The beautiful windswept cliffs, miles of green countryside and pristine beaches have become the stars of Poldark as much as the actors.
And, as the show started its final season last night, the Poldark effect is clear, with tourist numbers to Cornwall increasing by 50% (scenes of Aidan Turner with his top off probably haven’t hurt either). It’s not the only new tourist hotspot, thanks to the popularity of British TV – at home and abroad.
Streaming means more homegrown shows than ever are exported. And that’s boosted the numbers of foreign visitors and local fans.
We pinpoint the places where TV has increased footfall by up to 200% and talk to those who have benefitted from the small screen big business.
Poldark: Chavenage House, Gloucestershire
Ross Poldark has enticed 14% of all visitors to Cornwall, according to the region’s tourism bosses. But when visitors try to find his family pile of Trenwith, they’re in the wrong county.
Filming was set in Chavenage House, Glos, where annual visitor numbers have doubled from 4,500 before Poldark to 9,000.
Caroline Lowsley-Williams, whose family has owned Chavenage House since 1891, says: “We’re thrilled to be so choc-a-bloc and have visitors from America and Australia.
"The extra money has enabled us to do a lot of work on the roof. I wish I had a blow-up doll of Aidan Turner because people always ask where he is.
“Filming can be disruptive but easier than weddings because I’d far rather deal with an actor than a bridezilla.”
Doc Martin: Port Isaac, Cornwall
The ITV series has been sold to 70 countries and has attracted so many tourists to Port Isaac, which is the setting for the fictional Portwenn, that tourists sometimes hold up filming as they queue for actors’ autographs.
John Brown, of Port Isaac and Portwenn Walking and Talking Tours, says: “I’ve had people from nearly every country in Europe, America, China, India and Australia. They often say, ‘I can’t believe I’m here at last’, and ‘there’s his surgery!’.
“Many know everything about the series. Some stay for months when filming is taking place. Port Isaac has benefited tremendously.
“The money from the new car park owned by the village is going to fund play parks. The production company gives a percentage of profits to a fund for the village.”
Broadchurch: Charmouth and West Bay
Devon saw a boost in tourism following the “Broadchurch effect” after the hit ITV drama first aired in 2013.
The series, starring David Tennant and Olivia Colman, was filmed on locations along the Jurassic coast.
Hotel trade rose 200% after the first series aired and it’s an effect that lasted.
Jayne Edwards, 53, owns hotel Hensleigh House and says they’ve had tourists from Australia and America interested in the Charmouth coast.
She says: “We only bought the hotel last year. The previous owners hung canvasses around the building identifying different places they had filmed. It was right on the beach next to our hotel and brought a lot of interest.”
Outlander: Stirling and Fife
Outlander was shown in the US, Australia and Canada one year before it first aired in the UK, and its fans are obsessed.
Doune Castle in Stirling, which features as Castle Leoch, has had a 227% increase in numbers since the show launched in 2013. Last year 142,091 people visited in a boost locals call “The Outlander effect”.
Samantha MacKenzie runs the Jamie & Claire Tour, named after the two main characters. She says: “I’ve seen tears of joy.”
The Covenanter Hotel in Falkland, Fife, is recognisable as Mrs Baird’s B&B. Owner Stephen Shand says: “This summer will be our busiest yet.”
Shetland: Shetland Isles
BBC detective thriller Shetland portrays the island, 125 miles north of Scotland’s mainland, as a mystical place with a high body count.
Streamed to 14 countries on Netflix, it’s made tourists flock there in droves.
David Malcolm, who runs Discover Shetland small tours, says: “When I moved here in 1983, virtually no cruise ships came but last year we had 116 and over 92,000 visitors of 98 nationalities.
“The filming company takes over people’s homes but pays handsomely. The book shop has done very well from it, as have fish and chip shops and B&Bs.
“It makes me very proud to hear people describe it as a piece of heaven.”
The Bletchley Circle: Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes
The ITV drama series, starring Rachael Stirling and Julie Graham, was a big hit in the US and has swelled visitor numbers to the home of wartime codebreaking.
Iain Standen, chief executive of Bletchley Park Trust, says: “Visitors can discover the stories of the real Millies, Susans, Lucys and Jeans by exploring the restored wartime codebreaking huts and exhibitions that bring the true story to life.
“We welcome visitors every day from around the world.”
The Night Manager: Blackpool Mill Cottage, Devon
The Hartland Abbey Estate in Devon features Blackpool Mill Cottage – a bolthole popular for filming because it looks so remote.
The property was featured on The Night Manager as Jonathan Pine’s home when he goes undercover as Jack Linden.
And it’s easy for fans to get a taste of the location – Lord and Lady Stucley rent the cottage for holiday lets.
Lady Stucley says: “We’ve tried to keep it as much like it was in the past. We get people from all over the place. They are here because they’ve seen us on the telly. It’s really nice.”
Vera: Alnwick, Northumberland
Located in the North East, the market town of Alnwick and the nearby coastline are regularly used to film ITV crime drama Vera starring Brenda Blethyn.
Northumberland Tourism said in 2014 they were getting more visitors to the site and emails from interested tourists asking where episodes were filmed.
Scenes take place in the garden of The Village Tea Room in Alnwick and owner Lesley Long, 49, says: “We get visitors from different places recognising places where Vera was filmed.”
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