample the latest flavours – tours of the cider mill cost just £15 for adults.
If you go there with the family, there’s an outdoor play park with slides and tyre trails to entertain the kids.
If you need a place to stay, Gwatkin even has its own campsite with pitches from £9pppn.
Just outside Lyonshall village is the White Heron Estate where they make their own signature blackberry liqueur – British Cassis and British Framboise.
Taking a walking tour and tasting is £25pp (for groups of 10+).
For more on British villages, check out this destination with toy-town cottages, car-free roads and cosy pubs.
And for another Cotswolds alternative, this one is under one hour from London and is set to be a world-famous destination.