When Hollywood Came to Dorset: Famous Film Locations To Visit

Dorset is a county filmmakers return to again and again. Its coastlines, working harbours and wide landscapes need little staging. They already hold history, atmosphere and scale.

Over the years, that natural character has drawn some of the biggest names in film and television. If you know where to look, many of those locations are easy to visit.

This isn’t a checklist of filming trivia.It’s a local’s guide to Dorset’s most distinctive screen locations, with suggestions on how to turn each into a genuinely good day out when you’re staying in one of our holiday cottages.

Weymouth Harbour – From Peaceful Port to Wartime Britain

Seen in: Dunkirk

Weymouth Harbour played a memorable role in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk, featuring Harry Styles, Mark Rylance, Kenneth Branagh and Tom Hardy. For filming, the harbour was transformed into a 1940s port, with civilian boats prepared for Operation Dynamo and evacuees returning home.

It wasn’t much of a stretch. Weymouth itself played an important role during the Second World War, supporting naval operations along the south coast.

Today, the harbour is a lovely place to explore year-round. There’s history in the working quayside and in nearby landmarks such as Nothe Fort, with its wide views across the bay, and the Tudor House Museum, which offers insight into the town’s earlier past.

Even on an ordinary afternoon, there’s a quiet atmosphere here. It’s easy to see why filmmakers were drawn to this place.

Local tip

If you’re short on time, take the small passenger ferry across the harbour during the summer months. It saves your legs and gives a different perspective from the water.

If you prefer to walk, cross the town bridge and follow the quayside towards the harbour mouth. Fishing boats often return in the late afternoon, and you can watch them unload as you wander. At the end, you’ll find Stone Pier Cafe, known for freshly made food, excellent cakes and beautiful harbour views. On summer Fridays, live music adds to the atmosphere.

Portland & Portland Harbour – Rugged and Unmistakable

The Isle of Portland feels very different from much of Dorset. More exposed, more open, shaped by wind and sea. It has a scale that naturally lends itself to film.

Scenes from The Boat That Rocked were filmed around Portland Harbour, and more recently, parts of Netflix’s The Woman in Cabin 10 were shot in and around Portland Port. The harbour’s vastness and the island’s coastline provide a ready-made backdrop for stories that require space and atmosphere.

A Few Local Favourites

Start at Portland Marina, built for the 2012 Olympic sailing events, where Sir Ben Ainslie won his gold medal. It remains central to the island’s watersports scene. Walk along Chesil Cove, passing Quiddles Café and heading towards The Cove Inn, with wide views across the pebble shore.

For something different, explore Tout Quarry, where former stone workings have been transformed into an open-air sculpture park.

For one of the best vantage points on the island, head up to Portland Heights Hotel. The views across Chesil Beach and the Jurassic Coast are expansive, particularly on clear days. Stop at Café with a View, not just for coffee, but to be served by Bella, the robot waiter.

Chesil Beach – Dorset at Its Most Striking

Seen in: On Chesil Beach

Chesil Beach is used less as a named setting and more for the mood it creates. The vast sweep of shingle and the constant sound of the sea immediately convey a sense of scale to any scene.

Local tip

Wrap up, take a stretch, and take in the openness. It’s particularly powerful outside the summer months, when there’s more space and fewer people.

Winspit Quarry – Dorset Goes Intergalactic

Seen in: Andor, Disney + Star Wars series

Winspit Quarry feels otherworldly even before you know it appeared in Andor. The old stone workings and coastal setting create a landscape that hardly seems to belong to this world.

Local tip

Combine your walk with a visit to The Square and Compass, one of Dorset’s most characterful pubs.

Swanage Railway – A Journey Through Time

Seen in: Dunkirk

The heritage steam trains of Swanage Railway also featured in Dunkirk, adding an authentic period atmosphere.

Even without its film credentials, it’s one of Dorset’s most enjoyable experiences. Slow, nostalgic, and easy to turn into a full day out.

Local tip

Take the train to Swanage, walk along the seafront or the pier, and enjoy the countryside as it rolls past on the return journey.

Why Filmmakers Keep Coming Back to Dorset

It isn’t only the scenery — though that helps. Dorset offers a remarkable variety within a relatively small area: harbours, cliffs, beaches, quarries and countryside, all within easy reach of one another.

For visitors, that means you’re not just looking at beautiful places. You’re stepping into landscapes that have already told powerful stories on screen.

When you stay in one of our Dorset self-catering cottages, you can explore them at your own pace, without schedules or crowds.

Sometimes the best film locations don’t feel like sets at all.  They simply feel like Dorset, as it is.