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Ten historic Essex locations used in film and TV


Ten historic Essex locations used in film and TV

A new campaign named Starring Essex is encouraging people to visit some of the county's historic film and TV hotspots.

Visit Essex, the local tourism organisation, has launched the initiative and has named the top 10 historic sites across the county that have been used in filming.

Showcasing backdrops used in the likes of The Crown, Downton Abbey, and The Witcher, Starring Essex wants people to explore these celebrity spots in person.

Here's a round-up of the 10 filming sites mentioned in Essex:

Hylands Estate, Chelmsford

The Hylands Estate, with its Georgian white façade, has played a part in productions like Killing Eve and The Crown.

Its picturesque columns have even doubled up as those of the presidential White House.

Open to the public, Hylands House also hosts regular open days.

Ingatestone Hall featured in BBC's Bleak House adaptation(Image: VISIT ESSEX)

2. Ingatestone Hall

This red-brick 16th-century manor house was featured in exterior shots of the BBC adaptation of Bleak House.

Guided tours are available for visitors, providing a peek into its Tudor charm.

Having served as home to Earls and Sirs, Audley End House is no stranger to grandeur, and hence it's no surprise it appeared on The Crown.

Owned by English Heritage, visitors stepping in can experience both upstairs and downstairs of this mansion.

4. Hedingham Castle

From Married at First Sight to Dick Turpin's adventures, the Norman keep near Halstead has seen a variety of TV and film genres.

Visitors can tour the estate or participate in historical jousting events.

Scene of some dramatic escape attempts in Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins, Tilbury Fort is open to visitors from Wednesdays to Sundays.

6. Electric Palace, Harwich

One of Britain's oldest cinemas, Electric Palace starred in Downton Abbey(Image: VISIT ESSEX)

The "beautiful" Electric Palace cinema, one of the oldest to retain its original features, was the setting for scenes in Downton Abbey, A New Era.

Open to the public, it was graced by the likes of Michelle Dockery, who played Lady Mary Crawley.

7. Brightlingsea Harbour

The Essex Serpent, starring Hollywood's Tom Hiddleston and Claire Danes, made use of Brightlingsea Harbour for its fictional village of Aldwinter setting.

Visitors can stroll along the beach-hut lined prom, treading the footsteps of these stars.

8. Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome, Maldon

The last of its kind in the UK, Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome was the focus of Channel 5's documentary, The Secret Life of Owls.

It houses all five native British owls and stays open to the public for guided nature walks during weekends.

9. Hadleigh Country Park

Hadleigh Country Park's Iron Age roundhouse played backdrop to Boudica: Queen of War, where Boudica rebelled against the Romans.

The park continues to offer picturesque views across the Thames Estuary.

10. Epping Forest

Epping Forest's Strawberry Hill Ponds became the backdrop for the Belleteyn Festival in The Witcher series three.

The ancient woodland extends over 2,400 hectares.

The Starring Essex campaign is part of the wider Starring Britain initiative from Visit Britain, which aims to encourage visitors to explore movie locations and uncover hidden gems.

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