Set Jetting: Travelling the World Through Film and TV
Set jetting is the growing travel trend where people plan trips around famous filming locations from TV shows and films they love. Rather than simply sightseeing, set jetters want to stand where iconic scenes were filmed, recognise familiar backdrops, and experience destinations through the lens of their favourite stories.
Part of the appeal is how film and television create an emotional connection with a place. While many interior scenes are shot in studios, the exterior locations are often very real – historic buildings, dramatic coastlines and vibrant city streets that you can visit yourself. From fantasy worlds to gritty period dramas, set jetting turns fiction into a very real travel experience.
Below are some of the most popular TV shows and film franchises inspiring travellers today, along with where you need to go to see their filming locations.
The Crown
Netflix’s The Crown makes extensive use of real locations to recreate royal life across decades. While Buckingham Palace interiors were built on set, many exterior scenes were filmed at historic properties across the UK.
Lancaster House in London frequently doubles for Buckingham Palace, while Wilton House in Wiltshire appears as various royal residences. In Scotland, locations such as Ardverikie House and surrounding Highland estates were used for Balmoral scenes, allowing fans to explore the landscapes associated with the royal family.
Peaky Blinders
Although Peaky Blinders is set in Birmingham, much of the series was filmed elsewhere in England. The industrial canals and warehouses of Liverpool feature heavily, doubling for early 20th-century Birmingham.
Other filming locations include Manchester, Leeds, and the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley, which provides an immersive look at Britain’s industrial past. Fans can easily visit many of these locations, particularly around Liverpool’s docks.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is one of the most influential shows in the history of set jetting, with filming spread across several countries.
In Northern Ireland, locations such as the Dark Hedges, Ballintoy Harbour, and Castle Ward are instantly recognisable. Dubrovnik in Croatia doubled as King’s Landing, with scenes filmed along the city walls and Fort Lovrijenac. Other notable locations include Thingvellir National Park in Iceland and Alcázar of Seville in Spain, both of which are now popular stops on dedicated set jetting tours.
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings firmly put New Zealand on the set jetting map. Filmed entirely in the country, the trilogy showcases everything from alpine landscapes to rolling farmland.
The most famous location is Hobbiton in Matamata, which remains a permanent attraction and is open year-round to visitors. Elsewhere, Tongariro National Park stood in for Mordor, while Fiordland National Park and Mount Sunday (Edoras) showcase the dramatic scenery that defines Middle-earth..
The White Lotus
Each season of The White Lotus has driven interest in its filming locations. Season one was filmed in Hawaii, largely at the Four Seasons Resort Maui, where many exterior hotel scenes were shot.
Season two moved to Sicily, with filming centred around Taormina, including the San Domenico Palace hotel. Additional scenes were filmed in Palermo and Cefalù, highlighting coastal towns, historic streets and luxury resorts that have since seen a surge in interest from travellers.
Season three takes the series to Thailand, with filming based on the island of Koh Samui. Key locations include luxury resorts and beachfront areas around Chaweng and Lamai, as well as scenes filmed at temples and jungle settings inland. As with previous seasons, the show places a strong focus on high-end resorts and dramatic natural scenery, making Koh Samui the latest hotspot for set jetting inspired by The White Lotus.
Harry Potter
The Harry Potter films feature a wide range of real locations across the UK, making them ideal for set jetting close to home. Alnwick Castle in Northumberland was used for Hogwarts flying lessons, while Durham Cathedral’s cloisters appear in early films.
Other recognisable locations include Christ Church College, Oxford, which inspired the Great Hall, Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire for Hogwarts interiors, and Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands, used for outdoor scenes around the school.
Fans can also visit Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, where many original sets, props and costumes are on display, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how the films were made. In central London, Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross Station has become an iconic stop for fans, complete with a photo opportunity and themed shop.
Emily in Paris (and Rome)
Emily in Paris has become a modern set jetting favourite, showcasing some of the most photogenic parts of the French capital. Emily’s apartment is located at Place de l’Estrapade, while scenes were filmed along the Seine, at Pont Alexandre III, and in neighbourhoods such as Montmartre and Le Marais.
Later seasons expand beyond Paris to Rome, featuring iconic landmarks and atmospheric streets, giving viewers – and travellers – inspiration to explore the city beyond its most obvious attractions.
Downton Abbey
Fans of Downton Abbey can visit Highclere Castle in Hampshire, the real-life estate used as the Crawley family home. Both interior and exterior scenes were filmed there, making it one of the most complete and immersive set jetting experiences available.
Additional filming took place across southern England, including villages such as Bampton in Oxfordshire, which doubled as Downton village itself. In Wiltshire, locations like Lacock Abbey were used for interior scenes, while London filming included grand buildings and streets around Belgravia and Westminster for high-society moments.
Why Set Jetting Continues to Grow
Set jetting combines storytelling with travel, giving people a new way to connect with destinations. Whether it’s walking through a medieval city, exploring dramatic coastlines, or visiting grand stately homes, these filming locations offer experiences that feel instantly familiar yet excitingly new.
As streaming platforms continue to produce visually stunning shows, set jetting looks set to remain one of the most influential travel trends for years to come.
