Steam train arriving at Grosmount Station with green benches on platform
Man standing in gravelled garden,
Man in jeans and sunglasses smiling at camera with steam train behind him

It may surprise you that the North York Moors is a popular place for movie locations.  Here are our top 5.

  1. North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) There was quite a buzz when a section of track near Grosmont was set up to shoot a sequence based on a daring escape from a Nazi prison during World War Two. And even more excitement when Harrison Ford was spotted in the village of Grosmont. You can see the steam train travelling through the North York Moors, as well as Harrison Ford inside one of the carriages.

Mission Impossible 7 (2023) Filmed during Covid, Tom Cruise shot scenes at Levisham Station. Before you get too excited, he didn’t stay at the Long Barn. The photo is a joke from a friend; we knew it was bogus as Tom was far too tall.

During holiday times, a ride on the railway is a great day out; we recommend catching the train from Pickering. Or you can drive up over the moors and stop off at some of the train stations.

View over valley with winter sunlight on fields in foreground.
Gravel path through flower beds on boths sides with yellow and purple flowers
Man in blue jumper, smiling and about to eat a burger with fries.

2. Goathland

Harry Potter transformed Goathland Station into the famous Hogsmeade Station in the first three movies. This clip shows some of the scenes which it featured in. Goathland also featured in Heartbeat, as the fictional village Aidensfield. Goathland is a lovely village to explore with lots of walks from the village. It’s also home to one of our favourite places to eat, the Homestead Kitchen.

3. Helmsley

The 2020 remake of the Secret Garden was filmed in the beautiful Helmsley Walled Garden. It’s run by a charity and is well worth a wander round; check out the Vine Café in its grounds.

Nearby Duncombe Park was also used for filming in the Secret Garden. You’ll also see it in The Thirteenth Tale and Victoria. Mannion & Co in Helmsley is a great place for brunch or lunch.

TV posted promoting Bangers and Cash
Whitby abbey lit with blue lights reflected in water as sun sets.
Man and woman with arms lined smiling in traditional pub

4. Thornton-le-Dale

We’ve meet visitors who’ve come up to stay in Appleton Le Moors with the soul purpose of a visit to Mathewsons, who feature in the hit show Bangers and Cash. Closer to home, if you watch The Yorkshire Auction House, you’ll find that it’s filmed just down the road from us in Kirkbymoorside. We can recommend checking out their sales if you are visiting. You will probably bump into Angus, who features in the programme.

5. Whitby

As you’d expect, there have been many Dracula films filmed here, most recently, Stephen Moffat and Mark Gatiss’s version of Dracula (BBC 2020) But the list includes The Phantom Thread (Daniel Day Lewis) , Victoria and even Coldplay for the Radio1 Big Weekend.

So keep your eyes peeled when you visit us, as you never know who you might bump into….as our local pub, the Moors Inn recently discovered