Everyone has their favourite Christmas movie, but one that is frequently hailed as one of the best is The Holiday. The filming locations are a standout, with a UK village taking centre stage – and it’s just as perfect as it’s portrayed in the movie.

The romantic Christmas movie, starring Cameron Diaz as Amanda Woods and Kate Winslet as Iris, sees the two women decide to swap their homes for two weeks during the festive season after going through heartbreak. For Iris, that means staying in an enormous Los Angeles mansion, while Amanda swaps her lavish life for a cosy cottage in the charming English countryside.

During their house swaps, Amanda sweetly falls for single father Graham, played by Jude Law, while Iris sparks up a relationship with composer Miles, aka Jack Black. The movie is filled with heartwarming moments, with the stunning yet contrasting locations adding to its allure.

While a large part of filming took place in LA, the idyllic Surrey village of Shere, nestled between the towns of Guildford and Dorking, was at the heart of The Holiday. With its chocolate-box cottages, traditional pubs, and sprawling countryside, it was used as the backdrop for various scenes.

One of the most notable is when Amanda takes the long walk through the woods at the beginning to reach Rosehill Cottage, crossing a footbridge over Tillingbourne Stream, which passes through Shere. Meanwhile, the village’s local pub, The White Horse, served as the backdrop for Amanda and Graham’s intimate pub date, where they are seen enjoying a drink together.

The village is well worth a visit, with medieval buildings lining the quaint, cobbled streets and river walks for a winter stroll. Meanwhile, The White Horse offers traditional pub dishes and a refreshing pint, with their second pub, The Bray, also open.

If you’re lucky, you might just get to experience the village covered in snow as it was during the film. However, Rosehill Cottage, with its cosy interiors and open fireplace, where Amanda stays, doesn’t actually exist.

The exterior and interior were built as a set, specifically for the movie. However, the good news is that it was inspired by a real property called Honeysuckle Cottage, located in Holmbury St Mary, featuring an iconic white picket gate entrance and a rural setting surrounded by lush greenery.

Alongside The Holiday, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2003) and Four Weddings and a Funeral were also filmed in Shere. If you’re hoping to visit the picture-perfect village during the festive season, the easiest way is by train, with Chilworth and Gomshall being the nearest stations to Shere.

Elsewhere in the movie, Graham’s beautiful family home, which he shared with his two adorable daughters, was filmed inside Mill House in Wonersh – another Surrey village bursting with character. While the Surrey town of Godalming also made an appearance, as it was used as the location when Amanda drives back to stock up on food and drink from the local shops.

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