Film locations trail for tourists to be launched

Tom Cruise and co-star Hayley Atwell filming Mission Impossible in North Yorkshire

A trail of TV and movie filming locations could boost tourism when it is launched this year.

Visit North Yorkshire has created a campaign called Starring North Yorkshire, which will highlight productions such as Mission Impossible 7 which were shot in the county.

The latter involved star Tom Cruise being pictured on location at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, which was hired for filming in 2021.

North Yorkshire Council member for tourism Mark Crane said: "The chance to highlight our links to film and TV is a prime example of how we can expand the market for visitors, and so benefit our tourism businesses and the wider local economy."

The campaign will promote the heritage railway as well as Bridgerton location Castle Howard and Malham Cove, where scenes from Harry Potter were shot.

Mr Crane added: "So many people are fascinated by the locations which have been used in leading television and film productions, and are keen to see these places first hand.

"An itinerary is being drawn up that will be available on the tourism organisation's new website, which is due to launch in the spring."

Abbi Ollive, a director at Castle Howard, said the attraction was first put onto the tourism map by Granada TV series Brideshead Revisited in the 1980s.

"Following our appearance as the Duke of Hastings' home in the hit series Bridgerton, we have seen guests coming to visit as a direct result, and have programmed special Bridgerton days, costume exhibitions, concerts and tours to further attract fans of the TV series," Ms Ollive added.

Tourism agency Visit North Yorkshire officially launched last October. The Starring North Yorkshire campaign is part of a plan to develop a decade-long vision to boost tourism - officials want to increase the percentage of overnight visitors from 20 to 23% during that time.

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.