Filming at the GWSR

Locations, trains, atmosphere and Cotswold scenery

Set in the heart of the Cotswolds, the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway offers one of the most authentic and versatile heritage railway locations available for film, television, photography and audio production in the UK.

Stretching for 14 miles through the heart of the beautiful Cotswolds, the railway combines beautifully restored period stations, heritage steam and diesel locomotives, vintage coaching stock and breathtaking countryside to create one of the UK's most complete railway filming locations.

Whether you are producing a period drama, documentary, commercial, music video, promotional film, advertising campaign, radio feature or stills shoot, the GWSR provides a flexible and production-friendly setting with cinematic backdrops and excellent access from London, Birmingham, Bristol and South Wales.

Previous film and media work

The railway has welcomed a wide range of television and production companies for both small and large-scale projects.

Previous productions have included filming for BBC’s Father Brown, Asda’s 2025 autumn clothing campaign at Toddington, and Clean Bandit’s music video for their 2025 hit song Cry Baby, filmed at Gotherington Station.

We are happy to work with productions of all sizes, from major internationally recognised clients to smaller independent and low-budget projects.

Why choose the GWSR?

As a fully operational heritage railway, the GWSR can provide an authentic setting for a wide variety of productions.

Our steam locomotives reflect the 1930s to the 1960s, while our diesel locomotives cover the 1960s through to the early part of the current century. Our restored Great Western Railway stations feature period signage, furniture and detailing, helping to create a convincing and atmospheric backdrop.

The railway offers:

• 14 miles of heritage railway through the Cotswolds

• Restored period stations at Broadway, Toddington, Winchcombe, Gotherington and Cheltenham Racecourse

• Steam and diesel locomotives

• Heritage carriages and goods vehicles

• Three original signal boxes

• Two tunnels and a viaduct

• Footbridges, platforms, sidings and goods yard areas

• Rural scenery with minimal modern intrusion

• Opportunities for wide cinematic landscape shots

• Static or moving train filming

• Station hire, carriage interiors and full railway charters

The GWSR can also support theatrical dressing of stations and locations, subject to prior agreement.

Production support

Our experienced team can assist with planning, railway safety, train movements and operational requirements, helping ensure filming can be carried out safely and efficiently.

Subject to availability, we can provide:

• On-site railway safety support

• Operational planning and advice

• Location recce visits

• Parking and unit base facilities

• Crew catering by arrangement

• Professional photography and videography support on request

• Drone access by prior agreement

• Night shoots and extended location hire

• Discreet handling of confidential productions and NDAs

Toddington and Winchcombe both offer good access and free parking for production vehicles, while Cheltenham Racecourse Station is located beside Cheltenham Racecourse. The railway is also close to the M5, with access via Junction 9.

Through our wider industry connections, it may also be possible to bring in additional rail or road vehicles from other locations, subject to budget, availability and planning time.

Period Stations Along the Route

One of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway's greatest strengths is the variety of authentic period stations found along its 14-mile route. Rather than presenting a single era, the railway offers a journey through the changing styles of Britain's railway history, making it an exceptionally versatile filming location.

Each station has its own distinct identity, allowing productions to portray different decades without leaving the railway.

Broadway Station (c.1910–1920)

Broadway recreates the elegance of the Edwardian Great Western Railway at the beginning of the twentieth century. Immaculately restored, it features traditional station buildings, period lighting, formal gardens, heritage signage and classic GWR architecture. The station provides an ideal backdrop for productions set during the Edwardian period, the First World War, and the years immediately afterwards.

Toddington Station (c.1930–1940)

Toddington reflects the railway during the inter-war years and into the early years of the Second World War. As the railway's headquarters, it combines an authentic country station with a locomotive shed, sidings, signal box, goods facilities and extensive operational infrastructure, making it suitable for both passenger and railway operational scenes.

Hayles Abbey Halt (c.1930–1940)

The charming rural halt at Hayles Abbey captures the simplicity of a quiet countryside stopping place during the 1930s and 1940s. Surrounded by open fields and rolling Cotswold scenery, it provides an intimate location with minimal modern intrusion, perfect for rural period productions.

Winchcombe Station (1950s)

Winchcombe represents a beautifully preserved Great Western branch line station during the final years of British Railways' steam era. Complete with traditional station furniture, platform canopies, signal box and goods yard, it offers an authentic 1950s atmosphere that is ideal for post-war dramas, documentaries and heritage productions.

Gotherington Station (1950s)

Set in peaceful countryside, Gotherington is one of the railway's most atmospheric locations. Its small rural setting, period appearance and surrounding landscape create a timeless feel, making it particularly well suited to intimate scenes, television dramas, commercials and music videos.

Cheltenham Racecourse Station (1960s)

At the southern end of the line, Cheltenham Racecourse represents the British Railways era of the 1960s. Its simpler styling and later railway character provide an authentic setting for productions requiring the final years of steam or the transition into the diesel era.

Together, these stations allow production companies to recreate multiple periods across a single railway, reducing location changes while offering remarkable visual variety. Combined with heritage locomotives, period rolling stock and the stunning Cotswold landscape, the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway provides a complete period filming environment unlike almost anywhere else in the UK.

What's on offer

Every production is different, so all enquiries are quoted individually based on scale, requirements, access, timings and railway movements.

Whether you require:

• a single station,

• static carriage interiors,

• moving train sequences,

• exclusive railway access,

• location dressing,

• large-scale television drama,

• feature film production,

• commercial photography,

• advertising campaigns,

Our team will work closely with you to create a solution that meets your creative and logistical needs.

Guide prices are available on request, with all quotations tailored to the scope of each production.