June 12th 2024.
Have you ever wondered if the village on Emmerdale is a real place? The popular ITV soap has been captivating audiences for over 50 years with its dramatic storylines set in the Yorkshire dales. It first aired in October 1972 under the name Emmerdale Farm, focusing on the Sugden family and their life on their farmhouse. The show also explored the lives of their neighbors in the nearby village of Beckindale.
However, after 17 years, the show was struggling with low viewership and decided to spice things up by introducing the Tate family and changing its name to Emmerdale. This move proved to be a success and the show recently celebrated its 10,000th episode. With such a long run, fans may be curious about the filming locations of the show and whether they can visit them.
The exterior scenes of Emmerdale are primarily shot on a specially-built set located on the Harewood House Estate in West Yorkshire. This estate, owned by The Earl and Countess of Harewood, has also been used for filming other popular shows like Downton Abbey. Before this set was built in 1998, the show used various nearby buildings, but filming in real locations caused logistical issues and potential spoilers for fans.
The interior scenes, on the other hand, are mostly filmed at The Leeds Studios, while scenes inside the church, veterinary practice, and B&B are actually filmed in their respective external counterparts. The market town of Hotten is shot in Otley, and during the show's 2021 Survival Week episodes, they even ventured beyond Yorkshire to County Durham for some scenes.
But the big question is, can fans visit the set of Emmerdale? The answer is yes, since 2015, tours have been offered of the private village set on the Harewood estate. Fans can walk in the footsteps of their favorite characters and even buy souvenirs at the show's production hub. However, some areas are off-limits as they belong to the estate and not ITV.
Tickets for the tour range from £35 to £38 for a weekend tour, and for an additional cost, fans can meet a cast member at the end of the tour for a selfie and autograph. However, visitors should be prepared for rough terrain and bring their wellies. It's also worth noting that the tour does not include access to any of the interior sets.
But for die-hard fans, there is also the option to visit the former filming locations of Arncliffe and Esholt. Esholt is located near Bradford and offers a glimpse into how Emmerdale looked for two decades before the move to the Harewood estate. And while it may not look exactly the same as the modern-day set, it's still a fun experience for fans. Arncliffe, located in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, is about an hour and 10 minutes away from Esholt and offers a beautiful and scenic visit.
So, whether you want to visit the set or the former filming locations, there's plenty for fans to explore and experience in the world of Emmerdale. Have you visited any of these locations? Share your thoughts in the comments below. And for the latest spoilers from all your favorite soaps, join Metro's WhatsApp Soaps community with over 10,000 fans. Simply click the link and join the chat for exclusive content and updates. Don't forget to turn on notifications so you don't miss any spoilers!
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