Must-visit destinations in the UK so quaint that they became famous Christmas movie backdrops
CHRISTMAS is a time to cosy up in front of the fire to watch festive movies and some of the best ones were filmed right here in the UK.
From the country’s prettiest streets to beautiful Cotswolds villages, these beautiful places should be on your bucket list if you’re a fan of all things festive.
Knaresborough in North Yorkshire – Tinsel Town
Last year, Hollywood stars descended on the beautiful town of Knaresborough to film Tinsel Town, which came out last December.
Actors like Kiefer Sutherland, Rebel Wilson and EastEnders‘ Danny Dyer were all spotted filming in Yorkshire.
The town is constantly praised for being pretty with some calling it the “most beautiful town in the country” and “picture perfect”.
It’s no surprise really, Knaresborough has waterfront cafes and visitors can canoe down the river during the summertime while watching steam trains travel over the viaduct.
The town has its own castle and locals say that for those who want views, visit in the daytime, or at nighttime the viaduct is all lit up.
It’s completely free to enter the castle grounds too.
Lots of the spots in town are independent too like Castlegate Books, Dragonfly Cards & Gifts, Fliss & Ivy and Lupins Coffee & Cafe House.
Shere in Surrey – The Holiday
Tucked away in Surrey is the tiny village of Shere which served as the background for The Holiday.
While sadly Kate Winslet’s cosy English cottage doesn’t actually exist, there are plenty of other spots to visit that featured in the movie.
The first is The White Horse pub which was where Graham (played by Jude Law) and Amanda (Cameron Diaz) had their cosy first date.
Guests have raved about the pub, praising both the staff and the food.
One person called it a “quaint old pub full of character” another said they had their “best meal all year”.
There are plenty of other cute places to stop in like the Dabbling Duck tearoom, and sweetshop called Shere Delights.
Nearby is the town of Godalming which has pretty cobbled lanes and the narrow road where Amanda attempts to drive around in her red MINI Cooper.
Elm Hill in Norwich – Jingle Jangle
It’s no surprise that Elm Hill in Norwich has appeared in multiple films as it’s frequently called one of the prettiest streets in the UK.
It was used in the movie Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey to transform into the fictional town of Cobbleton.
The musical adventure follows toymaker Jeronicus Jangle who rediscovers his creative spark with help from his granddaughter.
Elm Hill is a cobbled street known for its medieval half-timbered buildings and dates back to 1200.
Many of the original buildings were destroyed in a fire in 1507, but one that survived is The Briton’s Arms, which is now a cafe and restaurant.
Also on the street is The Bear Shop which sells lots of toys and stuffed bears and the Elm Hill Craft Shop, a gift store.
Snowshill in the Cotswolds, Bridget Jones’s Diary
Snowshill, which appeared in the 2001 film, Bridget Jones’s Diary, is one of the most picturesque villages in the Cotswolds.
It has honey-coloured houses, winding roads, and is most famous for seeing Bridget turn up at her parents’ house in the show on New Year’s Day.
It’s in the same town where Bridget (Renee Zellweger) has her first on-screen encounter with her eventual husband Mark Darcy (Colin Firth).
The village has risen in popularity after the film and many of the properties have transformed into Airbnbs.
There are no shops in Snowshill, the closest are in the neighbouring town of Broadway.
There is one attraction in the village, Snowshill Manor which is a 16th-century National Trust property restored by eccentric architect Charles Paget Wade.
Inside are 22,000 objects to see including samurai armour, bicycles, musical instruments and toys.
It also has pretty gardens which are open during the spring and summer season.