Film Locations in Waverley

From Gladiator and War Horse to Harry Potter and Captain America, the beautiful Waverley countryside has appeared in many a Hollywood blockbuster and film crews are no stranger to the area’s woods, farms and villages.

Perhaps the most famous of all the Waverley film locations is Bourne Wood – the trees of which have featured on nearly as many cinema screens as the most world famous of A-list actors.

Bourne Wood shot to prominence with Gladiator in 2000, and its star Russell Crowe was regularly spotted relaxing in local pubs and restaurants in between filming days. Scenes were also filmed there for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009), Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), Wonder Woman (2017) and many more.

But that’s just the start of a Waverley-inspired movie night…

Skyfall (2012) featured the building of a manor house and helicopter attacks at Hankley Common; Hot Fuzz (2009) briefly chased through Waverley Abbey; Snow White (2012) and the Huntsman transformed Frensham Little Pond into a picturesque fishing village; and The Holiday (2006) featured a visit to the town of Godalming.   

It’s not just film locations, however, as television shows regularly use the area: The Supervet: Noel Fitzpatrick is based at Eashing, near Godalming; Top Gear spent its most successful years at Dunsfold Aerodrome near Cranleigh; and Foyle's War often featured Waverley countryside.

Suffice to say, Waverley locations such as Bourne Wood, Waverley Abbey and Frensham Ponds are not only a significant part of British film history, but they also happen to make for beautiful walks in the Surrey countryside.

Take a look at our Film Map