Cornwall lands in Britain’s top four coastal filming spots

Poldark rode along its cliffs, World War Z borrowed its coast, and the forthcoming Harry Potter television series is the latest production to be drawn to the county. Now a new national study has put a number on it. Cornwall hosted 30 major film, television and streaming productions between 2006 and 2026, enough to rank it among Britain’s four largest coastal filming destinations.

What the study found

The UK Coastal Screen Index 2026 placed Cornwall joint fourth alongside Sussex. Only three counties recorded more productions over the same period: Dorset with 39, Norfolk with 35 and Kent with 32.

The research analysed 638 confirmed feature films, television dramas and streaming productions filmed in coastal regions across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It was commissioned by luxury holiday cottage company Curated Cottages.

Cornwall’s 30 productions read like a run through two decades of prime-time viewing. Alongside the new Harry Potter series and House of the Dragon sit Poldark, Beyond Paradise, Fisherman’s Friends, Alice in Wonderland, World War Z, About Time, Jamaica Inn and The Salt Path.

A South West filming corridor

The county’s showing is part of a bigger regional picture. Together, Dorset, Cornwall and Devon hosted 91 confirmed productions over the past two decades, a concentration of internationally recognised locations packed along one stretch of coastline.

Ian Bates, Founder of Curated Cottages, said Cornwall has long been one of Britain’s great filming locations and that the research shows it continues to attract some of the biggest names in film and television.

“Its combination of dramatic coastlines, picturesque harbours, beautiful beaches and distinctive landscapes offers producers an incredible variety of locations that are instantly recognisable yet remarkably versatile,” Ian said.

He added that Cornwall, Devon and Dorset have become one of Europe’s great coastal filming corridors. “From blockbuster films and streaming dramas to returning television series, the South West continues to attract productions that showcase its landscapes to millions of viewers worldwide.”