York and North York Moors National Park are playing a starring role on the London Underground this month.
Visit York, in partnership with the North York Moors National Park, has launched a new eye-catching promotion across London King’s Cross underground station.
It shines a spotlight on York and the North York Moors National Park’s starring roles in film and television, and invites audiences to experience the locations that brought these scenes to life.
Themed ‘Starring York and North York Moors’, the campaign celebrates the region’s cinematic connections and world-class backdrops that have captured the imagination of audiences worldwide.
York’s cobbled streets, medieval landmarks and wild moorland valleys have doubled as film sets for decades.
Centred around five key genres – epic adventures, tangled tales of crime and mystery, spine-tingling dark horrors, timeless romance, and moments of rare magic – visitors can follow the footsteps and explore York and beyond through on-location itineraries that bring film and TV stories to life.
York and its surroundings have long played leading roles on screen – from the sweeping grandeur of Castle Howard, immortalised in Brideshead Revisited and more recently Netflix’s Bridgerton, to the soaring towers of York Minster, which stood in for Westminster Abbey in Victoria and featured in the Oscar-winning Elizabeth, plus popular series like Gentleman Jack have added new chapters to Holy Trinity Church, Goodramgate.
Beyond the city, the ruins of Whitby Abbey inspired Bram Stoker’s gothic masterpiece, Dracula; the opening scenes of Downton Abbey: The Movie took viewers to Pickering station; and Goathland Station was famously featured in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
“This campaign is all about visibility and inspiration,” said Sarah Loftus, managing director of Make It York.
“By featuring the region in one of the busiest travel hubs in the UK, we’re putting the city quite literally in front of millions of potential visitors each day. The ‘Starring’ theme not only celebrates our film and TV connections but also positions the region as a leading cultural destination.”
The new display showcases York’s story to the millions passing through King’s Cross station every week. Film tourism continues to boost local economies and puts York’s already extraordinary locations and must-see attractions firmly on everyone’s travel lists.
The ‘Starring’ displays run from 1 to 14 December 2025 at London King’s Cross. Find out more about the campaign at Visit York’s website.
