Dorset is known for its stunning scenery and historically significant places, and it's clearly caught the eye of scouts looking for filming locations.

Over the decades, the county has been featured in plenty of TV shows and films with some notable productions having used it.

Here are some productions that have used Dorset for filming that you might have seen.

Dorset filming locations for film and TV

Nanny McPhee

The children's fantasy film, in which Emma Thompson plays the title character, used Dorset as one of its filming locations.

One of the county's most famous landmarks in Durdle Door was the spot used when McPhee takes the children she's looking after for a beach outing.

Dunkirk

Christopher Nolan's historical war film detailing the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk near the start of World War II used Weymouth and Swanage as filming locations.

Parts of Weymouth beach and harbour were used as well as Swanage Railway right near the end of the film when some of the characters come home.

Dorset Echo: Swanage Railway was used for filming a small section of Christopher Nolan's DunkirkSwanage Railway was used for filming a small section of Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk (Image: Andrew PM Wright)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

A brief section of the sixth Harry Potter film used Dorset as a filming location where they shot at Abbotsbury Swannery.

This was for a part shot at night with the tall reeds at the Swannery representing an outside area near The Burrows which is the Weasley's home.

Sleuth (1972)

This mystery thriller starring Michael Caine and Laurence Olivier used Athelhampton House & Gardens near Puddleton as its main location.

Dorset Echo: Athelhampton House has been used for a couple of filmsAthelhampton House has been used for a couple of films (Image: Graham Hunt Photography)

Despite being shot in Dorset the film was set in Wiltshire.

From Time to Time

This 2009 fantasy drama film starring Maggie Smith and Timothy Spall among others also used Athelhampton House as a key location.

It is used as the old manor where an evacuee goes to stay near the end of World War II where he discovers a time portal to the past.

Nearby Puddleton was also used to film church and village scenes.

Broadchurch

Whilst Broadchurch is a fictional town in Dorset the ITV series did actually use the county as a key filming location.

Dorset Echo: David Tennant and Olivia Colman filming for Broadchurch in DorsetDavid Tennant and Olivia Colman filming for Broadchurch in Dorset (Image: Graham Hunt Photography)

The crime drama starring David Tennant, Olivia Colman and Jodie Whittaker used West Bay as a significant filming spot, such as The Folly on West Quay providing the exterior for the police station.

Additionally, a whole host of other Dorset spots were employed, such as the beach huts at Charmouth, The Knoll at Puncknowle, the Briar Cliff Hut at Eype and a nightclub and taxi rank in Weymouth.

On Chesil Beach

The film adaptation of the 2007 novel by Ian McEwan following a young couple's honeymoon at Chesil Beach was actually shot at the titular location.

Set in the 1960s it stars Saoirse Ronan and Billy Howle.

Dorset Echo: Chesil Beach has been used for a couple of productionsChesil Beach has been used for a couple of productions (Image: Finbarr Webster)

World War Z

A brief scene for the Brad Pitt-starring zombie film used Lulworth Cove when the characters are coming into land on a boat.

The Dam Busters

The classic war epic starring Richard Todd and Michael Redgrave that told the story of the RAF squadron that used Barnes Wallis's bouncing bomb against German dams, employed Dorset for some filming.

Chesil Beach was actually used to test out the bouncing bombs and the production filmed there also.

Wonka

A film detailing the adventures of the Roald Dahl character Willy Wonka before he came to open his chocolate factory, filmed a scene in Dorset.

Dorset Echo: Paterson Joseph and Matt Lucas on set in Lyme Regis for WonkaPaterson Joseph and Matt Lucas on set in Lyme Regis for Wonka (Image: Daryl Turner)

Part of The Cobb in Lyme Regis was used for its production, with the scene seemingly set in the winter due to fake snow being laid down.

The film was released during Christmas 2023 and stars Timothée Chalamet as the title character along with the likes of Rowan Atkinson, Olivia Colman, Sally Hawkins, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas and Keegan-Michael Key.