These famous on-screen homes are available to occupy (2024)

We've spent Christmas snuggled up on the sofa indulging in some festive escapism on TV. But why not make that escape a reality — by booking a break at one of your favourite on-screen homes?

From Cameron Diaz's cutesy cottage in romcom The Holiday to Doc Martin's handsome seaside surgery, some of the most desirable houses used on screen are now available to rent. And as Sarah Rainey discovers, these film and TV stars are all about location, location, location...

GEORGIAN VILLA FIT FOR THE BRIDGERTONS

With its red-brick facade and striking green front door, this historic villa is used as the home of the aristocratic Bridgerton family inNetflix's hit period drama.

Adjacent to Greenwich Park in south-east London, Ranger's House — worth a whopping £36.7million — is a Georgian mansion dating from the 18th century and has even housed members of the Royal Family.

Inside, you'll find high sash windows, white pillars, fine antique furnishings and priceless paintings — the essentials for a sophisticated soiree. There's space for 60 dining guests.

But don't expect to find the house festooned with wisteria as it is on TV. This was actually faux foliage made from fabric mounted on to real branches and dismantled after filming.

COST TO RENT: Price on request (english-heritage.org.uk).

HARRY POTTER'S BOYHOOD HOME

This imposing property features in Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1, the penultimate film in J.K. Rowling's fantasy series, in which Harry and Hermione visit the wizard's birthplace, Godric's Hollow.

De Vere House is in the historic village of Lavenham, Suffolk. In the film it is where Harry's parents lived before their murder by Lord Voldemort, but in real life it is a bed-and-breakfast owned by Anthony Ranzetta and his wife Jane. CGI trickery turned it into the worse-for-wear property visited by Harry.

Built in the 1300s as a hunting lodge for the De Vere family, the impressive beamed house has another claim to fame: it was rented by William Shakespeare from 1601 to 1612.

COST TO RENT: £160-£250 a night, two-night minimum stay (airbnb.com)

SHERLOCK AND THE MYSTERY MANSION

In Slick BBC series Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, this Victorian manor house formed the backdrop for the episode The Abominable Bride.

Chaplain's House in Wraxall, Somerset, is a 19th-century, gothic-revival mansion set on the edge of the National Trust-owned Tyntesfield Estate.

Six guests can stay in the stone-fronted house's three bedrooms, all of which feature window seats, dark wooden floors and original fireplaces. Channel your inner detective while brooding by the fire in the scarlet-walled sitting room, or enjoy a bite to eat in the bright breakfast room. Guests can also explore the grounds — and perhaps hunt for the Hound of the Baskervilles.

COST TO RENT: From £494 for minimum two nights (nationaltrust.org.uk).

DOC MARTIN'S SEASIDE SURGERY

ITV medical drama Doc Martin, starring Martin Clunes, features an old fisherman's cottage as his workplace and home. The last ever episode was broadcast on Christmas Day.

Located in Port Isaac, north Cornwall, the two-bedroom detached property, called Fern Cottage, is nestled on the hillside in the picturesque fishing village.

The owners have now put it on the market for £985,000 but it will continue to be rented out into the new year.

The grade-II listed cottage boasts slate exteriors, a stone fireplace, flagstone floors and beamed ceilings, all of which will be familiar to Doc Martin fans.

Two spacious bedrooms sleep four, and the property features a well-equipped galley kitchen, dining room with log burner and a modern family bathroom. Both bedrooms have sea views and outside you will find a terrace perfect for watching the spectacular sunsets — just the thing if you suffer an attack of the grumps like Doc Martin.

COST TO RENT: £330 a night, three-night minimum stay (vrbo.com).

SEX EDUCATION'S CONVERTED COWSHED

While much coverage has been given to the Scandi-style chalet owned by Gillian Anderson's character, Jean Milburn, in Netflix's Sex Education, fans can rent another property from the series.

This ramshackle converted cowshed will be familiar to viewers as the home of Jean's love interest, Jakob, played by Swedish actor Mikael Persbrandt, and his daughter Ola.

The Bull Pen, a traditional stone farm building in the Wye Valley, is a four-star holiday let which sleeps nine people.

Part of a farm complex near Coleford, Gloucestershire, the 300-year-old property is run by Louise and Frank McGuinness. With four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a spacious kitchen, cosy lounge and TV snug, the Bull Pen is well-equipped for a family holiday.

There's a full-size snooker table, barbecue and outdoor hot tub, and guests can rent out an adjacent 'party tent' and bar for events for up to 30 guests.

COST TO RENT: From £1,069 for three nights; one and two-night stays cost the same (holidaycottages.co.uk).

HERCULE POIROT'S DEVON DELIGHT

Agatha Christie fans will recognise this elegant Georgian villa as the country house from Dead Man's Folly, the 2013 adaptation of the murder-mystery starring David Suchet as Hercule Poirot.

The murder scene was filmed at the boatshed, while Zoe Wanamaker's character, Ariadne, stayed as a guest in the main house. Located on the bank of the River Dart near Brixham in Devon, Greenway House is now owned by the National Trust.

It was once the holiday home of Agatha Christie herself: she stayed in it from 1938 until her death in 1976. For rent is a four-bedroom apartment, over two floors.

COST TO RENT: From £909 for minimum three nights (nationaltrust.org.uk).

NORA BATTY'S TWO-UP, TWO-DOWN

Home to battle-axe Nora Batty (played by the late Kathy Staff) in comedy series Last Of The Summer Wine, this two-up, two-down is instantly recognisable.

No 28 Huddersfield Road is in the heart of Holmfirth, a bustling town in West Yorkshire.

It was bought for £170,000 in 2016 by Richard and Loretta Skelton. It sleeps four in two large bedrooms and features a flagstone kitchen, a lounge and a large bathroom with a freestanding bath. There's a steady stream of tourists posing for selfies outside — and you can imagine Nora chasing them away with her mop, just like she did with Compo and co.

COST TO RENT: £325-£580 a week (nora-battys.co.uk).

• The article has been amended to remove an inaccurate reference to a cottage which was similar to - but not actually - featured in the film "The Holiday".