A new nationwide study has revealed that Dorset has been named as Britain’s top coastal filming destination. The study, commissioned by luxury holiday cottage company Curated Cottages, analyzed 638 confirmed feature films, television dramas, and streaming productions filmed in coastal regions across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland from 2006 to 2026.
Dorset emerged as the leader on the UK Coastal Screen Index 2026, with a total of 39 confirmed productions. This is ahead of Norfolk with 35, Kent with 32, and Cornwall and Sussex with 30 each. The Bristol & Gloucestershire Estuary region came in sixth place with 29 productions, followed by Hampshire (27), Devon (22), Somerset (22), and Edinburgh & Lothian Coast (20).
Ian Bates, the founder of Curated Cottages, highlighted the unique appeal of Dorset for filmmakers, saying, “Few places offer such a diverse range of locations in such a compact area. From dramatic cliffs and natural sea arches to medieval castles, historic harbours, and sweeping beaches, Dorset has it all.”
The county has played host to a wide range of productions over the past two decades, including blockbusters like Wonka, Dunkirk, and The Rings of Power, as well as popular TV series like Broadchurch and Andor. It has also been the location for upcoming releases such as Netflix’s A Matter of Time, starring Ben Stiller.
According to Bates, the exposure that Dorset receives from these productions has a significant impact on tourism. “Every major production introduces Dorset to millions of viewers around the world and inspires them to visit the places they have seen on screen,” he said.
The study also found that Dorset was home to six Netflix productions and four Amazon productions. This is a testament to the county’s appeal to major international productions. The recent filming of A Matter of Time, for instance, is estimated to have generated £225,125 for the local economy, according to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.
The long-term tourism benefits of screen productions are also significant. The growing trend of “set-jetting,” where travelers visit locations from their favorite films and TV shows, has boosted interest in Dorset. A VisitBritain study found that 7 in 10 recent visitors to the UK had visited a film or TV location, and 9 in 10 prospective visitors expressed interest in doing so.
The study also coincides with a milestone year for Dorset, as the Jurassic Coast celebrates its 25th anniversary as England’s only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The complete findings, methodology, and regional rankings can be found on the Curated Cottages website: https://www.curatedcottages.co.uk/uk-coastal-screen-index-2026/.
-END-
