Four Fabulous Film Locations in Shropshire

We're in the midst of awards season and Visit Britain have launched a new marketing campaign for 2025 called ‘Starring GREAT Britain’. The campaign highlights some of the great movie locations in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales – of which there are very many. Shropshire has played host to some big names such as Keira Knightley, Michelle Pfeiffer and Hugh Grant. We even once spotted a movie director in the Ludlow Farmshop.

Our Top Four Film Locations to Visit in Shropshire

Whether you’re a film buff or not, here are four fantastic attractions in Shropshire which are not just great to visit, but they are also stars of film and tv. From rolling hills and historic market towns to ancient castles and even prisons, Shropshire is the perfect backdrop for the big and small screen.

Stokesay Castle, near Craven Arms

Stokesay Castle was featured in the 2022 medieval comedy film ‘Catherine called Birdy’ directed by Lena Dunham (the aforementioned Ludlow Farmshop shopper!) and starring Bella Ramsey, Billie Piper and Andrew Scott. Just 20 minutes’ drive from The School House B&B, it is “quite simply the finest and best-preserved fortified medieval manor house in England”. History meets beauty at Stokesay Castle as it is surrounded by the Shropshire Hills - climb to the top of a fairy-tale tower for breathtaking views. It’s worth paying a little extra for the audio tour so you can really get a sense of the history within the walls. More details here: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stokesay-castle/

Stokesay Court, Onibury

Not to be confused with the castle, but only a short distance away, Stokesay Court is one of our favourite places to visit near us even without its big screen heritage. This was one of the prime locations for the early scenes in the 2007 film ‘Atonement’ – one of Clare’s favourite films – starring Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Saiorse Ronan and Juno Temple (of Ted Lasso fame). Guided tours of Stokesay Court can be booked on selected dates throughout the year. Here are some 2025 dates so that you can reimagine that famous fountain scene: April 25th, May 23rd (evening tour) and 30th, June 27th (evening tour) and 29th, July 25th, August 22nd (evening tour) and 29th, September 26th. For more details and to buy tickets click here: https://www.stokesaycourt.com/whats-on

Ludlow Castle

One of the finest medieval ruins in England, Ludlow Castle is the perfect setting for any period drama. As well as featuring in ‘Catherine, Called Birdy’, the castle was used as a filming location for the 2024 Apple TV+ series ‘The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin’ starring Noel Fielding as Dick Turpin, as well as Tamsin Greig and Hugh Bonneville. Aside from its popularity with the film industry Ludlow Castle has in recent years become an incredible venue for live gigs featuring among others, Elbow, Chic, Madness and Texas, who are appearing live at Ludlow Castle on 19th July 2025. We wouldn’t be surprised if you start to see this stunning location popping up on the big and small screen more frequently in the future. The castle is open 10am-4pm (5pm April to October) weekends only until mid-February and then daily until Christmas, except when events are scheduled. More details here: https://www.ludlowcastle.com/

Severn Valley Railway

In 2005, scenes from 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' were filmed at Highley Station on the Severn Valley Railway. The station is largely unchanged from when it was built in 1862. In those days it was an important transport hub for the four coal mines located nearby. It has often been featured in film and TV productions and has great character and charm. You can take a trip on the Severn Valley Railway from the beautiful town of Bridgnorth which is about an hour’s drive from The School House B&B. More details here: https://svr.co.uk/plan-your-visit/travel-destinations/highley-station/

Other filming locations near us include:

• Shrewsbury Prison, no longer in use as a penal institution, has featured on a few TV programmes recently (Celebrity Hunted, The Apprentice) and is the location for the Jimmy McGovern series ‘Time’. You can book guided tours, escape room experiences and even a prison break from Shrewsbury Prison. More details here: https://www.shrewsburyprison.com/
• Knighton was the main location for a 1994 film called ‘Second Best’, starring William Hurt
• The 1992 Merchant-Ivory film 'Howard’s End' was filmed at Brampton Bryan Castle
• The OK Diner in Leominster was used as a filming location for the 2024 series of Dr. Who.

These are just a few of the better-known film locations which you can visit while you’re staying at The School House B&B. Even if you’re not a film buff, any of these locations will transport you into movie world. Why not check them out next time you stay with us or even better, get here before the crowds come – the Visit Britain campaign is sure to generate more interest in film location hunting.