But does that screen fame make the property worth more?
A study of famous film and television homes suggests that, in most cases, it does not. The wider Bettermove project follows 100 properties around the world.
Its British examples show a striking pattern: houses often sell for much the same as their neighbours, or struggle to find a buyer.
The places that tend to make money from their screen connections are castles and historic attractions, which can welcome visitors.
Brookside Close offers a memorable example. In 2008, all 13 houses on the Liverpool street built for Channel 4’s soap opera were sold together at auction for £735,000. That is a long way from the sums sometimes imagined for a famous address.
Other properties have had a tougher time. Nora Batty’s cottage in Holmfirth went on the market in 2006 and took more than a decade to find a buyer. The Suffolk house associated with Harry Potter’s birth was listed for £995,000, reduced to £950,000 and eventually withdrawn after failing to attract a buyer. The house from The Good Life sold for £1.44 million, in line with other detached homes on its road.
There is one notable exception: Sleddale Hall in Cumbria, which appeared as Uncle Monty’s cottage in Withnail and I. Despite being derelict and lacking a proper road, it attracted a top bid of £265,000 against a guide price of £145,000. In this case, fans were willing to pay extra for the connection.
The study suggests that screen fame can be more valuable to a visitor attraction than to a private homeowner. Alnwick Castle saw visitor numbers rise after appearing as Hogwarts; Doune Castle gained a following through Outlander; and Lyme Park became closely associated with Mr Darcy’s famous lake scene in Pride and Prejudice. Highclere Castle’s Downton Abbey connection has also helped bring in income for repairs.
For residents, fame can bring unwanted attention. Fans may trespass, take photographs or stop outside homes that remain private. Some owners and neighbours have complained about visitors turning residential streets into tourist destinations. The owner of the Love Actually house has even put its famous front door up for auction, hoping to get a break from the crowds.
There are exceptions where fans become the buyers. In Barry, the house associated with Uncle Bryn in Gavin & Stacey attracted fans and now earns money as a holiday let. That kind of success depends on finding someone who values the story enough to buy or rent the property.
Bettermove says the research grew from an office conversation about famous movie homes. After reviewing properties, sales and auction records, its team found that a screen story alone rarely changes what a house is worth. The location may become part of popular culture, but buyers still compare the house with the homes around it.
The full study includes the history, prices and current fate of all 100 properties on an interactive map: Does fame add value? Famous film and TV homes https://www.bettermove.co.uk/property-stories/famous-film-and-tv-homes
