THE countdown to Christmas has begun, meaning it’s time to kick back with a heartwarming festive romcom – and there’s no better option than The Holiday.
Good news for Brits – most of the filming for The Holiday occurred in the UK, offering you the opportunity to visit the locations and recreate that festive magic yourself.
American Amanda is keen to house swap with Iris’s idyllic English cottage in The HolidayThe Holiday 2006 Universal Pictures
Where was The Holiday filmed?
The Holiday follows American creative Amanda Woods — played by Cameron Diaz — and British writer Iris — played by Kate Winslet — after they decide to do a house swap with each other over the festive period.
Amanda is in for a surprise when she arrives at a true English cottage, while Iris is living the dream in the American’s Californian mansion.
Shere, Surrey
Scenes featuring Iris’ quintessential English country village were actually shot in Shere.
Situated in the Guildford district of Surrey, the pretty village has a population of fewer than 4,000.
Shere is only an hour away from London. The cast and crew were based in London during filming.
Shere is so beautiful that it’s considered to be the most photographed of all Surrey towns.
Other films to have set scenes in Shere include Four Weddings and a Funeral, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, and The Wedding Date.
Shere is where the quaint English village from the film is locatedAlamy
Godalming, Surrey
Amanda is seen shopping in town. Those scenes were filmed in Godalming, a market town on the River Wey.
Wonersh, Surrey
The exterior of Jude Law’s character’s home, Mill House, can be found in Wonersh.
Wonersh has been included on the list of Britain’s richest villages. It also has picturesque footpaths and quaint local stores to browse.
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Los Angeles, California
Amanda Wood’s Tuscan-style mansion was actually a real house in San Marino, California.
The house, built in 1928 by architect Wallace Neff and located at 1883 Orlando Road, is a Mediterranean-influenced California mansion.
However, he interior scenes were actually filmed at Sony Pictures Studios.
Cameron Diaz’s character lived in an LA mansionUniversal Pictures
Contra Costa County, California
Arthur Abbot’s Old Hollywood mansion was the home once owned by American actress and comedian Phyllis Diller.
Built in 1914, it was a summer home for Lawrence C. Phipps until 1965, when Diller purchased the house and lived in it for more than 40 years.
Is Rosehill cottage real?
Although the house in the film — named Rosehill Cottage — isn’t actually real (the exterior was built for the movie and the interior scenes filmed on set), the inspiration behind the quintessentially English home came from another property near Dorking in Surrey.
Honeysuckle Cottage boasts three bedrooms and picturesque views. It was on sale with an entry price of £650,000.
Located in the pretty village of Holmbury St Mary, the cottage also has an inglenook fireplace, exposed beams, underfloor heating, and an AGA.
If that wasn’t enough, the exterior looks just like that of Rosehill Cottage from the film.
Rightmove also told us that the property “enjoys delightful landscaped gardens, which incorporates an extensive area of flagstone laid terrace with lovely views”.
There are also two pubs within walking distance — just like in the movie.
Rosehill cottage sadly isn’t realUniversal Pictures
