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If you’re a fan of British cinema, it’s well worth building a road trip around some filming locations. Not only will it help bring some of your favourite scenes to life, it’ll also give you an excuse to explore those parts of the UK that you have yet to see first-hand.

To help you map out your trip, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best UK film locations to visit by campervan. Whether you’re a fan of period dramas or big-budget blockbusters, there’s something for everyone in our list.

We hope to provide you with plenty of road trip inspiration. But, remember, before setting out on the road, ensure that you have adequate campervan insurance. It would ruin a film forever if you were to be involved in a road traffic incident en route to your location without having the suitable campervan insurance to protect you.

So, let’s get down to it and let you in on the secret of where the movies you know and love are filmed, starting with a classic from the 1990s…

Braveheart

Mel Gibson’s 1995 Academy Award-winning film is a bit like Marmite – loved by many for its rousing battle scenes and incredible landscapes, it is loathed by others who take exception with Gibson’s lack of care for historical accuracy in his depiction of Scotland’s most famous freedom fighter, William Wallace.

To add further controversy, much of the film was shot in Ireland for filming and budget reasons. However, the village of ‘Lanark’, where Wallace grows up was built in the Glen Nevis Valley at the base of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain peak in Britain. You can still see the Braveheart Car Park, constructed to service the location, today.

In the car park, you’ll find a sign outlining several suggested walking routes – take your pick based on the weather and your level of fitness! Remember that any walking gear or camping equipment can be covered by campervan insurance, too.

The Theory of Everything

Telling the story of the late Stephen Hawking and his relationship with Jane Wilde, The Theory of Everything captured audiences in 2014 with a deeply emotional narrative. We were reaching for the tissues just watching the trailer!

This romantic biographical drama is set in the early 1960s, when Hawking first received his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis diagnosis. Although it can be a painful watch, the backdrop of the film is the beautiful university city of Cambridge.

With its characteristic canals and lavish architecture, the city never fails to leave you in awe. While much of the film is shot in the prestigious grounds where the young Hawking studied, King’s College Chapel also makes an appearance as the man himself cycles through the Senate House passage and gives you a glimpse of the late Gothic architecture which is just begging for a closer inspection.

Far From the Madding Crowd

Thomas Hardy used Dorset time and time again as the backdrop for his tales of love and tragedy. With much rural Dorset landscape largely unchanged since Hardy’s time, filmmakers have ready-made sets for their adaptations. One of the latest Hollywood adaptations was the 2015 release of Far From the Madding Crowd, which was directed by Thomas Vinterberg and starred A-listers including Carey Mulligan and Tom Sturridge.

Landmarks which make an appearance in the film include the beautiful Mapperton House, Sherborne Abbey, Castleton Church and Abbey Close. Meanwhile, the streets of Sherborne were transformed to look like an 1870s market square in the town Casterbridge. A great place to stop for a spot of lunch on your campervan adventure.

The Thomas Hardy Society and the Visit Dorset team have teamed up to produce a leaflet helping visitors to explore parts of Dorset that inspired Hardy. Download the leaflet and follow the Hardy Trail.

Les Miserables

The spine-tingling, big-screen musical version of Les Miserables from 2012 starring Anna Hathaway and Hugh Jackman might have been set in France, but it was almost entirely shot in England.

You’d have to go some to see all the film locations in one day, but you could start your trip in Bath where you’ll recognise the Pulteney Bridge from the iconic moment Javert, played by Russell Crowe, character falls off it. You could spend a few hours admiring the city’s Georgian architecture before heading down the M4 to the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich.

The College is a screen veteran having featured in many films including Four Weddings and A Funeral, Thor: The Dark World and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.

In Les Mis, Javert readies his men for rebellion in the College’s famous Painted Hall – which was also disguised as Paris in the 2011 film about Margaret Thatcher, The Iron Lady.

Harry Potter

Finally, if you’re a ‘Potterhead’ – a fan of the Harry Potter series – why not build a trip around some of the film locations of Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s many adventures? Unsurprisingly, over the course of eight films, the Potter series was filmed at locations all over the United Kingdom. But, unless you have a couple of weeks to cover them all in your campervan, we’d suggest honing in on a select few locations.

Durham Cathedral, with its Norman architectural design and medieval origin, was used to shoot various exterior and interior shots of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. However, it isn’t the only landmark which was used for Hogwarts – Gloucester Cathedral and Alnwick Castle also provided a backdrop for the school.

If you don’t fancy putting in the miles, you could always just wind up at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, where you can experience the entire wizarding world in a single afternoon.

Campervan insurance can help protect your van while you’re casting the odd spell or two.

Campervan insurance from Lancaster Insurance

Before you pack up and head out on your tour of the best British film locations, you’ll want to know your home on wheels is protected in the event of accident or theft. With campervan insurance from Lancaster Insurance, you’ll receive benefits such as:

• Gas bottle and awning cover
• Windscreen cover
• Personal effects cover up to £6,000
• Optional breakdown cover

We can also cover you for EU travel if your film tour extends into Europe and offer limited mileage discounts.

Let us help you find the right campervan insurance today.

Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.