May the fourth be with you! On the 4th of May it’s National Star Wars Day and with the Star Wars universe forever growing we thought we’d have a look at the scenic locations used to film the iconic films and multiple spin offs to date.
The George Lucas created, franchise has used several locations in the UK over the years utilising Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire as a production base for every film made after 2012 when the Walt Disney Company acquired Lucasfilm Ltd. It is rumoured that the Scottish Highlands will be used for a new film to be released in 2023 ever increasing the list of exciting locations to visit if you’re an avid fan of the franchise.
For now, let’s have a look at some locations you can visit from the current releases.
The Lake District, Cumbria
Cumbria’s lakes are used as to depict the planet of Takodana in The Force Awakens. Fans will recognise this as home to Maz Kanata, Han Solo’s friend.
Specific locations to note are Derwentwater from a scene where the Millennium Falcon flies over on their arrival to Takodana and Thirlmere, which is seen as famous X-Wings fly over as our heroes prepare to attack the First Order.
Puzzlewood, Forest of Dean
The Gloucestershire woodlands was also used in The Force Awakens on the planet of Takodana. Rey and BB-8 can be seen running through the picturesque forestry as Maz Kanata’s castle is attacked. It is the first time she meets Kylo Ren. This location has also been used by the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings franchises.
Canary Wharf Tube Station, London
Likely the most visited location on our list and one that few will realise was a Star Wars set is Canary Wharf Tube Station. It may not be the most picturesque location, but the station was perfect for depicting the coldness of the Imperial Base on the planet Scarif in Rogue One.
You can see it best when Jyn, Cassian and K2SO are sneaking through the base disguised as Imperial Officers.
Skellig Michael, Ireland
Before lockdown, Skellig Michael saw a huge increase in visitors due to is appearance in the most recent Star Wars films. The concerns for the environmental impact of this surge in interest means this epic scenery has also become a protected World Heritage Site.
On the island can be found a Gaelic monastery founded by monks of the sixth century all of which is used as Luke Skywalker’s hideout in both The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. The island is inhabited by puffins which provided inspiration to the popular creatures known as Porgs, that were created specifically for this film.
You can find all the details on how to reach the island in our guide on everything you need to know about the islands of Ireland.
