Visiting the filming locations of the popular ITV night time soap opera Emmerdale is still quite an easy task.
When the filming of Emmerdale first began in the 1970s, the small Yorkshire town of Arndale in Littondale was used for the very early title sequences of the show. The show was originally conceived as being a daytime soap opera, this was soon moved to it's early evening time slot, a place it still holds today after more than 20 years.
At the beginning of the 1980s, the outdoor shots were then filmed in the town of Esholt also in West Yorkshire. Esholt was used for a very long time for shooting scenes, this in return made the town very popular with tourists, later causing a problem because with so many visitors were coming to visit Esholt, the local council were receiving complaints from residents that their town was becoming over run. After discussions and plans being submitted for extra car parks and facilities, it was decided by the council that this was not a good plan.
The early 1990s saw the whole format of Emmerdale Farm change, Farm was dropped from the title and an exclusive purpose built outdoor set was built on the outskirts of Harrogate in North Yorkshire, on the estate of Harewood House. Fans today still visit the areas of Arndale and Esholt as this is the original home of the still popular ITV show. It is still possible to visit The Woolpack, the fictional public house used as the shows main center point.
Use this map to get directions from your location to Esholt. Click on the "A" for more information.
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Use this one for the New Outdoor Set on the Harewood Estate. Click on the Letters for information.
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