Five pretty English villages that will make you feel like you’re in The Holiday with cosy pubs and cottages
THE Holiday is one of the UK’s favourite Christmas watches – and who hasn’t wanted to step into the magic of the film?
From the Cotswolds to Yorkshire, here are five of the best villages that will make you feel like you’re Cameron Diaz exploring England for the very first time.
Shere, Surrey
Of course first up is Shere in Surrey which fans of The Holiday will know that it was actually used as a filming location.
Found in the Guildford district, the pretty village is considered to be most photographed of all Surrey towns.
You can actually have a pint in the pub where Amanda (played by Cameron Diaz) and Graham (Jude Law) have their first date.
The couple visit The White Horse, a cosy pub that serves up hearty breakfasts, Sunday Roasts and lunches.
You can also pop into The Dabbling Duck cafe, or take a hike around the nearby Surrey Hills.
The Holiday isn’t the only film to have set scenes in Shere – it’s also been the backdrop of Four Weddings and a Funeral, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, and The Wedding Date.
Kettlewell, Yorkshire Dales
The Yorkshire village of Kettlewell is filled with classic stone cottages – just like Iris’.
But there’s also traditional tea rooms, and a quaint High Street and incredible views of the countryside – perfect for a weekend walk.
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The village has three pubs, The Blue Bell Inn – a homely spot which serves up tasty home-cooked food by its crackling fire.
Or check out The King’s Head and The Falcon Inn.
Elterwater
Elterwater is a village in the Lake District, Cumbria.
The village lies half a mile north-west of the lake of Elter Water – where it gets its name.
It’s tiny with around 100 residents, some of whom live in its charming slate or stone cottages along the narrow roads.
The local pub is The Britannia Inn which serves seasonal food by its log fire – and during the summer has a pretty beer garden.
The village has incredible views of the Langdale Pikes which are famous mountains in the Great Langdale Valley.
You can also go for a stroll along the River Brathay or go further afield and you might even spot a waterfall or two.
Burford, Oxfordshire
The Cotswolds is an obvious choice when it comes to pretty English villages – and Burford is a very charming spot.
It has the classic pretty stone cottages and a very traditional feel to it.
Along the High Street are antique shops, tea rooms and pubs like The Angel at Burford, The Prince Of Burford and The Lamb Inn.
The oldest pharmacy in England can be found here, and there’s a medieval bridge that crosses over the River Windrush as well as a Grade I listed church.
And for even more magic from The Holiday, actress Kate Winslet used to live very nearby.
Stanton, Gloucestershire
Another very English-looking Cotswolds village is Stanton.
40 minutes up the road from Burford is Stanton, which looks very ‘The Holiday’ with its limestone and half-timbered cottages.
The village is on the smaller side so there isn’t too much to do, but it makes for a charming trip – and there will be great photo opportunities.
Nearby you can hike the Cotswold Way or visit Snowshill Manor, and if you fancy it, you can even book to go horse-riding through Stanton.
The Mount Inn pub is the only pub in the village and has incredible views of the Malvern Hills.
For more, here are 10 UK locations featured in iconic Christmas movies that you can visit this festive season.
And even more filming locations in the UK that you can visit with movie tours.