From Star Wars to Jurassic Park… 20 film and TV sets that you can visit
- Here is a list of movie sets that still exist today and are open to the public
- This includes locations from Star Wars Harry Potter and Notting Hill…
- READ MORE: Do YOU know where these famous scenes were filmed?
If the idea of popping in for a vegetable stew at Aunt Beru’s subteranean desert home or trying your luck running into a ‘magical’ brick wall in King’s Cross station excites you… then these could be just the destinations for you.
At MailOnline, we’ve taken a look into the 20 of the most iconic film and television sets that are open to visitors after production was wrapped.
Some of them have turned into a tourist mecca, while others are serving as food markets or new movie sets.
Here is a list of movie sets around the world that still exist today, and are open to the public…
1. Star Wars’ Tatooine
While you can’t visit outer space just yet, unless you’re Elon Musk, the next best thing that fans of the saga can do is visit the famous planet of Tatoonie
A harsh desert world orbiting twin suns in the Star Wars galaxy’s Outer Rim, Tatooine is a lawless place ruled by Hutt gangsters.
While you can’t visit outer space just yet, unless you’re Elon Musk, the next best thing that fans of the saga can do is visit the famous planet.
Located near Nefta in the North African nation of Tunisia, well-kept remnants of places like home Luke Skywalker shared with his aunt and uncle can still be visited.
2. Pirates of the Caribbean
Wallilabou Anchorage was the principle Caribbean location for Disneys 2003 hit movie
Fans of this movie can visit the set in Port Royale in Wallilabou Anchorage, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island country in the Caribbean.
While Johnny Depp is long gone, the set from the hit 2003 film remains. There are props and buildings still standing, but things like the dock have gone.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides became the most expensive film ever made after its release in 2011, with a whopping $378.5 million budget.
And the film ultimately grossed a colossal $1.046 billion dollars, paying Johnny Depp $55.5 million for the role.
3. Hobbiton from ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘The Hobbit’ trilogies
A family sheep farm overlooking a lake was chosen by production scouts on an aerial search of Waikato, New Zealand, and can still be visited by fans today
The Lord of the Rings films and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey by The J.R.R. Tolkien are novel adaptations and are best known for their spectacular recreation of fantasy locales.
The Hobbiton Shire, where the main characters of both trilogies dwell, was used for all the Peter Jackson-directed Tolkien films.
A family sheep farm overlooking a lake was chosen by production scouts on an aerial search of Waikato, New Zealand, and can still be visited by fans today.
The green hillsides and abundant natural beauty made an ideal backdrop, as well as the rounded doors and beautiful gardens.
The Shire is now a major tourist attraction, complete with tours, a restaurant, and a recreated pub from the films, The Green Dragon Inn, which serves ales and ciders.
4. The Shining
Horror fans can book a stay at the Timberline Lodge, which was used for the exterior shots for Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining
Horror fans can book a stay at the Timberline Lodge, the actual hotel used to film the exterior shots for Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining.
During filming, Kubrick agreed to change the infamous room number from 217 to 237 (which does not exist) in the movie because the hotel was worried people would not want to stay in the room in the future.
Ironically, room 217 is most often requested at Timberline Lodge, according to the hotel’s website.
5. Jurassic Park
Kualoa Ranch on Oahu Island, Hawaii. The outdoor scenes for the movie were shot in Hawaii in just three weeks, after two years of pre-production
Jurassic Park was the highest-grossing film of its time, making a whopping $912 million after its 1993 release.
Filming took place in California and Hawaii, with outdoor scenes in Hawaii shot in just three weeks after two years of pre-production.
Today, many of the places the film was produced at are open for visitors.
However, we can’t say that you’ll find any dinosaur remains…
6. ‘Sex and the City’
Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment in New York from Sex and the City. Although you won’t be able to go inside, you can take some photos in front of the building
Sex and the City fans can visit Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment in New York.
While you may not be able to enter the building, you can still take a few snaps to post on your Facebook or Instagram later.
Carrie Bradshaw’s iconic apartment on Perry Street, was featured in the HBO show and the movie “Sex and the City,” and is a popular stop for tourists who want to take a brief walk in Carrie’s luxurious shoes.
7. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
The first of the series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, had a $125 million budget.
And most of the Harry Potter set can be visited today at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London – but for a cost.
A major part of the movie was Platform 9 and ¾, which was the mysterious wizarding train station that acted as a portal to get them on the train to Hogwarts.
The scenes were filmed at a real train station, London’s Kings Cross.
8. Bates Motel
Bates Motel is a popular television series based on the classic Hitchcock thriller, Psycho.
The film went on to become a cult classic and was nominated for four Academy Awards.
Following this success, a replica of the original Bates Motel set from the film Psycho was built in Aldergrove, British Columbia, where portions of the series were filmed.
9. Gone Girl
The American psychological thriller directed by David Fincher grossed a huge $369 million at the box office.
The scene where the police found that Amy was trying to purchase a firearm was filmed in an creepy abandoned mall in Hawthorne, California.
This location also happens to be the cold storage facility in HBO’s Westworld as well as scenes from Minority Report and Rush Hour.
10. Escape From Alcatraz
While Alcatraz is no longer a prison – it was shut down as a state pen in 1936 – fans of the film can visit Alcatraz Island in San Francisco
The 1979 film featured Eastwood’s character attempting a daring escape from the famous California prison.
While Alcatraz is no longer a prison – it was shut down as a state pen in 1936 – it cost millions to get the facility running to a point where filming could take place.
People can now visit the abandoned prison at Alcatraz Island, which is located in San Francisco.
11. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is insanely popular among people of all ages.
In the movie, Indiana Jones, an explorer and college professor, is after the Holy Grail, which is housed at a place known as ‘The Treasury.’
And you can actually visit ‘The Treasury’ today.
In fact, it’s one of Jordan’s most popular tourist attractions, called the Al Khazneh.
The temple was built in the first century A.D, and reportedly producers had to be extremely careful while filming.
12. Notting Hill
The fictional bookshop in the movie Notting Hill was based on a real bookshop, called Travel Book Co.
It can still be visited today and is located at 13 Blenheim Crescent.
And the original shopfront and interior that Notting Hill fans know so well is still there today.
Lets hope fans visiting the bookstore find their own Hugh Grant…
13. Ghost Hunters
After terrifying and captivating fans for 11 seasons, the series introduced people to the world of authentic paranormal investigation.
And the set location is said to be one of the most haunted hospitals in the US.
The Waverly Hills Sanatorium is an attraction for all horror fans, offering overnight paranormal investigation events and Halloween guided tours.
They also offer historical tours with the option for a group visit as well as a private tour through the ‘Most Haunted Place in America’.
14. Sleepless in Seattle
Some of the most well-known parts of Sleepless in Seattle were filmed at Pike Place Market, in Seattle, Washington
The romantic comedy starred Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan as a couple that defies the odds to get together.
And some of the most well-known parts of the movie were filmed at Pike Place Market, in Seattle, Washington.
This public market opened in 1907, and it is one of the United States’ oldest, continuously-operated farmers markets.
15. Home Alone
If you ever find yourself in the Chicago suburb of Winnetka, Illinois, you can go to the Home Alone house and try to recreate Kevin’s shocked face
Who hasn’t seen this movie?!
Its a Christmas classic and we’re sure that pretty much everyone will want to visit The McCallister home.
If you ever find yourself in the Chicago suburb of Winnetka, Illinois, head down to the home.
In fact, tourists are still flocking to the house nearly 30 years after the film’s release to recreate Kevin’s shocked face outside.
16. 12 Monkeys
The disturbing dystopian film addresses the near eradication of human civilization by a virus.
When the penitentiary that was used in the film was first built over 180 years ago, it was the most famous and expensive prison in the world.
Today, fans can tour the building and are treated to an audio tour by the one and only Steve Buscemi.
17. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters
This rather terrifying children’s movie that was turned into an action-adventure film gained popularity amongst horror fans and did fairly well at the box office.
The set is in Germany, just outside of Berlin, and is a fairly popular tourist destination amongst cult horror fans.
You can still find the set from the 2013 film, complete with a fake well and town square.
18. Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure
Pee Wee’s Big Adventure was a comedy film that starred Paul Reubens as Pee Wee Herman.
The family friendly movie was directed by Tim Burton.
Pee Wee’s road trip was filmed in Cabazon, California.
And one of the site’s locations he stops at is Cabazon Dinosaurs, a roadside attraction featuring a couple of enormous, steel and concrete dinosaurs named Mr. Rex and Dinny.
19. The Sound of Music
The real Trapp family once lived in the idyllic Austrian city of Salzburg.
The hit film, The Sound of Music, was also filmed in and around the city, making it a must-see for fans.
Reportedly, more than 300,000 visitors head to Salzburg each year to trace the footsteps of Maria von Trapp and Julie Andrews.
20. Men in Black II
Grand Central Station features in the Men in Black II movie after an entire colony of aliens operate a locker.
Although the aliens might night be real, Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones filmed scenes at the famous station.
The incredible station is certainly worth a visit, regardless of whether you have seen the movie or not.
Source: Read Full Article