Brimming with stunning natural scenery and beautifully well-preserved architecture, the county is easy on the eye in each of its corners, and filmmakers have taken note.
For those of you looking forward to a Christmas watch, we have compiled a non-exhaustive list of some of the biggest films and shows featuring Wiltshire that you can put on the viewing list.
Downton Abbey (2010-2015):
Downton can hardly be mentioned without recognising its Wiltshire debt.
One of many productions to use the gorgeous Lacock, the show took advantage of its gorgeous 15th-century buildings to establish the atmosphere of early-20th-century homeliness and grandeur that we all know and love.
Meanwhile, the 2019 film took advantage of Bradford on Avon, as well as Bowood House’s estate as the location of Mr Carson’s cottage.
Wolf Hall (2015):
Lacock Abbey, the stunning 15th-century landmark that has featured in a huge range of productions, doubles up as the exterior of Wolf Hall itself, the seat of the Seymour family, and the centre of the show’s intrigue.
Bradford-on-Avon’s Tithe Barn and the stretch of the river that runs through the town also feature in the production, with filming having captured the attention of locals back in 2014.
Chocolat (2000):
Although Chocolat is dripping with summer-soaked warmth, to those seeking gentle entertainment and escapism this Christmas, it might be time to see if you can spot Wiltshire’s cameo.
In this French-American production, Juliette Binoche stars as a wandering single mother who settles to build a life as a chocolatier.
Although much of the film was shot in the gorgeous landscapes of Burgundy and Dordogne, the film’s riverbank scenes were shot at Fonthill Lake.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002):
Full of wintry atmospheres, and revolving around the values of friendship and family, few recent film franchises have managed to install themselves in the Christmas imagination quite like Harry Potter.
In the second film in the series, The Chamber of Secrets, Harry finds himself doing battle with Voldemort once again, with some of his journey told through scenes shot in Wiltshire’s (you guessed it) Lacock.
The first time that Harry speaks the serpentine language, parseltongue occurs in a classroom scene shot inside Lacock Abbey’s Chapter House, and its Cloisters.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
In one of the concluding films of the Harry Potter series – this one featuring a famously heart-wrenching ending – Harry finds himself attempting to destroy the items that nemesis Voldemort has used to make himself immortal.
On the way towards completing his quest, Harry is dragged by Dumbledore to Professor Slughorn’s House, to convince him to return to Hogwarts. The location used for the professor’s house is another spot to be found in Lacock.
War Horse (2011):
The Richard Curtis-written, equine-centric war epic was adapted from a classic Michael Morpurgo novel, and revolves around the experiences of an English horse during the First World War.
Though the horse is born in Devon, where much of the early action takes place, many of the key village scenes in War Horse were shot in Castle Combe, just outside Chippenham.
Critics have pointed out that there were a few small oversights, such as the fact that Devon features. However, with its gorgeous old stone homes and serene pond, it is no wonder why the filmmakers couldn’t resist the village’s charms.
Often voted the prettiest village in England, Castle Combe has also played host to and featured in several other major productions, including Stardustand The Wolf Man.
