The topic of favourite Christmas films is an annual source of much debate and everybody tends to have an opinion about which festive flick is the best.
From oldies such as It's A Wonderful Life to the action-packed Die Hard (which in itself sparks arguments over whether it should be classed in the category at all), there's a whole host of sparkly, snow-strewn, heartwarming movies that can tick all the boxes. Whether you're a fan who can quote whole scenes from Love Actually or just enjoy an occasional sprinking of schmaltz, Christmas just isn't Christmas without watching one on the box.
And film buffs wanting to take their love one step further and soak up the atmosphere of their festive favourites can even visit the very spot where it was made, thanks to photography experts who have revealed the filming locations of top movies which fans can explore.
Read more: The North East sites used for filming Downton Abbey
Photo printing company ParrotPrint.com has listed nine sites and we have added a 10th - that of Alnwick Castle in Northumberland which, besides being used as a backdrop in the likes of Harry Potter movies and blockbuster Transformers : The Last Knight, featured in the 2019 Downton Abbey film as well as in earlier Christmas special episodes of the series.
Fake snow was used around the castle and centre of Alnwick to set the festive scene. The other locations featured in the the round-up of places to visit include the home of Ralphie Parker in A Christmas Story which has also been turned into a museum dedicated to the film.
Fans can also travel on the actual train which inspired The Polar Express - as well as visit the Michigan Christmas village which inspired the film - and see the house in Love Actually where Mark expressed his love for Juliet. Other suggestions include experiencing ice skating beneath the Rockefeller Christmas tree where - in Elf - Buddy and Jovie shared a first kiss and visiting the house in Illinois which was the home of the McCallisters in Home Alone.
Matt Dahan from ParrotPrint said: “Watching a Christmas film is the perfect way to get into the festive spirit come winter time. Everyone has their favourite movie which they will watch every single year without fail so we thought we’d look into where some of these movies were filmed."
10 Christmas film locations fans can visit
Alnwick Castle - Downton Abbey
The Northumberland landmark doubled as the so-called Brancaster castle in the 2019 film as well as in festive specials of the Bafta-winning drama. In both the 2014 and 2015 episodes, the central family members headed north for a visit and the castle continued to feature when Lady Edith's love life took off there.
Alnwick Castle’s State Rooms, its grounds and the nearby Hulne Abbey on the Duke of Northumberland’s parklands were used and more Downton Abbey filming took place around the ramparts and in nearby Bow Alley and St Michael’s Church Hall. And the film became Edith’s home when she married Bertie, 'Lord Hexham' in charge of the castle.
Shere, Surrey - The Holiday
Fans of this Christmas favourite no doubt would love to take a trip to visit Iris’ charming cottage - but unfortunately the cosy home was a set built for filming. However, visitors can explore the chocolate-box-perfect village where Amanda spends the festive season.
Shere is described as an idyllic and traditional English countryside setting and visitors can visit the likes of quaint tearooms and the village streets where Cameron Diaz's character, and her mini, appeared.
St Lukes Mews, Notting Hill - Love Actually
A staple showing on TVs across the country at Christmastime, Love Actually has a number of fan-favourite scenes and they include one set in this pretty London street. The scene where Mark expresses his love to Juliet on her doorstep with a series of handwritten signs was shot in St Lukes Mews.
The pink home - number 27 - has apparently become a tourist hotspot for lovers of this Christmas classic.
Lincoln Avenue, Winnetka, Illinois - Home Alone 2
The home of the McCallisters in this popular movie is a very impressive red-brick home that attracts fans from all over the world. Its village setting in Illinois is described as "gorgeous" and bound to get anyone in the Christmas spirit as the neighbourhood is decorated with lots of lights for the festive season, just like in the Home Alone films.
The Ice Rink at Rockefeller Center, NYC - Elf
Most of the filming for this Christmas hit took place across New York city. It featured the iconic Empire State Building and Macy’s department store which can be visited on a trip to the Big Apple.
But one of the most festive things to do is to go skating on the ice rink at the Rockefeller Centre, where Buddy and Jovie go on a Christmassy date in the film and share their first kiss on the ice.
3159 W 11th St, Cleveland, Ohio - A Christmas Story
The home of the film's Ralphie Parker is now a museum, open to the public all year round and promises to be a must-stop for the movie's fans. The building's exterior and some interior rooms were used for filming this Christmas comedy film and it is now a tourist attraction .
The museum has some iconic props used in the film as well as behind-the-scenes photos and a gift shop.
Oakville, Canada - The Santa Clause
This movie as filmed all around Oakville which is Ontario’s largest town while the home of Scott Calvin is located at 17 Chisholm Street. Other characters' homes were shot in Oakville too, as were some Christmassy street shots.
Oakville hosts an annual Santa Claus parade, which promises to be a great way to get into the spirit while also exploring some of the film locations.
Coventry Cathedral - Nativity!
The cathedral ruins in Coventry destroyed during the Second World War formed the backdrop to this film's eagerly-awaited nativity performance. The cathedral hosts lots of different festivities, services and musical performances which no doubt will get people into the Christmas spirit like the characters in the film while other sites in the area, such as Warwick Castle, also featured in the Nativity! series.
Fox Plaza Tower, LA - Die Hard
While it has been contested as a Christmas film ever since its release in 1988, this favourite classic is set on Christmas Eve and is a staple watch for many people over the festive season. Its fans can visit this 493-metre skyscraper to see the site where John McClane defeats the terrorists and makes his iconic jump off the roof.
Owosso, Michigan - The Polar Express
Fans of this hit film can experience its Christmas experience for themselves, by travelling on the very train which inspired the animated version. Starting in Owosso, Michigan, the steam train North Pole Express journey travels a four-hour round-trip to the Village of Ashley Country Christmas.
Travellers can take a trip back in time to experience Christmas in the 1940s and 1950s; enjoy activities and rides; visit the gift shop and meet Santa.
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