The North East street that's a trip 'back in time' seen by millions on TV as stars descend
If you watched one of the most talked about dramas of 2026 so far you'll have seen a street you've probably walked down before
Given that it is one of the focal points of a very famous North East attraction, many of us have walked down its cobbles at least once in our lives. And the 'trip back in time' street at Beamish has just appeared in another hit TV drama, having already been frequented by a host of big names.
When it comes to picture perfect filming locations in the region, we are blessed with many, so it's little wonder that cameras have rolled on a growing number of shows and films in the area, from much loved ITV crime drama Vera to Hollywood zombie blockbuster 28 Years Later and Byker Grove to Inspector George Gently. And speaking of Vera, its lead star Brenda Blethyn has recently made a critically acclaimed return to screens in Channel 4's new version of A Woman of Substance, which became the broadcaster's biggest ever drama when it was first made 40 years ago.
In it, Brenda takes on on the lead role of Emma Harte, an impoverished ambitious maid in Yorkshire who goes on a dizzying journey to become the world’s richest woman. Brenda plays Emma in her older years, with the role of a young Emma being taken on by breakout star Jessica Reynolds. And it's Jessica who was on location to shoot scenes at the much loved Beamish Museum in County Durham.
A tourist hotspot that attracts visitors from all over the world every single year, as well as being held in high regard by locals, Beamish hosted the cast and crew of A Woman of Substance last summer, with them letting the cat out of the bag on their involvement after the show aired to rave reviews earlier this month.
It was the main street in the always busy 1900s Town that was at the forefront of the action, with Jessica stepping in front of camera to shoot several scenes. And it didn't take long for eagle eyed viewers to recognise the backdrop as Beamish, with one replying to the museum's Facebook post about A Woman of Substance to write: 'Was great seeing Beamish on the tv series and it also puts the north east on the map' as a second reacted: 'Binge watched it all, thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the familiar places.'
A Woman of Substance wasn't the first TV show to be filmed at Beamish and nor will it be the last. Over the years it has been seen in an array of different dramas, ranging from ITV smash Downton Abbey to the Channel 5 reworking of All Creatures Great and Small and, going further back, was used for Catherine Cookson adaptations The Cinder Path, The Wingless Bird and The Black Candle.
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