Surrey film locations

 Originally published in September 2008. Last updated August 2010.

Surrey has been used as a film location for many a blockbuster movie and the county's hotels, woods and villages are no stranger to visits from the Hollywood A-list. Here's just a few of the movies that have been, at least in part, filmed in Surrey

28 Days Later (2002)
Waverley Abbey, near Farnham
As a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the UK, a handful of survivors try stop to find sanctuary in Surrey (well, for one scene at least).

An American Werewolf in London (1981)
The Black Swan, Effingham
The Black Swan doubled as the ominously named Slaughtered Lamb in this cult classic starring Jenny Agutter and Brian Glover

Basic Instinct 2 - Risk Addiction (2006)
Royal Holloway, Egham
The distinctive Founder's building at Royal Holloway, in Egham, has popped up in many a movie, including several scenes in this Hollywood blockbuster

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2003)
Shere, near Dorking
Look closely at the final wedding scene and behind Renee Zellweger and co. you'll spot the pretty St James's Church where last year's Surrey Life carol concert was also held

Carry on Columbus (1992)
Frensham Ponds, to the south of Farnham
We might not have any beaches in Surrey, but this didn't stop the makers of this classic Carry On film using Frensham Ponds, to the south of Farnham, to represent the American coastline

Carry on Jack (1963)
Frensham Ponds again
Starring Kenneth Williams and Bernard Cribbins, on this occasion Frensham Ponds was used to double up as the Spanish coastline

Casino Royale (2006)
Dunsfold Park, near Guildford
Home to the popular BBC TV show Top Gear, Dunsfold Park, near Guildford, also doubled as Miami International Airport in the latest James Bond blockbuster, Casino Royale, starring Daniel Craig

Children of Men (2006)
Bourne Woods, Farnham
Dystopian science fiction film featuring Clive Owen and Leatherhead's own Michael Caine. The hideout of Jasper, played by Caine, was filmed in Bourne Woods

The Da Vinci Code (2006)
Fairfield Halls, Croydon
Keep your eyes peeled in The Da Vinci Code, which starred Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou, and you might just spot the Fairfield Halls in Croydon, which was used to double as a lecture theatre

Dorian Gray (2009)
Painshill Park, Cobham
The 18th century landscape garden's lakeside was transformed into Hampstead Heath for the Oscar Wilde adaption.

Elizabeth, the Golden Age (2007)
Various
Cate Blanchett starring historical thriller filmed in part at Waverley Abbey, Bourne Woods and Frensham Little Pond.

Finding Neverland (2004)
Richmond Theatre, Richmond
One of a host of films to be shot at this famous theatre, Johnny Depp and co decended on Richmond for this semi-biographical film about playwright J M Barrie

Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
Betchworth, near Dorking
The beautiful St Michael's was one of three churches used in this classic romantic comedy that propelled Hugh Grant to international fame

From Time to Time (out September 2010)
Nonsuch Mansion, Cheam
Dominic West, Timothy Spall and Dame Maggie Smith star in this adaptation of Lucy M Boston’s magical Green Knowe books

Gladiator (2000)
Bourne Wood, Farnham
The opening battle scene of Ridley Scott's epic, starring Russell Crowe and former Surrey resident Oliver Reed, was filmed in Bourne Wood, near Farnham, where the wooded countryside provided the perfect substitute for the forests of Southern Germany

The Golden Compass (2008)
Bourne Wood, Farnham
One of the biggest films of last year, some of the woodland scenes in The Golden Compass, starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, were shot at Bourne Wood

Golden Eye (1995)
The Queen's Stand, Epsom Racecourse
The Queen's Stand at Epsom Racecourse has been used in several films, and on this occasion doubled up as a Russian army airport in this Bond classic.

Green Zone (2010)
Sandown Park, Esher
Matt Damon movie, Green Zone, features airport scenes at Saddam International Airport, which were actually shot at Sandown Park in Esher. Scenes also featured Windlesham's £70 million mansion, Updown Court.

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Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire (2005)
Virgina Water, near Egham
Scenes from the fourth instalment of The Goblet of Fire were filmed on the banks on Virginia Water lake (incidentally, Harry's only surviving relatives, The Dursleys, live in Little Whinging, a fictional town located in Surrey...)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
The Bourne, Farnham
The cast spent several days on location in Farnham for the filming of The Half-Blood Prince - though it didn't all go quite to plan... Filming suffered a setback when the set was "oversmoked" after the movie crew used too much special-effect fog and several scenes had to be reshot

Hippie Hippie Shake (2007)
Albury, near Guildford
Actress Sienna Miller caused a stir when she filmed a 'naked' scene in a pond at Albury, near Guildford, dressed in next to nothing

The Holiday (2006)
Shere, near Dorking
Cameron Diaz and Jude Law were among a host of stars who descended on Shere for the filming of romantic comedy The Holiday. Several shops and the 15th century pub, The White Horse, appear in the film. Scenes were also shot in Godalming.

Howard's End (1992)
Royal Holloway, Egham
Hollywood actress Sharon Stone was among the cast members who spent several days in the Founders Building at Royal Holloway which was used to double as a psychiatric Institute

John Carter of Mars (TBC)
Ham House, Richmond
Celebrating it's 400th anniversary in 2010, Ham House became the set of this Disney sci-fi.

Love Actually (2003)
The Queen's Stand, Epsom Racecourse
Everyone's favourite scene in Love Actually - the bit where they show the arrivals hall at Heathrow Airport - was actually shot at Epsom Racecourse

and...

Sandown Park, Esher
Another airport, as Sandown was transformed into Milwaukee International Airport – apparently, if you freeze frame as Colin is coming out of the doors of the airport, you can see the Sandown Park logo on the doors.

Maybe Baby (2000)
The Queen's Stand, Epsom Racecourse
On this occasion, the distinctive building doubled as the BBC's offices in the Ben Elton directed film, Maybe Baby

The Omen (1976)
Guildford Cathedral
Several scenes from this cult film, starring Gregory Peck and Lee Remick, were shot in the impressive building that is Guildford Cathedral

Robin Hood (2010)
Bourne Wood, Farnham
One of the many blockbusters to be filmed in these Farnham woods, Robin Hood saw Russell Crowe staying at Pennyhill Park in Bagshot and filming battle scenes in the woods, where a castle was temporarily erected. Filming also took place on the Hampton Estate around Elstead and at Virginia Water Lake.

Sex and Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll (2010)
Runnymede Campus, Egham
Much of the Ian Dury biopic, Sex and Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll, was based at the Runnymede Campus, which was formely part of Brunel University.

The World is Not Enough (1999)
Hankley Common, Elstead
The Pierce Brosnan starring Bond flick features action sequences, including the main pipeline explosion, filmed at Hankley Common.

HAVE YOUR SAY!
If you know of any other movies filmed in Surrey or stumble across a work in progress, get in touch by e-mailing editor@surreylife.co.uk, writing to the usual address or leaving a comment below.

Photo of Russell Crowe in Robin Hood: Kerry Brown / 2010 Universal Studios

Members Comments

• Comment by: suelocke 11 May 2010 - 15:35

  Elizabeth, the Golden Age (2007) filmed at Bourne Woods (it was supposed to be Spain!) and also Frensham Little Pond was used for building the Armada scenes.
  Army buildings on Hankley Common used for a Bond movie (Die Another Day? Not sure) in the early 2000's.
  Children of Men (2006) filmed in Bourne Woods

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• Comment by: MatthewWilliams 12 May 2010 - 10:46

  Thanks very much for the suggestions Sue; researched and added.

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• Comment by: TheGrumpyMole2 03 August 2010 - 22:12

  I heard that parts of Gulliver's Travels were filmed around Weybridge. I'm sure there were a couple of other Da Vinci Code settings, but I can't remember where..

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• Comment by: TheGrumpyMole2 03 August 2010 - 22:14

  Try to post another one but apparently, it's unsuitable content. I suppose I can understand why it was construed that way but it was a legit and very popular film with Brad Pitt that was apparently filmed in part near Warlingham - I don't have any proof of this though.

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