Lights, Camera, Cambridge: A Movie Lover's Guide to Famous Filming Locations in Cambridge

Red Joan (2018)

Filming Location: Newnham College.

Dame Judi Dench brings gravitas to this Cold War spy thriller inspired by the real-life story of Melita Norwood. The film showcases the elegant Victorian Gothic architecture of Newnham College, one of Cambridge’s first colleges for women. Visitors can admire the red-brick façade and beautiful gardens that served as the perfect backdrop for this period drama. The college’s distinctive architecture provides a striking contrast to the older stone buildings found elsewhere in the city.

The Man Who Knew Infinity (2015)

Filming Location: Trinity College.

Dev Patel’s moving portrayal of mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan unfolds within the grand courtyards of Trinity College, one of Cambridge’s largest and most prestigious colleges. The Great Court, where much of the filming took place, is the largest enclosed courtyard in Europe and offers visitors a chance to experience the same awe-inspiring surroundings that housed some of history’s greatest minds.

The Theory of Everything (2014)

Filming Locations: Queen’s Road, Kitchen Bridge, Trinity College, St John’s College.

Eddie Redmayne’s Oscar-winning performance as Stephen Hawking takes viewers on a journey through multiple Cambridge landmarks. The film captures the romantic essence of punting along the River Cam, with scenes shot on Kitchen Bridge offering picture-perfect views. Trinity College’s ancient halls provide the academic setting for Hawking’s early career, while St John’s College adds its own architectural grandeur. Queen’s Road, with its impressive Victorian buildings, represents the more modern face of university life.

Television Shows Filmed in Cambridge

Grantchester (2014–present)

Filming Locations: Various Cambridge streets and bridges.

While this beloved ITV detective series is set in the nearby village of Grantchester, the action frequently moves into Cambridge proper. Fans can recreate Detective Inspector Geordie Keating and Reverend Sidney Chambers’ investigations by strolling across Scholar’s Green bridge, which offers stunning views of the River Cam. The historic King’s Parade, lined with medieval buildings and bustling cafés, provides the perfect setting for those contemplative walks that often solve the show’s mysteries.

Hidden Cambridge Gems on Screen

Some Kind of Beautiful (2014)

Filming Location: Various Cambridge University buildings

Pierce Brosnan’s charming professor character moves through several of Cambridge’s most photogenic university buildings. While the specific locations aren’t as well-documented as other films, eagle-eyed visitors can spot the distinctive limestone and sandstone façades that define Cambridge’s architectural character throughout the city centre.

Surprising Blockbuster Appearances

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

Filming Location: King’s College Chapel

You might not expect a swashbuckling pirate adventure to feature Cambridge, but the magnificent King’s College Chapel appears in several scenes representing 18th-century England. The chapel’s soaring Gothic architecture and intricate fan vaulting made it the perfect stand-in for period grandeur. Visitors today can experience the same awe that made filmmakers choose this site for their blockbuster.

Literary Adaptations

Sylvia (2003)

Filming Locations: Trinity College, Pembroke College, and the Backs

Gwyneth Paltrow’s portrayal of poet Sylvia Plath takes full advantage of Cambridge’s romantic setting. The film captures Plath’s time as a student through scenes in Trinity College’s dining halls and Pembroke College’s intimate courtyards. The Backs—the scenic area behind several colleges along the River Cam—provide some of the film’s most beautiful shots.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)

Filming Locations: St John’s College, Bridge of Sighs

Cate Blanchett’s regal Elizabeth I graces some of Cambridge’s most iconic locations. St John’s College’s Tudor gatehouse provides a suitably grand entrance for royal scenes, while the famous Bridge of Sighs (officially the Bridge of Sighs at St John’s College) offers one of Cambridge’s most photographed views. Unlike its Venetian namesake, Cambridge’s Bridge of Sighs spans the River Cam and connects the older and newer courts of St John’s College.

Maurice (1987)

Filming Location: King’s College

This Merchant Ivory adaptation of E.M. Forster’s novel, starring James Wilby and Hugh Grant, makes exquisite use of King’s College’s Great Court and surrounding quadrangles. The film’s intimate portrayal of Edwardian Cambridge life is enhanced by the college’s perfect preservation of period atmosphere. King’s College Chapel, visible from the court, adds architectural drama to several key scenes.

Planning Your Cambridge Film Location Tour

When visiting these iconic filming locations, consider timing your trip during the academic year (October through March) when the colleges are most alive with student activity, just as they appear in many of these films. However, summer offers longer opening hours and better weather for outdoor locations and punting along the backs.

Many colleges charge a small entrance fee for visitors, but it’s worth it to see these magnificent buildings up close. The best way to appreciate Cambridge’s cinematic appeal is on foot—the compact city center means you can easily walk between most filming locations in a single day.

Don’t forget to take a punt along the River Cam for the full Cambridge experience. From the water, you’ll see the colleges from the same perspective as many filmmakers, understanding exactly why this ancient university city continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

Keep your camera ready as you explore—you never know when you’ll find yourself standing in the exact spot where Hollywood magic was made.