Cornwall's cliffs, harbours and moors have doubled for everything from Poldark's Cornwall to Westeros. Here is what filmed where, and how to see it.
Cornwall hosted the BBC's Poldark (2015-2019) and ITV's Doc Martin (2004-2022), plus Fisherman's Friends (2019) and House of the Dragon (2022). Key sites include Port Isaac, Charlestown Harbour, Botallack Mine, Bodmin Moor and St Michael's Mount. Most locations are free to visit, and guided tours run from towns including Launceston and Newquay.
Cornwall has one of the strongest screen resumes of any English county. The BBC's Poldark ran from 2015 to 2019 and used the county extensively, from the Georgian harbour at Charlestown to the cliff-top engine houses at Botallack Mine. The ITV series Doc Martin, broadcast between 2004 and 2022, made Port Isaac famous as the fictional Portwenn, while Fisherman's Friends (2019) and episodes of House of the Dragon (2022) added to the county's credits.
The practical appeal for travellers is that most of these places were already worth visiting. The filming locations are working harbours, National Trust beaches and World Heritage mining sites spread across a compact county, so a screen-themed trip doubles as a tour of Cornwall's best coastline and moorland.
The full production list stretches back decades. Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland (2010) used Charlestown and Antony House, while Bond film Die Another Day (2002) shot at Holywell Bay and the Eden Project. Older credits include The Eagle Has Landed (1976) at Charlestown and St Agnes Head, and Hornblower (2002) at Falmouth and Pendennis Castle. More recent titles include Bait (2019), Beyond Paradise (2023) in Looe, and Jamaica Inn (2014) and The Kid Who Would Be King (2019), both on Bodmin Moor.
| Title | Year | Type | What was filmed here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poldark | 2015-2019 | TV | Extensive exteriors across Cornwall including Charlestown Harbour as Truro/Falmouth, Botallack Mine as Wheal Leisure/Crowns, Bodmin Moor, Porthgwarra Cove, Gunwalloe Church Cove, Holywell Bay, Kynance Cove |
| Doc Martin | 2004-2022 | TV | Port Isaac as the fictional Portwenn, with interiors at Roscarrock Farm; additional scenes on Bodmin Moor |
| Fisherman's Friends | 2019 | Film | Port Isaac and surrounding areas |
| House of the Dragon | 2022 | TV | St Michael's Mount as Driftmark, Holywell Bay |
| Johnny English | 2003 | Film | St Michael's Mount |
| Die Another Day | 2002 | Film | Holywell Bay, Eden Project |
| Jamaica Inn | 2014 | TV | Bodmin Moor |
| The Kid Who Would Be King | 2019 | Film | Bodmin Moor |
| Bait | 2019 | Film | Charlestown and West Penwith |
| About Time | 2013 | Film | St Austell area, Vault Beach, Charlestown |
| Alice in Wonderland | 2010 | Film | Charlestown, Antony House |
| World War Z | 2013 | Film | Falmouth |
| Ladies in Lavender | 2004 | Film | Penzance, Helston, Prussia Cove |
| Summer in February | 2013 | Film | Porthcurno, Holywell Bay, Mousehole, Lamorna Cove |
| Hornblower | 2002 | TV | Falmouth, Charlestown, Pendennis Castle |
| And Then There Were None | 2015 | TV | Mullion Cove, Kynance Cove, Holywell Bay |
| The Eagle Has Landed | 1976 | Film | Charlestown, St Agnes Head |
| Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides | 2011 | Film | St Ives |
| Beyond Paradise | 2023 | TV | Looe |
12 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Cornwall, Charlestown Free to see
Filmed here: Georgian harbour as Truro port and other period scenes
The unspoilt Georgian harbour near St Austell stood in for the Truro port in Poldark and appears in Alice in Wonderland, Hornblower and Bait. Access is free and public, and the village is popular for walking and photography. The Charlestown Shipwreck and Heritage Centre sits at the harbour and covers its period-drama history. Check tide times before a visit.
Cornwall, Port Isaac Free to see
Filmed here: Village as Portwenn; harbour, streets and cottages
This north coast fishing village is Portwenn, the setting for the whole run of Doc Martin, and also features in Fisherman's Friends. Streets, cottages and the harbour are all publicly accessible, though lanes are narrow and the harbour remains a working fishing port. Fan tours of the village run regularly and it is the single most recognisable screen location in Cornwall.
Cornwall, Marazion Ticketed
Filmed here: Tidal island and castle as dramatic settings
The tidal island and castle off Marazion appeared as Driftmark in House of the Dragon (2022) and featured in Johnny English (2003). It is a National Trust site with ticketed entry; the causeway opens at low tide and castle tours are available. Combining the screen connection with a genuine castle visit makes it one of the county's fuller days out.
Cornwall, Botallack Free to see
Filmed here: Engine houses as Wheal Leisure, Wheal Crowns and Wheal Grace
The engine houses perched on the cliffs near St Just played Wheal Leisure, Wheal Crowns and Wheal Grace in Poldark. The site is part of a UNESCO World Heritage mining landscape with National Trust cliff paths and free access to the ruins. It is the definitive Poldark photo stop and connects easily to coastal walks along the West Penwith coast.
Cornwall, Bodmin Free to see
Filmed here: Moorland for countryside, riding and cottage exteriors
The granite moorland provided countryside, riding scenes and cottage exteriors for Poldark, plus locations for Jamaica Inn, The Kid Who Would Be King and additional Doc Martin scenes. Access is free via roads and paths across the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, though walks are weather dependent. It is the easiest inland addition to a coastal itinerary.
Cornwall, Newquay Free to see
Filmed here: Beach for action and riding scenes
The beach and dunes south of Newquay hosted riding and action scenes for Poldark, Die Another Day and And Then There Were None. Public access, a car park and dunes make it straightforward to visit, and it is also a popular surfing spot. The village pub and beach café give the stop an easy, low-effort feel between bigger sites.
Cornwall, Helston Free to see
Filmed here: Shipwrecking and smuggling scenes at Church Cove and Dollar Cove
Two adjoining coves on the Lizard peninsula, Church Cove and Dollar Cove, served as the setting for Poldark's shipwrecking and smuggling scenes. It is a National Trust beach with coastal path access, but parking is limited, so arriving early in peak season is wise. The church set right on the sand is one of Cornwall's more unusual sights.
Cornwall, Penzance Free to see
Filmed here: Cove for swimming and cliff scenes
A small cove near Land's End used for Poldark's swimming and cliff scenes, including its famous tunnel cut through the rock. Access is free and the area is National Trust land, but the car park is small and fills quickly in summer. It suits travellers building a west Cornwall loop with other Penwith locations.
Cornwall, Helston Free to see
Filmed here: Dramatic coastal and riding scenes
The white sand and serpentine cliffs of Kynance Cove on the Lizard appeared in Poldark and the 2015 adaptation of And Then There Were None. It is a National Trust beach with a car park, though it can get busy at peak times. The dramatic coastal scenery means the filming history is a bonus rather than the main draw.
Cornwall, St Austell Ticketed
Filmed here: Biomes and site for sci-fi and action
The giant biomes near St Austell appeared in Die Another Day and 28 Days Later. Entry is ticketed, and the site is one of Cornwall's major visitor attractions in its own right, with gardens, exhibits and tours. It pairs naturally with Charlestown Harbour, ten minutes' drive away, for a mixed screen and gardens day.
Cornwall, Falmouth Free to see
Filmed here: Harbour and town for maritime scenes
The harbour town stood in for maritime scenes in Hornblower and World War Z. The harbour and town are fully public, with maritime heritage sites to explore. Falmouth also makes a practical base for a screen trip, sitting within reach of both the Roseland peninsula and the Lizard locations used across several productions.
Cornwall, Penzance Free to see
Filmed here: Cove and coastal scenes
A remote cove west of Penzance used for coastal scenes in Ladies in Lavender and Summer in February. Access is on foot, and the cove has historic smuggling associations dating back well before the film crews arrived. It rewards travellers combining the far west of Cornwall with quieter locations away from the main tourist hubs.
Cornwall has no purpose-built film studios, so productions shoot on location or in converted farm buildings. The Screen Cornwall Film Office acts as the central point of contact for filming permits, locations and crew across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and also runs the locations database. Main landowners granting filming permissions include Cornwall Council, the Duchy of Cornwall and the National Trust. At Charlestown, the Shipwreck and Heritage Centre offers a museum and tours at the harbour used repeatedly for period drama, giving screen tourists a dedicated indoor stop alongside the harbour itself.
Guided tours concentrate on the two big names, Doc Martin and Poldark. Doc Martin options centre on Port Isaac and range from dedicated village walks to broader north Cornwall days that fold in Fisherman's Friends sites. Poldark tours cover the west coast mines and coves, with private full-day options running from pickup points across Cornwall. Travellers without a car should prioritise a tour with transport included, as key sites such as Botallack and Porthgwarra are awkward to reach by public transport.
Doc Martin Tour in Port Isaac, Cornwall
A Doc Martin tour in Port Isaac departing from Newquay, rated 4.7 from 924 reviews, the largest review base of any tour on this page.
Doc Martin Tour
A focused Doc Martin tour departing from the Launceston area, rated 4.6 from 473 reviews, making it one of the most reviewed options for the series.
West Cornwall Tour with Poldark Filming Locations
A private west Cornwall tour built around Poldark locations, priced from $1212.13 and rated 4.7 from 15 reviews. The strongest pick for Botallack, Porthgwarra and the Penwith coast.
Doc Martin, Fishermans Friends & North Cornwall
A day trip combining Doc Martin, Fisherman's Friends and wider north Cornwall, rated 5.0 from 12 reviews. Suits viewers of both productions travelling from the Devon side.
Private Full-Day Tour of Poldark Filming Locations from Cornwall
A private full-day tour of Poldark filming locations from Newquay, priced from $564.86, rated 4.2 from 5 reviews. Covers the west coast locations in one day with a dedicated guide.
From Cornwall: Private Poldark Tour with Pickup
A private Poldark tour with pickup included, priced from $1085.68 per group, rated 5.0 across 4 reviews. Best for travellers wanting an itinerary built around their own shortlist of filming sites.
Doc Martin was filmed in Port Isaac on Cornwall's north coast, which plays the fictional village of Portwenn. Interiors were shot at Roscarrock Farm, with additional scenes on Bodmin Moor. The village is publicly accessible and guided fan tours run regularly.
Poldark used locations across Cornwall, including Charlestown Harbour as the Truro port, Botallack Mine as Wheal Leisure, Wheal Crowns and Wheal Grace, Bodmin Moor, Porthgwarra Cove, Gunwalloe Church Cove, Holywell Bay and Kynance Cove. Most sites have free public access.
Yes. St Michael's Mount near Marazion appeared as Driftmark in House of the Dragon (2022), and Holywell Bay was also used. The mount is a National Trust site with ticketed entry and causeway access at low tide.
A car helps considerably. Sites such as Botallack Mine, Porthgwarra Cove and Gunwalloe Church Cove are awkward to reach by public transport. The private Poldark tours listed on this page include pickup and transport, which suits travellers without a vehicle.
Most are. Charlestown Harbour, Port Isaac, Bodmin Moor, Botallack Mine and the beaches all have free public access. St Michael's Mount and the Eden Project are ticketed. Parking at some coves, such as Porthgwarra and Gunwalloe, is limited.
Doc Martin fans have the widest choice, with the Newquay-departing Port Isaac tour carrying 924 reviews at 4.7. Poldark viewers should weigh the private full-day options, from $564.86 out of Newquay to the $1212.13 west Cornwall private day, which reaches the far-west mining and cove locations.
Cornwall rewards both the devoted fan and the casual viewer. A week is enough to cover Port Isaac in the north, Charlestown and the Eden Project in the centre, and the Poldark coast from Botallack to Porthgwarra in the far west, with St Michael's Mount and the Lizard coves as southern add-ons. Book a guided tour for the remote west coast sites and explore the harbours and villages independently; either way, the scenery that filled the frame is entirely free to stand in.
Before You Go
The tours travellers book most for Cornwall.
