Big screen adventures – nine iconic movie backdrops you can visit from Manchester Airport from only £42pp return
Christmas is still eight weeks away but for film buffs, it’s already the most wonderful time of the year – the start of awards season. Nominees for the Golden Globes will find out they’ve been shortlisted in the next few weeks, quickly followed by those lucky enough to be up for an Oscar or a Bafta.
If you’re a fan of the silver screen, visiting the scene of your favourite flicks is probably high up on your travel wishlist – and now’s a great time to bag yourself a bargain.
Manchester Airport’s extensive network of more than 200 destinations, unrivalled outside London, gives you a direct link to some of cinema’s most iconic locales. Here we run through how you can get to the stunning locations that form the backdrop for some of this year’s most hotly-tipped awards nominees – as well as classic blockbusters from years gone by.
Abu Dhabi (Dune: Part Two)
Denis Villeneuve’s sequel to 2021’s Dune, released in spring this year, is in the frame to receive nominations in the Best Picture and Best Director categories at next March’s Oscars. Much of the interplanetary epic takes place on a desert world – and movie fans wanting to see these landscapes in person can fly from Manchester to Abu Dhabi with Etihad from as little as £599pp return. Take a camel ride across the dunes and then relax on the beach – with temperatures in the 30s even in winter.
Budapest (The Brutalist)
Adrien Brody is widely expected to be nominated in the Best Actor category for his portrayal of Hungarian-Jewish architect Laszlo Toth in The Brutalist, which is due to hit screens in the UK in January. The movie depicts his escape from Budapest to the United States during World War 2, and many of the early scenes are shot in the Hungarian capital. Visitors will recognise Budapest landmarks like the Hungarian Parliament building, and can learn more about the city’s war history, and the impact on its Jewish community, at the Dohány Street Synagogue and Museum. Fly to Budapest with Ryanair for £52pp return.
Morocco (Gladiator II – plus The Mummy and Lawrence of Arabia)
A sequel nearly 25 years in the making, Gladiator II is out this month. Paul Mescal stars as a deposed heir to the Roman Empire who enlists as a gladiator in a plot to overthrow the new regime. Scenes for the movie were shot at locations in and around the picturesque Moroccan town of Ouarzazate – including fight scenes in a purpose-built amphitheatre. The town nestled in the Atlas Mountains has, in the past, provided the backdrop for hits like The Mummy and Lawrence of Arabia, and its Kasbah Taourirt fortress is a stunning sight. You can fly return to Marrakesh from Manchester for as little as £47pp with Ryanair – and from there you can catch a direct bus to Ouarzazate.
New York (A Complete Unknown – plus Gossip Girl, Home Alone 2, Friends and many, many more)
Timothee Chalamet is another contender for Best Actor for his role in the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, in cinemas this December. Many scenes depicting Dylan breaking out in New York are filmed in the city and neighbouring New Jersey – but A Complete Unknown is far from the first blockbuster set in the Big Apple. Films like Spiderman, Home Alone 2, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and When Harry Met Sally all use a Manhattan backdrop, as do popular small-screen series like Gossip Girl and Friends. An official Gossip Girl Tour is available and the apartment building used for exterior shots in Friends is in the Greenwich Village district, making for a popular selfie spot. Fly to New York from only £439pp return with AerLingus.
Dubrovnik, Croatia (Game of Thrones)
The coastal city of Dubrovnik, with its eye-catching architecture, doubled as the city of King’s Landing for award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones. Dubrovnik caters to fans of the series with official walking tours taking in filming locations, and visitors can take in stunning views from above the city on the Dubrovnik Cable Car. You can reach Dubrovnik direct from Manchester from just £42pp return with easyJet.
Skiathos, Greece (Mamma Mia!)
2008 RomCom Mamma Mia! follows the story of a bride-to-be’s efforts to track down her real father ahead of her wedding on an idyllic Greek island – and producers found the perfect setting on Skiathos, a picture-perfect resort island in the Aegean. easyJet flies here from Manchester from just £218pp return – make sure to check out the island’s incredible beaches and outstanding local cuisine.
Malta (Troy and Popeye)
The 2004 historical epic Troy delves into the world of Greek mythology, with Brad Pitt in the lead role as Achilles. For the movie, many scenes set inside the city walls of Troy were filmed in Malta’s Fort Ricasoli, while other scenes were shot on the small Maltese island of Comino. Another spot film buffs will love is Popeye Village – a purpose-built set for 1980 live-action musical Popeye which is now a theme park. You can get to Malta and back with Ryanair direct from Manchester, with prices from £56pp return.
Almeria (The Good, The Bad and The Ugly)
A little piece of the American West in southern Spain, Tabernas is a small desert near Almeria and has three permanent film sets which have been used to film Spaghetti Westerns since the 1950s – including, most famously, 1966 hit The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. For a proper cowboy experience, go on an organised horseback tour. You can fly to Almeria from Manchester for £169pp return with Jet2.com.
Innsbruck (SPECTRE)
Daniel Craig reprised his role as 007 for the fourth time in 2015 flick SPECTRE, fighting a shadowy crime syndicate of the same name. Filming took place around the Alpine town of Sölden, near Innsbruck in Austria, and a number of Bond-themed excursions and tours are available with local tour operators. The 007 ELEMENTS installation in Sölden houses a number of exhibits including props from the film and invites visitors to take on an interactive Bond mission. Fly with easyJet from Manchester to Innsbruck from only £55pp return.