Batman, James Bond and Harry Potter come to VisitBritain’s aid

VisitBritain, the tourism body, is launching a campaign to capitalise on the number of new films that feature historic British locations.

It builds on a recent campaign that promoted film tourism – or “set-jetting” – on the back of productions such as Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

The top of the list is the latest Harry Potter film, the Half-Blood Prince, due out in late 2008, which adds new locations at Cape Wrath in Scotland and the Millennium Bridge in London.

A number of period dramas will also be released including The Young Victoria, The Duchess, The Other Boleyn Girl and a remake of Brideshead Revisited, along with a new Bond film and a Batman sequel.

All the new releases will feature iconic British locations and the tourism body hopes they will drive visitor numbers.

VisitBritain chief executive Tom Wright says: “If the right film is chosen it acts as free advertising for a destination, location or attraction.”