Set jetting is a fast growing travel trend
The National Trust has set up a Film Office specially dedicated to a new tourism phenomenon known as ’set jetting’. It has been estimated that over a quarter of families taking day trips will visit areas of the country made famous because they appear in feature films.
Lauren Taylor, the National Trust’s filming coordinator said that every year around sixty of their properties are used by production companies making television programs, commercials and feature films. She said that National Trust locations were rented out at around £4,000 per day and that all of that money was pumped back into maintaining the specific buildings and locations.
The release of the Ridley Scott film Robin Hood next month is likely to see Ashbridge Estate which is located in the Chilterns become popular with tourists. The estate has been used as a replacement for Sherwood Forest. Dovedale in Derbyshire will also go on the set jetter’s map as it was used in the film’s closing scenes.
Antony House located close to Plymouth has already taken full advantage of the fact that it was chosen by Tim Burton as a setting in his film Alice in Wonderland. Visitors to the house can follow garden trails as part of the Alice In Wonderland Experience.
Already popular with set jetters are scenes that featured in box office hits such as Die Another Day, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Sherlock Holmes and Pride and Prejudice. Films yet to be released which feature National Trust properties are Never Let Me Go and Burke and Hare.