The South West and Wales are famed for many things.

There's the stunning scenery - from the golden beaches of Devon and Cornwall to the dramatic cliffs of the Jurassic Coast.

Then there's the exciting cities, from the buzzing metropolis of Cardiff to the cultural melting pot of Bristol.

Not to mention all the history - from the Georgian splendor of Bath to the ancient tin mines of Cornwall.

With all of that going on and more, it's hardly surprising that Hollywood has realised the area's potential.

A growing number of film and TV productions have been filmed in the region, making it the ideal destination for movie buffs.

And the best part is, they are all easy to reach with Great Western Railway. With savings of more than 50 per cent available when booking in advance at GWR.com *, it's much cheaper than a trip to la-la land (and it's prettier, too).

We've put together the ultimate set tour by train for the delight of film fans and telly addicts everywhere. And if you do happen to run in to Aidan Turner or Keira Knightley along the way - well, you can thank us later.

1. For Harry Potter fans: Discover a world of witchcraft and wizardry in Gloucester

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Hollywood blockbusters don't come much bigger than the Harry Potter franchise. The cloisters of Gloucester's Gothic Cathedral were the perfect location to shoot several of the Hogwarts corridor scenes in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone ,Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

More recently, the cathedral was also the backdrop to Damian Lewis's Wolf Hall - and Sherlock starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman.

The magnificent cathedral is just a ten minute walk through the city centre from Gloucester Station .

2. For Doctor Who fans: Take a trip to Torchwood - aka Cardiff

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Ask any Doctor Who fan where you will find the heart of this beloved sci-fi series and they will point you in the direction of the Cardiff Bay.

Less than a 20 minute walk from Cardiff Central railway station, Cardiff Bay is home to more integral scenes from both the main series and its spin-off, Torchwood , than you can count on one hand.

Highlights include the fountain in Roald Dahl Plass, which forms the secret entrance to Torchwood HQ, and Ianto's Shrine on the waterside which - despite being nearly a decade old - is still flocked to, prompting a plaque by the bay's management team thanking the fictional character for 'giving his life in defence of the children of planet earth'.

The city also has its fair share of movie credits. Human Traffic was shot entirely in Cardiff, and directed by Justin Kerrigan, a graduate of the University of Newport.

The Philharmonic on St Mary Street and Gassy Jacks in Cathays were both used for the pub scenes in this film about a drug-fuelled lost weekend.

3. For Hot Fuzz fans: Take the Film Tour in Wells

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In 2006, the smallest city in England was transformed into the sleepy village of Sandford - the setting of Hot Fuzz, the cult police comedy starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jim Broadbent and Timothy Dalton.

The cathedral city is instantly recognizable in many of the scenes - you can download a map of key filming locations from the Wells tourist information website.

One part of the city was notably absent from the film, however - the cathedral itself. Director Edgar Wright wanted the Church of St Cuthburt to be the centre building for the fictional town of Sandford; so it was digitally painted out of every shot.

Hot Fuzz isn't Wells' only claim to fame. It's also been used as a backdrop for Poldark , The Huntsman starring Emily Blunt and Charlize Theron, and The Libertine starring Johnny Depp.

You can travel direct to Wells from Bristol Temple Meads on the Mendip Explorer bus service.

4. For Poldark fans: Explore the Cornish Coast

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Since the BBC adaptation of Winston Graham's Poldark hit our screens in early 2015, fans of the show have flocked to Cornwall in the hope of catching a glimpse of filming.

Charlestown near St Austell is one of the Poldark's key filming locations, representing Truro, Falmouth and the Isles of Scilly at different points in the series.

Scenes featuring Ross Poldark’s cottage, Nampara, are shot on the wild and rugged Bodmin Moor, while the turquoise waters and white sands of Porthcurno are the setting of some of the series' most memorable scenes involving Ross (Aidan Turner) and his wife Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson).

Then, of course, there's the unforgettable early morning swimming scene - for that, you'll need to head to the tiny fishing cove of Porthgwarra.

Take the train into Ross and Demelza's 18th century world of mining, smuggling and fishing by travelling to Penzance , St Austell or Redruth .

5. For Broadchurch fans: Revisit the dramatic scenes in the West Country

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Though seamlessly made to appear as one town by the producers of the hit drama, Broadchurch was actually filmed across a range of West Country locations.

The most recognizable is probably the honeycomb coloured cliffs of West Bay in Dorset - where the body of murdered Danny Latimer was discovered.

But many of the scenes depicting the fictional seaside town were shot in the North Somerset town of Clevedon.

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Both are easy to get to by train. The closest stations for West Bay is Dorchester , which is ideal for exploring the rest of Dorset 's Jurassic Coast. A regular bus service runs from Dorchester South to Bridport town centre and West Bay.

For Clevedon, the nearest station (around ten minutes in a taxi) is Yatton , which is easily accessible from Bristol Temple Meads . While you're there, don't miss its quaint Victorian Pier, which featured in the 2011 film Never Let Me Go starring Keira Knightley. (The pier was also the backdrop to the music video for You and I by One Direction).

6. For Les Miserables fans: Get a taste of 19th Century France - in Bath

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Despite being set in France, Les Misérables was shot almost entirely in England - with Bath being one of several locations used for Oscar-winning musical.

Starring Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Russell Crowe, stunt shots for Javert’s suicide scene were re-shot in 2012 at Pulteney Bridge and Weir, due to an error found in post-production.

As a backdrop for shooting period dramas, Bath is hard to beat. Its famous Royal Crescent and Assembly rooms also featured in The Duchess, starring Keira Knightley, in 2007.

Bath Spa station is located right in the heart of the city, within easy walking distance of lots of its iconic sights.

7. For fans of TV in general: Find out why Bristol is the South West's answer to Hollywood

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The success of Bristol as a world leader in film production, culture and education was recognised last year when it was named a UNESCO City of Film.

Its not hard to see why. Bristol has a mix of everything when it comes to back drops, from cobbled streets for a period drama through to its harbourside and of course, the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge.

The city has been home to some of the UK's biggest ever TV hits, including Casualty, Skins, Being Human, Only Fools and Horses and The Young Ones . It also has a number of movie credits to its name, including The Casual Vacancy and The Inbetweeners 2.

Recently, it has played host to major productions including Poldark , the White Princess, Sherlock and Broadchurch . This is all thanks to the opening of the Bottle Yard Studios in 2010 - the largest dedicated studio facility in the West of England.

Bristol is also home to the BBC Natural History Unit and Aardman Animations, creators of Wallace and Gromit .

The Bristol Post has created an interactive movie map of the city's blockbuster filming locations and the settings of some classic TV moments, so visitors and locals alike can take a Hollywood-style tour.

Travel right into the city centre by getting the train into Bristol Temple Meads .

Save more than 50% on rail fares when you book in advance at GWR.com *

Terms and Conditions

*Saving terms: Savings correct as of January 2018. Average saving calculated by comparing Standard Class Advance Single ticket prices to the equivalent price of a Standard Class Super Off Peak ticket bought on the day of travel.