28 Years Later Brings Post-Apocalyptic Drama to Fountains Abbey
Iconic ruins meet cinematic desolation in a chilling sequel setting
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- 28 Years Later Brings Post Apocalyptic Drama To Fountains Abbey 2
The highly anticipated film 28 Years Later releases on 20 June 2025, bringing a new chapter to Danny Boyle’s chilling saga. The hauntingly beautiful Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden in North Yorkshire served as a key filming location, but why was this World Heritage Site chosen and what other famous productions have been filmed there? Find out in the next installment of our Starring North Yorkshire series...
Why Fountains Abbey was the perfect setting
Fountains Abbey isn’t just visually stunning; it’s atmospheric, eerie and rich in history, making it the perfect location for 28 Years Later, a film where mood and environment play critical roles. The Abbey’s 12th century ruins provide a haunting beauty that creates a desolate, broken landscape, while the natural drama of shadowy stone vaults contrasts with expansive lawns and the reflective pools of Studley Royal Water Garden, adding layers of depth and moments of calm to balance the film’s darker themes.
This blend of medieval architecture and carefully landscaped Georgian gardens gives the site a timeless, almost otherworldly atmosphere - ideal for immersing audiences in a post-apocalyptic world.
Other productions filmed at Fountains Abbey
Fountains Abbey isn’t new to the spotlight, with the iconic location appearing in several TV and film projects:
- The Witcher (Netflix) – the ruins and water garden both featured in Season Two of the Henry Cavil series, offering a mystical backdrop to Geralt’s journey
- The Secret Garden (1993 & 2020) – Fountains Hall stood in for Misselthwaite Manor in the earlier series, with the ruins transformed into a sunken temple in the later version
- Anne Boleyn (Channel 5) – filming utilised both Fountains Hall and the Elizabethan herb garden to help tell the story of the Tudor queen
- All Creatures Great and Small (Channel 5) – a summer cricket match was shot on the pitch in Studley Royal Deer Park in this much-loved series
- Gunpowder (BBC) – starring Kit Harington, scenes were filmed inside Fountains Hall and the gothic Cellarium
The UNESCO World Heritage site has also featured in The History Boys and Death Comes to Pemberley, as well as various documentaries and historical series.
Ralph Fiennes: from Voldemort to Viral apocalypse
You may also recognise one of the stars of 28 Years Later, Ralph Fiennes. He is widely recognised for one of his best-known roles as "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter films, which has strong links to North Yorkshire. Goathland Station famously doubled as Hogsmeade in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, and the limestone pavements of Malham Cove appeared in Deathly Hallows: Part 1.
Plan Your Visit
Film fan or not, Fountains Abbey is a must-see. Wander through its haunting ruins, explore the beautifully sculpted water gardens of Studley Royal, and who knows - you might even catch a film crew in action!
Follow in the footsteps of the stars and visit our Starring North Yorkshire page to discover more filming hotspots across the county
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