Movie Holidays & Tours: Visit Famous Movie Locations & Film Sets, 1Cover Travel

Lights, camera… vacation! Make the most of your holiday overseas with our guide to the top 5 movie locations. We’ll help you experience the best the world has to offer.

1. Harry Potter (Alnwick Castle, England)

A striking stately home and castle in Northumberland, England, Alnwick Castle has featured prominently (as Hogwarts) in the series of Harry Potter films since 2001. It also appears in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves and Elizabeth.

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2. Last Tango in Paris(Pont de Bir-Hakeim, France)

It may not be everyone’s idea of a fun movie, but Last Tango certainly makes the most of some wonderful Parisian locations. Most famous of them all is this double-decker road and rail bridge, where the two main characters meet.

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3. The Lord of the Rings (Matamata, New Zealand)

Locations for this epic trilogy were spread across both New Zealand islands, so perhaps the best place to start is where the story starts – Matamata. The rolling greenery of ‘the shire’ was actually filmed on private land nearby, but you can still enjoy guided tours of the Hobbiton set.

4. Thelma and Louise (Gooseneck State Park, USA)

So the Grand Canyon’s most famous movie appearance was actually filmed hundreds of miles away! In fact, very little of Thelma and Louise was filmed at the story’s locations, and the dramatic climax really took place just off Route 163, in the south east corner of Utah.

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5. Monty Python’s Life of Brian (Monastir, Tunisia)

Most of this famous satire, where Brian gets mistaken for the Messiah, was filmed at the ribat (a small fortification) in Monastir, a major tourist resort on the central coast of Tunisia. The ribat’s winding passages are open to the public, and a fascinating visit in their own right.

Guide to Top Things To Do in France, Europe – 1Cover Cheap Travel Insurance

From historic monuments, to wonderful food and wine… Make the most of your holiday overseas with our guide to the top 5 things to do in France. We’ll help you experience the best the world has to offer.

1. Climb the Eiffel Tower

It’s France’s most famous tourist attraction, and at over 1,000 feet, the Eiffel Tower is the perfect vantage point from which to take in Paris. If you’re feeling brave, you can climb all the way up to the second floor, and then get a lift right to the top. At night, the tower becomes an illuminated sculpture, visible from miles around.

2. Visit Versailles

Built by Louis XIV in the 17 ^th century, the Palace of Versailles is a stunning piece of architecture and an important part of French history. Take a tour around the luxurious palace, with its beautifully restored rooms and hand-painted furniture. Then take your time to stroll through the wonderfully ornate gardens, complete with lakes, statues and fountains. The perfect setting for a picnic.

3. Wonderful wine country

France has many great wine regions, and Bordeaux has to be one of the most well known. Visit the city itself and discover the history of the wine trade at the Musee des Chartons. Or head straight for the surrounding countryside, to sample the region’s famous red claret in some of France’s most picturesque vineyards.

4. The French Riveria

Known in France as the Cote d’Azur, this is a holiday destination for the rich and famous, and it’s not hard to see why. Beautiful beaches, all-night parties, great weather, the French Riveria has it all. Nice and Cannes are worth a visit, especially in May when it’s the film festival and excellent star spotting territory. For somewhere a bit more off the beaten track, Antibes and Juan-les-Pins are both charming Riveria towns.

5. Take to the mountains

With over 200 resorts in all, there’s skiing and snowboarding to suit all budgets and abilities in the Alps. Chamonix, Megeve and Val d’Isere are probably the most popular, and Mont Blanc is the highest peak in Western Europe. And if you’re in France in the summer, the Alps are worth visiting then too – for hiking, rafting, mountain-biking, canoeing or just gentle ambling.

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Enjoy Your Irish Travel Holiday With Our Guide On Top Sights In Ireland

Beautiful coasts, unspoilt countryside, and people with great character and a laid back approach to life. Make the most of your holiday overseas with our guide to the top 5 things to do in Ireland. We’ll help you enjoy the best the world has to offer.

1. Kilkenny Castle

Located for its strategic outlook, on a bend in the River Nore, Kilkenny Castle dates back to the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12^th century. The Butler family, who have owned and inhabited the castle over the centuries, handed it over to the Castle Restoration Committee in 1967 for just £50. Today, it’s one of the most impressive Norman castles in the world, with intact original features, and beautiful gardens and scenery.

2. Ring of Kerry

On Ireland’s southwestern Iveragh Peninsula, the Ring of Kerry is a 170km circular route from Killarney, out to the coast and back inland through scenic hills, forests and lakes. Highlights include the spectacular cliffs and coastal views between Glenbeigh and Cahersiveen, and the Killarney lakes, where you’ll find tranquil forest walks and great views across the expansive, placid waters.

3. The Dingle Peninsula

If you’re looking for a beautiful place to relax and escape the frantic pace of life, head for the Dingle Peninsula. There are many campsites, hotels and B&Bs from which to explore spectacular coastlines, rolling hills, and join in with the contagious cheerful local atmosphere. And you can always meet Fungie, the friendly Dingle dolphin, who frequently swims alongside – and jumps over – boats in the sheltered harbour.

4. Guinness Storehouse, Dublin

Built in 1904 as a fermentation plant, the Guinness Storehouse is now a hugely popular museum, taking you through the history of Ireland’s most celebrated drink. Its atrium resembles an enormous pint of stout, and on the seventh floor you’ll find the Gravity Bar, where you can enjoy a free pint of the black stuff and take in stunning views over Dublin.

5. Slane Castle

Open for public tours between May 6^th and August 31^st every year, Slane Castle overlooks the River Boyne, a mile west of Slane village in northeast Ireland. It’s perhaps best known as a concert venue, with its natural amphitheatre grounds and room for 100,000 people. Since 1981, the annual Slane Music Festival has featured The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Queen, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and, of course, U2.

No matter where your Irish adventure takes you, make sure you have travel insurance. Then you can relax and enjoy your journey.

Here’s some more recommended things to do in Dublin