With Visit Britain's Starring Great Britain campaign underway, we’ve compiled a list of the top six films and TV shows filmed in Barnsley. Which one will you be celebrating on your next visit to Barnsley? 

Brassed Off 
The British comedy-drama Brassed Off (1996) is a classic film starring Pete Postlewaite, Ewan McGregor, Tara Fitzgerald and Stephen Tompkinson. Set in the early 1990s in the fictional town of Grimley, Yorkshire, several scenes from the film take place in Barnsley. The story centres on a brass band made up of local miners called Grimley Colliery Brand who are faced with the closure of their coal pit (and as a result, the band).  
 
Barnsley has a long history of brass bands and they are part of its cultural and musical heritage. During the 19th and 20th centuries, nearly every colliery in South Yorkshire would have their own brass band –  a tradition that’s been kept alive by modern bands today. The soundtrack for the film was provided by the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, who still perform up and down the country. You might have seen them at Brassed On! Music festival as part of Barnsley’s Big Weekend, which is hosted every summer! 
 
The film was well-received by critics and has become a cult classic over the years. You can catch a glimpse of the iconic In Cod We Trust sign on High Street in Grimethorpe. And the entrance of Grimethorpe Colliery is also captured in the film, so keep an eye out for it! 

Journeyman 
If you’re a boxing fan, Journeyman (2017) is a must-watch. Written, directed by and starring Paddy Considine, the film tells the story of a middleweight boxing champion called Matty Burton as he nears the end of his career. Facing a brain injury from a bad fight, Matty’s relationships are tested as he fights to regain his strength and identity. 

Journeyman was shot in Barnsley, Sheffield and Doncaster, with several of the boxing fight scenes filmed in Barnsley’s Metrodome – which was filled with 350 extras and a boxing ring. It was partially funded by Screen Yorkshire’s Yorkshire Content Fund. 

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell 
The seven-part TV drama Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell premiered on BBC One back in May 2017. Based on the bestselling novel by Susanna Clarke, this BAFTA-nominated TV series stars Eddie Marsan and Bertie Carvel and is set in a fantasy version of 19th-century England. 
 
The series was filmed over four months in the Yorkshire region, with locations including Barnsley’s very own National Trust Wentworth Castle Gardens. If you enjoy historical dramas and a bit of magic, it’s well worth watching! Follow up your watch with a visit to Wentworth Castle Garden’s stunning Grade 1 listed park and gardens. There are 500 acres of parklands teeming with wildlife, plus 18th and 19th-century conservatory and castle. Head to Barnsley West to discover this green idyll and more. 

Mindhorn 
Mindhorn is a British comedy released in 2016 and stars the likes of Julian Barratt, Simon Farnaby and Andrea Riseborough. The film parodies 1980s detective shows and follows the story of Richard Thorncroft, a former TV star and out-of-work actor who gets caught up in a real-life investigation.  

The film has been praised for Julian Barratt’s performance along with the comedic writing. Keep on the lookout for a few shots of Barnsley, including Barnsley’s Central Police Station, which you can find in the town centre.  

Last of the Summer Wine 
Did you know that the classic TV series Last of the Summer Wine featured a Barnsley location?  
 
In Series 1, Episode 3 of the sitcom, the trio of Cyril Blamire, William “Compo” Simonite and Norman Clegg head on a historical home field trip, for a stroll and picnic with Compo’s nephew. That historical home is in fact Cannon Hall Museum, Park and Gardens in Cawthorne – a firm favourite for visitors to Barnsley. 
 
Bring the sitcom to life with your next visit to Barnsley and Cannon Hall Museum!   

Kes 
Of course, no list of films taking place in Barnsley would be complete without a mention of Kes (1969). This British coming-of-age drama was directed by Ken Loach and based on the 1968 novel A Kestral for a Knave written by Hoyland Common’s own Barry Hines. It uses authentic Yorkshire dialect and hired extras from Barnsley and surrounding areas.  

The film stars David Bradley as the lead character Billy – a working-class boy who adopts a fledgling kestrel and trains it in falconry. It was shot in and around Barnsley, including Billy’s home in Hoyland Common, Beaconsfield Street in Barnsley Town Centre, Lewis Road in Lundwood and Grange View in Blacker Hill.  
 
Experience some of the public art that commemorates this classic film by visiting Barry Hines’s home in Hoyland Common, where you’ll find a blue plaque at his former terrace house and a sculpture of schoolboy Billy Casper and Kes across the road. This steel sculpture was designed by acclaimed local artist Patrick Murphy. 
 
Another sculpture of Billy and Kes can be seen in Barnsley town centre, by the Alhambra Shopping Centre. Created by Barnsley-based sculptor Graham Ibbeson MBE, it was unveiled in 2022 and celebrates the film’s place as part of the borough’s heritage.