Half a million British households cancelled their television licence fee in 2023.
More and more viewers are turning to streaming services, and younger audiences in particular are opting to watch shows aired on Netflix and YouTube.
That said, we’re still a nation of TV lovers.
In fact, we watch 28 hours and 18 minutes of TV and streaming content each week. If you’re a typical viewer, this means you likely watch a little over four hours of television each day.
So, this summer why not turn off the TV and do something different instead?
One way to get even more enjoyment from what you love could be to pay a visit to one or more of the best film and TV sets that are open to visitors in the UK.
Here are five of the best to choose from.
1. The Paddington Bear Experience, London
A treat for the whole family, the Paddington experience has been crafted to celebrate the 66th anniversary of Michael Bond’s first Paddington book – A Bear Called Paddington – which was published in October 1958.
Find the multi-sensory experience at County Hall on the South Bank. Here you will make your way through a series of rooms, on an adventure to help the Brown Family prepare for the Marmalade Day Festival.
Start your journey (like Paddington Bear) at Paddington Station where you’ll board a “full-size train carriage” and journey to the Brown’s house (No. 32 Windsor Gardens), the jungle of Peru, and finally return to Windsor Gardens, where, quite naturally, you’ll be rewarded with a delicious marmalade sandwich.
2. The Making of Harry Potter, Warner Bros. Studio London
If you or someone you know loves all things Harry Potter, this immersive experience is one not to miss.
The tour, at Warner Bros. Studio in Watford, where all eight of the iconic films were made, invites you to experience breathtaking sets from the whimsical streets of Diagon Alley to the grand hall at Gringotts Wizarding Bank and, of course, Platform 9¾.
During the tour, you’ll get the chance to see countless props and costumes, and discover how special effects were used to bring the magic to life on screen. You’ll even get to view an intricate miniature-scale model of Hogwarts.
Standard day tour tickets start from £53.60. If it’s a special treat, the Deluxe Tour costs £250 and includes a souvenir guide book and a bottle of Butterbeer or Beerbutter ice cream – served in a souvenir cup to take home with you.
3. The Doctor Who Tour of London
This walking tour in London allows intrepid time-travellers to follow in the footsteps of the UK’s most loved Time Lord.
Visit numerous iconic locations that have been made famous by the show during the last 50 years that it’s been on our screens.
The tour includes more than 15 – new and old – locations, including sites used in classic episodes such as ‘The Invasion’ and ‘Remembrance of the Daleks’, and more recent memorable episodes such as ‘Rose’, and ‘The Shakespeare Code’.
You’ll also learn how the TV Show is filmed and hear fascinating trivia from your professional-fan and guide.
With plenty of photo opportunities along the way, you’ll earn bragging rights and have some great shots to share with your friends.
4. Game of Thrones Studio Tour, Northern Ireland
The uninitiated may be surprised to discover that the studio behind Game of Thrones can be found in an old 1900 linen mill. And that same mill now hosts a remarkable tour revealing some of the secrets behind the making of the hit series.
View more than 150 costumes, including Daenerys’s white fur coat and Cersei’s coronation gown.
As well as a sneak peek at the art department’s early sketches detailing the meticulous scenery, you’ll get to see an expansive collection of studio sets (including the interiors of King’s Landing), props and weapons.
Be sure to look out for the dragon eggs as you go, too.
5. Friends, London
Endlessly popular, if you’re one of the millions of Friends fans, might be pleased to learn that you can enjoy a Friends tour, without having to fork out for a flight to New York.
To celebrate the show’s 30th birthday, Warner Bros. and Original X Productions have teamed up to create ‘The Friends Experience: The One in London’.
Head to the ExCeL centre in east London, where you can experience full-scale re-created sets, costumes, and props.
Highlights include an opportunity to:
- Play foosball at Joey and Chandler’s
- Snap a photo behind Rachel and Monica’s purple door
- Sink into the orange couch at the show’s iconic coffee house, Central Perk.
Tickets are on sale now. Find out more online – where you’ll also find some glowing five-star reviews.
What are you up to this summer?
We’d love to hear how you decided to spend your summer. Email contactme@kbafinancial.com, connect with us on LinkedIn or Facebook, or call us on 01942 889 883.
