From Moors to Castles: UK Filming Locations Shaping 2026’s Period Dramas

In 2026 the United Kingdom becomes a central setting for several new period-drama productions. Upcoming releases include new seasons of Bridgerton and Outlander, along with contemporary adaptations of Pride and Prejudice and Wuthering Heights. These projects rely on historic landscapes and long-established cultural sites across multiple regions, reflecting the continued relevance of real locations in shaping how classic stories are reinterpreted today.

The growing use of these areas indicates a shift toward integrating authentic environments into filming rather than relying on purpose-built studio sets. Locations like Howard Castle, the Peak District, the Yorkshire Moors, and the Scottish Lowlands are used as they are, which helps preserve their historical and architectural importance. This approach also highlights how production teams adapt existing places instead of building new ones for use in films.

This activity opens up opportunities to explore locations that appear in current shooting schedules, including:

• Castle Howard and surrounding North Yorkshire landscapes

• Peak District trails and ridge viewpoints used in Austen adaptations
• The Yorkshire Moors connected to Brontë-era settings
• Scottish Lowlands locations associated with Outlander

Visitors can still experience these places as natural or heritage sites, where film production serves more as an added point of interest than something that shapes their identity.

Scotland continues to provide key locations for the filming of Outlander, where castles and country estates have retained their traditional appearance. On the Yorkshire Moors visitors can walk through landscapes linked to the Brontë family without encountering staged or altered features. Such locations allow travellers to observe how modern productions interact with long-standing cultural environments while leaving the character of these places unchanged.

The surge in filming throughout the UK in 2026 suggests that travelers could find themselves amidst production activity while exploring heritage areas. This isn't about turning these locations into fresh tourist draws; rather, it highlights how modern media consistently draws upon historic landscapes. For those visiting, it provides a more explicit understanding of the connection between narrative and place, and how well-known settings continue to play a role in shaping cultural experiences.