From lush rolling hills and centuries-old castles to other-worldly woodlands and high-end studios, it's no wonder that Surrey plays host to some of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters. Renowned amongst film makers for its fabulous settings, views and proximity to major studios and transport links there's no surprise why the local area is a hotspot!
Here are 10 films you might not have realised have links to the county:
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1
The Omen (1976)
Stag Hill Guildford, Surrey, GU27UPArguably one of the most iconic horror films of all time, The Omen features a scene at Guildford's own cathedral. Damien, a young boy who later transpires to be the Antichrist, is travelling with his parents when he suddenly spots the passing spire of a cathedral. As the building looms into view, he is thrown into a rage, foams at the mouth and tries to bite his mother.
Whilst impressive that one of the most iconic scenes in horror history was filmed in the county, the feature wasn't entirely popular.
The cathedral's dean, Victor Stock, described how the cathedral's staff had to battle with locals to get them to visit after the 1976 film. He said: ''It was a disaster, it should never have been done. People who were a bit thick were frightened to come into the building.''
''If I was dean then, I never would have allowed it. After that, the damage was done...It was terribly difficult.''
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2
Gladiator (2000)
Farnham, GU10 3RWThe opening battle scene of Ridley Scott’s Oscar-winning epic, starring Russell Crowe and former Surrey resident Oliver Reed, was filmed in Bourne Wood, near Farnham, where the ancient woodland and surrounding countryside provided the perfect substitute for the forests of Southern Germany.
Bourne Wood has also featured in various Harry Potter films, as well as popular action films in the Avengers and Thor franchises.
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3
Love Actually (2003)
Set around the festive period in England, Love Actually follows the love lives of loosely interrelated individuals and the challenges they face with being in and out of love. Epsom Downs racecourse, known for hosting some of the worlds most popular horse racing events, was featured as the arrivals hall at Heathrow Airport.
This might come as a surprise to fans, however, you are not alone! Odeon Cinemas conducted a poll which found that 92% of those polled were surprised to learn that the classic airport scene was actually filmed nowhere near an airport.
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4
Inception (2010)
ChertseyThe huge modern glass-fronted atrium in which Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) demonstrates the paradox of the ‘Penrose steps’ (based on the drawings of artist MC Escher) is the lobby of the office at 2000 Hillswood Drive, Chertsey. Previously used by gaming giants EA, the illusion was achieved by adding false steps to the building’s existing staircase.
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5
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Chobham, GU24 8TUOften regarded as one of the greatest British films ever made, Chobham features in the film's famous opening scene which depicts Lawrence’s fatal last motorbike ride. The scene was among the last to be filmed (in 1962, just three months before the premiere), and used Stone Hill Road and Staple Hill Road on Chobham Common as locations.
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6
The Duchess (2008)
Epsom Road, West Clandon, GU4 7RQThe dazzlingly white Marble Hall of Clandon Hall near Guildford became ‘Devonshire House’s’ breakfast room, where the Duke and Duchess – and later Lady Bess Foster (Hayley Atwell) – endure a series of coldly fraught encounters.
Built in the 1730s by the Venetian architect Giacomo Leoni for the second Lord Onslow, Clandon is now owned by the National Trust and is since being rebuilt after a fire in 2015.
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7
Skyfall (2012)
Thursley, GU10 2LREveryone's favourite spy made another appearance in the county in 2012, this time alongside Dame Judi Dench for the 23rd installation of the Bond franchise.
Shooting took place on Hankley Common near Elstead, where the childhood home of James Bond was created from plywood and plaster stone and later dramatically destroyed. Intending to mimic the Scottish countryside, the mountains and lake that feature in the landscape were later added by CGI.
Craig also appeared in Surrey for his first outing as Bond. Dunsfold Park, home to the popular BBC TV show Top Gear, doubled as Miami International Airport in Casino Royale (2006), whilst Farnborough Airport and Aldershot were both used as filming locations in Quantum of Solace, which came out in 2008.
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8
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
Although many of the settings in the Harry Potter franchise appear far too magical to exist in the real world, multiple scenes have been filmed in Surrey. In The Goblet of Fire, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), can be seen sitting with his friend Neville who is wading in a lake - this scene was actually filmed at Virginia Water Lake.
As previously mentioned, scenes were shot in Bourne Wood, just south of Farnham, for the last three films of the Harry Potter franchise.
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9
Superman II (1980)
Chobham, GU24 8TUChobham Common, the largest National Nature Reserve in the south-east of England, was transformed for Superman II. A mock up of a small American town with a tarmac road, shops, a car lot and more was constructed to replicate where the super villains land on earth.
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10
Honourable Mention: Shepperton Studios
Studios Road, Shepperton, TW17 0QDDating back to 1931 and steeped in history, an honourable mention must be given to Shepperton Studios. Often described as the home of independent film production, it continues to attract some of the world’s most revolutionary and inspirational content creators.
Many of the world’s most profitable and best‐loved films have been made at at the Surrey studio, including classics such as Dr Strangelove, Star Wars and 2001: A Space Odyssey - regularly regarded as the best film ever made.
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