Film in Burnley

Towneley Hall and Gardens © Jon Thompson

A big warm Northern welcome to Burnley.

After all, we weren’t voted the friendliest town in Britain without good reason. That’s why we welcome with open arms film crews, whether it’s for a Hollywood blockbuster or a small independent.

We work closely with Filming in England and other partners to ensure you have everything you need when filming in our borough. Brassic, the Bank of Dave Netflix film and Jordan North’s Comic Relief Rowing Home challenge are just some of the projects we assisted on within the first few weeks of 2022 alone.

Burnley in brief

This Film in Burnley pack will take you on a journey to discover:

• Our vibrant sectors, opening up ample opportunities for business-related content. This includes fashion and textiles, digital and creative, logistics and advanced manufacturing and engineering.

• Our stunning local authority owned historic assets, including two stately halls and two town halls.

• Key filming locations we think you need to know about.

• Our convenient transport network, both within the borough for easy location hopping and to across the rest of the country. This includes several council-owned carparks for easy parking of crew vehicles.

• Our beautiful countryside – we are 80% rural, providing breath-taking backgrounds for productions.

• The cost to film in Burnley and the support you will receive.

Key filming locations

We have so many filming locations, it was difficult to narrow down to key ones. We believe Burnley and Padiham (the two towns that make up the borough of Burnley) are unique in that one minute you can be on an aerospace manufacturing floor and within ten minutes be at a global-award winning luxury spa resort. One moment you could be filming at an historic hall and the next a bustling high street.

The ones we believe are particularly fantastic for filming, are:

Historic assets

Burnley is home to not one but two historic halls – Towneley Hall and Gawthorpe Hall.

The 16th-century Towneley Hall is set in 445 acres of parkland and is owned and managed by Burnley Council employees, along with the green space and golf green. It regularly hosts weddings and exhibitions, while the grounds host large-scale events such as Retro and Wile Out festivals and the Burnley Business Awards, the latter of which see 500 guests enjoy celebrations in a huge marquee. There is also woodland and a large children’s play area, along with a garden centre.

Like our historic halls, the borough is home to two beautiful town halls – Burnley and Padiham. Burnley Town Hall is the main HQ of the council and dates back to 1888. It has beautiful stained glass, period meeting rooms, large council chambers and still has the old cells and gated staircases when it operated as holding cells and a court (some of the cells still have prisoner graffiti, a bed and a toilet!).

Towneley Hall and Gardens © Jon Thompson

Gawthorpe Hall is often referred to as the Downton of the North. It marks the start of the Bronte Way, a linear walk from Burnley to Wycoller, Haworth and finally Oakworth, near Bradford. Part of the National Trust and co-managed with Lancashire County Council, this Elizabethan gem was redesigned in the 1850s by Sir Charles Barry, designer of the Houses of Parliament and the ‘real’ Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle. It is also set in far-reaching grounds which include play areas and woodland. Interestingly, the training ground of Burnley FC also lies within the estate.

Padiham Town Hall has recently undergone a complete renovation to turn it into modern flexible working space. However, it still retains many of its period features, such as a stunning central staircase that splits into two, a ballroom and parquet flooring.

All assets except Gawthorpe Hall are managed within the council, which make requests and filming convenient. However, we have an excellent relationship with the county council and National Trust to facilitate filming at Gawthorpe Hall.

Queen Street Mill is a historic cotton weaving shed in Briefcliffe in Burnley. It is a Grade I-listed building and an accredited museum housing a unique collection of original machinery used in the production of cotton cloth, including a working steam plant which powers the weaving looms. It is a unique survivor of an industry and factory system that once dominated the UK’s economy until the mid-20th century.

Queen Street Mill has been used as a set for some well-known films and historical dramas. It has starred in the King’s Speech, the 2019 BBC adaptation of a Christmas Carol, and most recently starred in the Netflix drama The English Game. Acting stars such as Colin Firth, Tom Hardy and Sean Bean, have filmed famous scenes in Queen Street Mill.

The mill is owned by Lancashire County Council and managed by Lancashire County Museum Service. If you are interested in using Queen Street Mill as a location please email queenstreetmill@lancashire.gov.uk

Our beautiful countryside

We’re not just claret and blue, we’re green too. Burnley is 80% rural, so whether you need to film generic countryside, hiking, kayaking, golf, horse riding, cycling…the list in endless.

Parks

Many of our parks have been awarded Green Flags for their high standards. The council’s Green Spaces team maintains these parks and organises both internal and external events within them. We are home to:

• Queen’s Park is 28 acres and dates back to 1893, with many of its traditional design and features still in place.

• Thompson Park is a registered historic park and gardens, and is home to a charming boating lake, a recently refurbished children’s playground and paddling pool, a putting green and popular miniature railway.

• Ightenhill Park, dates back to 1912, and houses a bowling green and tennis courts.

• Scott Park has a giant draughts board, woodland walks and a Victorian bandstand.

• Memorial Park in Padiham provides beautiful walks along the River Calder.

• Towneley Park is the largest within our borough, as outlined in the historic assets section.

The Forest of Burnley

One million trees were planted between 1997 and 2001, creating a 2,000-tree arboretum and 400 hectares. There’s 32km of footpaths, bridleways, sculpture trails and cycle routes to film within.

The Singing Ringing Tree

The Singing Ringing Tree on Crown Point Moor is one of the top ten pieces of sound art in the world. Standing 3m tall, it is made of galvanised steel pipes which make both an incredible and eerie noise in the wind. You can also enjoy breath-taking views across Burnley, which is surrounded by Pennine countryside.

The Leeds-Liverpool Canal

We are proud of our industrious past and a key player in that was the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The Burnley stretch of the canal includes one of the Seven Wonders of the British Canal system – the Straight Mile. This embankment carries the canal 60ft above town, from Reedley Marina to Hapton Boat Yard via the Weavers’ Triangle.

Our vibrant sectors

We’re the first to admit that sometimes it surprises people just how many vibrant sectors call our town home. Below are just a handful of the thriving sectors in which you can work and invest in Burnley. We have some incredible premises that would provide filming locations, from giant engineering buildings and luxury spas to striking fashion backdrops and interactive university spaces.

• Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering

• Digital and Creative

• Leisure, Retail and Tourism

• Logistics

• Education and Training

• Fashion and Textiles

• Rural and Agriculture

You can see videos about our thriving sectors on our YouTube channel – just search for Brilliant Burnley.

Our two high streets

We are home to not one but two thriving high streets, both within a ten-minute drive of one another.

Burnley high street has a mix of big-name brands and smaller independents. It has a large open square below a market with bustling food hall, a mix of modern and heritage buidings and construction materials, cobble streets, modern open public realm areas and everything else in between. Pioneer Place, a new cinema and restaurant complex, will open in the second half of 2023

Padiham high street is picturesque, with the main stretch set in a heritage area on a gradient which provides the perfect backdrop for period productions. The beautiful town hall has a large split marble staircase, whilst several of the nearby residential streets house period properties.

We enjoy a fantastic mix of residential housing. Whether you require an apartment, a new build, rows of terraces or cottages, we have varied properties. Further photos and information are available upon request.

The beating heart of the UK

Burnley has prime central location in the UK. Your crews and actors can easily travel to and also within Burnley - most locations within the borough are no more than 15 minutes between one another.

Approximate distances and drive times:

Burnleybetter connected

Situated around junction 10 of the M65, Burnley has connections south to the M66 and then on to the M62, Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool. Along the M65 to the west are Blackburn, the M6, Preston, Blackpool, the Lake District and beyond.

Our motorways are fast flowing so we measure miles in minutes. Within five minutes of Burnley centre is rural splendour. Within one hour are the three international airports in Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool.

Air

Burnley benefits from the proximity of three international airports, all within approximately one hour’s drive.

• Manchester Airport (45 minutes) The UK’s third largest airport (the largest outside of London), handling over 22 million passengers a year to over 200 destinations

• Liverpool John Lennon Airport (50 minutes) One of Europe’s fastest growing airports now serving over five million passengers a year. Regular scheduled services are currently available to 69 domestic and European destinations

• Leeds-Bradford International Airport (1 hour) One of the UK’s fastest growing airports, now handles over two million passengers per annum and provides access to over 70 domestic, European and international destinations

Sea - Liverpool SuperPort

• The largest of the Peelports, handling over 33 million tonnes of cargo, within one hour of Burnley

• Liverpool is ranked among Britain’s major deep sea container ports and is the country’s major gateway for trade with the United States/Canada serving more than 100 global destinations

Road

Burnley has excellent uncongested high-speed road networks – the M65 offers fast, direct connections to:

• The M60 and M66 to/from Manchester

• The M6 and M65 to/from the Preston area, the coastal resorts and the Lake District

• The M62 or A646 to/from Leeds

• Leading UK logistics providers take advantage of these network routes, operating transport services from their base in Burnley

Rail

The town is served by two main railway stations, Burnley Manchester Road and Burnley Central. Burnley Manchester Road operates services west to Preston and Blackpool and east to Leeds and York. It also operates a 45-minute direct train service to Manchester.

Burnley Central provides local services west to Blackpool and Preston (where all trains to major destinations in the country can be caught) and east to Nelson and Colne.

Accommodation

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort

A new hotel set in 40 acres of private parkland, with spectacular views of Pendle Hill, an ornamental lake and stunning gardens. The hotel has 76 luxurious bedrooms and suites, unrivalled award winning spa facilities and exquisite cuisine.

crowwoodhotel.com

Hurstwood Hall Guest House

Hurstwood Hall is steeped in local history. It was built in 1579 by the Towneley family and is a Grade II-listed building that retains many of its original features. Enjoy the history and stunning countryside on the doorstep. You’ll arrive as guests and leave as friends of the welcoming hosts David and Mark. hurstwoodhallguesthouse.co.uk

Rosehill House Hotel

A stunning 19th-century Victorian manor house lovingly restored with original features, with an enviable reputation for its welcoming atmosphere and friendly team. Located just a few minutes to the town centre and within easy reach of Burnley’s visitor attractions.

rosehillhousehotel.co.uk

The Lawrence Hotel

A unique Grade II, luxury hotel at the heart of the quaint market town of Padiham, with 16 individually designed bedrooms. You’ll be welcomed by the passionate owner Michael Huckerby, who has transformed the 19th-century building into the stunning Lawrence boutique hotel, which already boasts a global guest list. thelawrencehotel.co.uk

Burnley and Padiham have a fantastic mix of accommodation for your crews and actors. All are within a few minutes’ drive from both Burnley and Padiham centres.

The Guest House Worsthorne

The Guest House sits at the heart of the popular village of Worsthorne, with stunning countryside walks and cycle trails on its doorstep. With five bedrooms all ensuite, a well-stocked complimentary tray in each room and free WiFi, they have welcomed guests from all over the world. theguesthouseworsthorne.com

Holiday Inn Express Burnley

A modern hotel in central Burnley with air conditioned rooms, with LCD TVs and free WiFi and parking, with easy access right off Junction 10 of the M65 motorway. Close proximity to visiting Towneley Hall, Gawthorpe Hall, The Weaver’s Triangle Visitor Centre, and Burnley town centre.

ihg.com/holidayinnexpress

Premier Inn, Burnley

With family rooms, free parking and free WiFi, you’ll can rely on an affordable and comfortable stay at the Premier Inn. The Premier Inn Burnley is located across from one of Burnley’s award-winning green flag parks, just a few minutes walk to the town centre and Turf Moor. It is also within easy walking distance of the stunning Towneley Hall Museum and Art Gallery, set in stunning grounds.

premierinn.com

Herd House Farm

This range of luxury four-star self-catering cottages in Briercliffe are located within a beautiful courtyard and can be let on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Whilst rurally located with spectacular views, Herd House Farm are on a few minutes from the M65, enabling easy access to the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales also.

cottages.com

There are many council-owned car parks across Burnley and Padiham, both in the town centres and on the outskirts. This means we can assist you with your parking needs and will only charge you for the bays you take. Please note, we will still charge on free parking days to compensate for the inconvenience to visitors, business owners and other users.

Burnley benefits from a dedicated full-time Burnley Place Brand Team. Their position as the bridge between private sector and Burnley Council means you have access to both the public and private sector. They will be more than happy to help with any enquiries relating to filming, as well as assist you with location ideas.

Cost and Support Application

Fees are scaled by crew size working on location, location fees are set by market rates for each location. Our brand team are flexible and understands a case-by-case approach may be required.