VisitBritain continues to raise the curtain on its ongoing international ‘Starring GREAT Britain’ marketing campaign this week at the Toronto International Film Festival. Launched earlier this year, the campaign is using the powerful draw of film and TV locations and places seen-on-screen to inspire visitors to discover more of Britain.
VisitBritain’s latest research shows that among those Canadian visitors considering a trip to the UK, shows 87% of those surveyed would be interested in visiting a film or tv location.
Film and TV experiences visitors can only have in Britain were showcased at a ‘Starring GREAT Britain’ trade reception last night (Monday), followed by a screening of British film ‘Downton Abbey: the Grand Finale’ (showing outside the festival).
In addition, VisitBritain is highlighting filming locations across Yorkshire, at Highclere Castle, and locations in London’s West End at the joint events and at a TIFF Gala Presentation of ‘Hamnet,’ featuring filming locations in Wales and Herefordshire.
“Britain’s destinations are the real star of the show as we harness the powerful draw of screen tourism to attract Canadian visitors and drive their spending across our nations and regions, boosting local economies,” said VisitBritain CEO Patricia Yates at the Toronto reception. “Here at TIFF… we’re using film and TV as the hook to tell the story of Britain today – showcasing our dynamic and diverse destinations and putting our warm welcome centre-stage.”
Through the clever screen tourism campaign, VisitBritain invites visitors to “be the co-star” by being stepping into the real-life places that inspire their favourite films and TV shows.
The national tourism agency notes this year’s TIFF will include 40 British films and co-productions, featuring a host of inspiring UK filming locations. Among them:
- Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and Lincolnshire’s Burghley House in the new adaptation of Frankenstein
- National Trust-managed Cwmmau Farmhouse in Herefordshire is the filming location for the childhood home of Agnes (Anne) Shakespeare in Hamnet
- The Big Six Inn, a historic pub in Halifax, West Yorkshire, served as a local Yorkshire pub in The Choral.
Beyond the screen, TV and film fans have many opportunities to step into their passion across Great Britain:
- In Bath, take a Bridgerton-themed walking tour and enjoy a Regency afternoon tea with a modern twist, timely with this year marking the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen.
- Visit Alnwick Castle in Northumberland for Harry Potter inspired broomstick lessons or head to the Warner Bros Studio Tour near London to see how the magic was made.
- In Manchester, explore Captain America filming locations on a tour of the Northern Quarter or visit the Black Country Living Museum in the West Midlands to see where Peaky Blinders was filmed.
- Walk the beaches of North Wales featured in House of the Dragon or visit historic Wrexham and discover the city behind the football club so many fans have come to love watching Welcome to Wrexham.
- Relive Bond scenes in Glen Coe and the Cairngorms National Park on a self-drive tour through Scotland. Or visit the real locations featured in Outlander, from stunning landscapes to coastal castles right across Scotland.
Says Yates: “From exploring our vibrant cities, world-class attractions and stunning countryside, the backdrop to so many iconic filming locations, to enjoying our exciting contemporary culture and hospitality, we’re inspiring Canadians to put themselves in the picture, discover more and book a trip to Britain right now.”
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