Are you ready for your close up? Not only is Bristol a recognised featured location in its own right, but is also a hot bed of production for many TV programmes and films. Bristol was awarded UNESCO City of Film status in 2017, and more recently celebrated its film heritage with the Bristol Summer Film Take Over.

Bristol is a UNESCO City of Film and is just one of 21 in the world and you can see all awarded cities here.

Bristol Productions

There's a thriving film and TV industry in the city, which is home to Aardman Animations as well as BBC Bristol. Bristol is also home to a lot of natural history production companies too: including doghouse productions who produced Wild Isles. Incidentally, major motion picture Starter for Ten, starring James McAvoy was one of the many movies filmed in Bristol too.

Filmed in Bristol

The Bristol Film Office offer support services to productions planning to film in the city and also have put together the location maps that are featured in this section of the website. For more information about the work they do, click here.

Throughout the years, Bristol has been a key filming location for several famous productions, from Only Fools and Horses, Casualty and Robin of Sherwood to Sherlock, Skins and The Outlaws. More recently, productions have included Sex Education, Ruby Speaking, Rain Dogs and Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary specials.

Some of the key locations you can explore on your visit to Bristol include Corn Street in the Old City, which has played host to  A Discovery of Witches series 2 and The Trial of Christine Keeler, in which it doubled as 1960s London.

Filming locations

Other landmarks across the city which are frequently seen on screen include Goldney Hall and Clifton Suspension Bridge in Clifton, The Georgian House Museum on Great George Street, Redcliffe Caves, Cumberland Basin, Bristol Cathedral, the former Bank of England building next to Castle Park, and Bristol Harbourside.

And Bristol isn’t just Bristol. It’s London, Holby, Peckham, Cornwall, Medieval England and more. In fact, you’ll be surprised just how much you might have seen of Bristol already. 

Famous Faces

We've also been home to some famous movie names and faces, including native Bristolian Cary Grant, Hugo Weaving, Jeremy Irons and even bodybuilder David Prowse, who played Darth Vader! As well as Bristol-born film pioneer William Friese-Greene.

Film Festivals and Events

As well as actors, we like to cultivate new creative talent among film-makers and producers. The annual Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival is Europe's leading short film festival, offering a gateway to the likes of the BAFTAS, Oscars and European Film Awards.

Slapstick Festival is Bristol’s annual celebration of silent and classic screen comedy, Afrika Eye is the city’s annual festival of African cinema, and Forbidden Worlds Film Festival is a love letter to classic and obscure genre films. During the summer, Cinema Rediscovered showcases classic cinema and film restorations in venues across the city, while Bristol Film Festival has a fun programme of screenings in unexpected places throughout the year.

Bristol cinemas

Bristol has a brilliant selection of cinemas in the city, from Watershed, Arnolfini and Spike Island showcasing a range of independent films, to the volunteer-run Cube Cinema, which brings a more unusual cinema programme to the city. The Odeon in the city centre is also a great spot for movie-goers.

Discover our filming locations blogs below and make sure to seek some out on your next visit to Bristol.