The UK as the world’s backlot: Why British architecture steals the show

Architecture that travels

The UK’s secret lies in the versatility of its built environment. Glasgow’s grid-like layout, lined with Victorian and Neoclassical buildings, has a distinctly American feel. Liverpool’s grand civic squares and maritime landmarks convincingly recreate mid-century New York. Manchester’s industrial mills and warehouses channel the look of Rust Belt America. 

This universality gives UK cities a rare “castability”. With the right camera angles and set dressing, they can effortlessly step into roles far beyond their postcodes.

A proven screen résumé

Part of the magic lies in how effortlessly UK cities slip into other identities. Recent productions offer a striking range. 

With its imposing Victorian façades, Glasgow has become Hollywood’s favourite double for New York. It was Manhattan in World War Z, Gotham in The Batman, and most recently Midtown in Spider-Man. 

Liverpool’s landmarks have given it a strong reputation for period New York. It doubled for 1950s Manhattan in Fantastic Beasts and has also played Victorian London. 

London is perhaps the most versatile of all. Its mix of historic streets and adaptable backdrops has allowed it to stand in for Paris, Moscow, and Vienna in Bond films. 

Oxford and Cambridge, with their Gothic spires and collegiate quadrangles, are often recast as Ivy League campuses. For global audiences, the distinction between Princeton and Pembroke matters little, the impression of academic grandeur is what counts. 

Bath’s Georgian crescents and Bristol’s historic terraces have been central to the lavish look of Bridgerton. Northern Ireland’s landscapes and castles became the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros in Game of Thrones. In Dunkirk, the iconic chalk cliffs of Dover doubled for Normandy. 

What makes these examples so striking is how seamlessly the transformations work. For film audiences, disbelief is suspended, but for those familiar with the places, there’s a certain delight in recognising the streets, squares and skylines of home.

Beyond the aesthetics

The impact of this screen time isn’t just confined to the cinema. For cities, film production offers far more than a fleeting moment of Hollywood glamour. Productions bring direct economic benefits: jobs for local crews, income from location hire, and spending across hotels, restaurants, and logistics. 

But its cultural legacy often endures much longer. Cities that appear on screen frequently enjoy a surge in “set-jetting” tourism. Northern Ireland is a prime example: its transformation into Westeros for Game of Thrones has generated more than £250 million in tourism revenue, with fans still travelling years later to experience filming sites firsthand. 

In this sense, film acts as both an economic catalyst and a storytelling tool, reframing how cities are perceived internationally. 

Another advantage lies in scale. British city centres are compact and controllable compared to sprawling American metropolises. That makes them not only versatile in appearance but also practical for filmmaking. 

This was particularly evident post-lockdown when many productions rewrote scripts to avoid large crowd scenes and looked for film-friendly alternatives closer to home. 

Mission Impossible 7, for example, forwent Venice in favour of Oxfordshire, while Netflix’s The Witcher relocated scenes from the Czech Republic to Wales and the West Country.

When British streets stand in for New York or Paris it’s more than a cinematic trick – it highlights how well-designed, adaptable places can capture imaginations worldwide. For cities, that translates into pride, profile, and long-term value; for the property world, it underlines the enduring importance of heritage, design and placemaking.

Further information

Contact Imogen Bliss or Adam Davies

Read more about Scotland’s role in film production and opportunities for land and property owners here.