Visitors to Hull can now discover famous film and TV locations thanks to a new map revealing why ‘Hullywood’ is becoming a top set-jetting destination.
From Henry Cavill and Millie Bobby Brown to Peter Capaldi and Dev Patel, not to mention Jenna Coleman and David Jason, the streets of Hull have proved a popular star-spotting spot.
In fact, the city’s growing role as a TV and movie location – including smash-hit Netflix productions, The Crownand Enola Holmes 2, as well as cinema hit The Extraordinary Life of David Copperfield – has earned it the nickname of ‘Hullywood’.
Now a new trail guide, available both online and in print, offers visitors a chance to follow in the footsteps of the stars and discover some of the real-life locations.
It must be Hullywood features 11 productions, detailing where they were filmed and which leading actors were involved, with at least six of the locations easily walkable within the city centre, and other spots highlighted across Hull.
Hull residents have provided the images for the leaflet through a photography competition organised by Visit Hull and East Yorkshire late last year, with photos showing sets and characters from several of the productions.
It includes locations from classic UK comedies Only Fools and Horses from back in 1985 to smash-hit ITV series Victoria (2019) and Netflix sensation The Crown (2023) and Bodies (2023), while its movie credits feature A Royal Night Out (2025), and The Personal History of David Copperfield (2020).
Thanks to the labyrinth of cobbled streets and historic townhouses of the Old Town, the city is especially popular with filmmakers wanting to recreate street scenes from Victorian London – used for Victoria, with Jenna Coleman, as well as for Georgian-era thriller The Confessions of Frannie Langton, for ITVX, ITV’s free streaming service.
And Hull’s growing list of blockbusters, original dramas and award-winning shows looks set to continue, with the city keen to attract even more TV and movie crews.
The biggest production yet comes courtesy of streaming giant Apple TV+, and its new movie Blitz, from British writer and director McQueen, starring Saoirse Ronan and Stephen Graham, which tells the story of how Londoners survived the German bombing campaign in World War Two. Expected to air later this year, filming took place at locations across the city in 2023, including Hull Old Town, Hepworth Arcade and Walton Street fairground using more than 750 extras.
Along with shining a spotlight on Hull, attracting large-scale productions also brings a financial boost, pumping upwards of £250,000 into the city thanks to crews filling hotel spaces and using leisure and hospitality venues.
The It must be Hullywood guide is now available at the Visitor Information Pod at Paragon Interchange in the city, or downloadable at www.visithull.org/to-do/hullywood-film-tv-trail/
For tourism information about visiting, and staying in, Hull, see www.visithull.org
Photo of Blitz filming in Hull, above: Dave Todd
