There’s a particular kind of magic in standing where cinema history was made – or, at least, convincingly faked.
Recently, I went on a sort of cinematic pilgrimage across two vastly different, but equally film-obsessed Kingdoms: Saudi and the UK.
From the ancient sandstone valleys of AlUla to the hallowed halls of Oxford, these are places where fiction meets geography in the most photogenic of ways. It began in Saudi, where the desert is no longer just a backdrop for Bedouin tales but a destination for global film production.
After trips to AlUla and NEOM, regions now fully embracing their Hollywood ambitions, I boarded the new, direct Virgin Atlantic flight connecting Riyadh to London, to trace filmic footsteps in two more cities: London and Oxford.
Shot in Saudi
The Kingdom isn’t merely opening its doors to the world – it’s flinging them open to film crews. AlUla, with its surreal landscapes, is home to the Royal Commission for AlUla’s Film AlUla initiative, designed to attract international productions and streamline on-location logistics. Meanwhile, NEOM’s Media Village has gone from futuristic concept to full-fledged film hub, offering state-of-the-art support and, more importantly, a visual playground for filmmakers.
Kandahar – AlUla
When Hollywood action meets Hijazi terrain, the result is Kandahar, the 2023 thriller starring Gerard Butler and Travis Fimmel. The film was shot in the heart of AlUla, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where rock formations and desert shadows lend themselves perfectly to the spy-thriller aesthetic. In fact, the natural cinematography is so striking it almost steals the show. The producers collaborated with the Film AlUla team to shoot not just in AlUla, but also in Jeddah’s historic Old Town, bringing together ancient cities and modern suspense in a seamless cinematic blend.
Within Sand – NEOM
If Kandahar was a Hollywood guest, Within Sand is a homegrown gem. Shot entirely in the otherworldly deserts of NEOM and Tabuk, this Saudi feature film is a meditative survival story starring Raed Alshammari and directed by Mohammed Alatawi. In addition to the storytelling, it’s groundbreaking because it’s the first film ever shot entirely in NEOM, leveraging professional-grade equipment to capture the stark, haunting beauty of the northern desert in broad daylight.
Shot in the UK
While Saudi dazzles with its raw, untapped landscapes, Britain plays a different cinematic game. Its cities – steeped in history, architecture, and literary lore – have served as backdrops for some of the most beloved films in modern memory. My aim wasn’t to chase green pastures or gothic cliffs, but rather to explore the cinematic heart of the UK’s urban scene.
Bridget Jones’s Diary – Borough Market, London
If you’ve ever fantasised about bumping into your ex (or your forever) with a grocery bag in hand, Borough Market is the place. The current site of the buzzing food haven, which dates back to 1756, became more iconic thanks to Bridget Jones’s Diary. The film’s awkward, endearing heroine’s flat has been revamped into a famous Thai restaurant, Khao Bird. Good luck concentrating on your dish without scanning for Colin Firth.
Paddington – Alice’s, London
No trip down cinematic memory lane would be complete without a stop at Paddington’s antique shop. Alice’s on Portobello Road was one of the film’s key locations and now draws in fans eager to relive the adventures of the marmalade-loving bear from Peru. The shop, and the street it calls home, ooze charm, with pastel facades and a vintage vibe that feels lifted straight from a Wes Anderson storyboard.
Notting Hill – The Notting Hill Bookshop, London
A few steps down Portobello Road lies the bookstore that launched a thousand romcoms. Yes, that bookstore – the one where Hugh Grant first fumbled into Julia Roberts’ heart in Notting Hill. The shop is real, the books are for sale, and the queue of camera-wielding tourists is very much a thing. If you can get through the door, it’s worth it – even if only to whisper, “I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy…”
The Harry Potter movies – Christ Church college, Oxford
Oxford is Hogwarts with better coffee. Christ Church, a constituent college of the University of Oxford, in particular, served as the blueprint for several Harry Potter filming locations, from the majestic Great Hall to the iconic stone staircase. But the wizarding world is just the beginning – Oxford’s cinematic résumé includes X-Men, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, James Bond: Tomorrow Never Dies, and The Mummy. In other words, don’t just visit. Wander. Look up. You’re probably standing in a scene you’ve already seen.
Cinephile Tip
Don’t sleep on the UAE cinema scene.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi have hosted a number of regional premiers, and been the location of some incredible films, from Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (yes, Tom Cruise actually scaled the Burj Khalifa) to Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Furious 7 (the seventh instalment of the Fast & Furious franchise), including that stunt where a supercar jumped between Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi and Etihad Towers.
The region isn’t just catching up, it’s calling action.
