LOS ANGELES, CA, February 11, 2015 – With the Academy Awards around the corner, it's no wonder Hollywood is abuzz with speculations about who will take home the statuettes.  This year it's a veritable British invasion at the Oscars, with British films up for a whopping 21 individual nominations.  These five Oscar nominated films shot in Britain capture the nation's fascinating history, as well as the magical and inspiring settings found in the U.K.  Film-lovers can check out these Oscar-nominated movie locations for themselves and travelers can get more information at visitbritain.com

The Imitation Game

Nominations: Best Motion Picture of the Year; Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Benedict Cumberbatch; Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role – Keira Knightley; Achievement in Directing; Achievement in Film Editing; Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score); Achievement in Production Design; Adapted Screenplay

The historical drama tells the real life story of code-breaker and pioneering mathematician Alan Turing.  Turing famously broke the Enigma code at Bletchley Park, which is now a fantastic visitor destination reachable in less than an hour by train from London.  Travelers can pose at the table where Alan Turing and Joan Clarke – as played by Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley – sat and discussed love, friendship and the shortcomings of German Enigma operators, which forms part of a new exhibition, “The Imitation Game: The Exhibition.”  The exhibition runs through November 2015 and follows the making of the film with costumes, props and the bar that was built for filming.

Bletchley Park has seen visitor numbers soar thanks in part to the film, in a year which featured huge restoration, a visit from The Duchess of Cambridge and the hit movie. In 2014, nearly a third more people visited Bletchley Park than they had in 2013.  Today Bletchley Park is a unique heritage site where visitors can explore and experience the top-secret world of WWII Codebreaking Huts and Blocks set within a Victorian estate.

Picturesque Dorset, south-west England, was another a key location used for The Imitation Game as well: the town Sherborne had a starring role as Alan Turing's school. Sherborne also is home to medieval buildings, two castles, and a multitude of arts and antiques shops, and is ideal for a taste of a quintessential English market town.

The Theory of Everything

Nominations: Best Motion Picture of the Year; Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Eddie Redmayne; Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role – Felicity Jones; Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score); Adapted Screenplay   

British star Eddie Redmayne takes on the role of physicist Stephen Hawking, in the film which follows his early days as an undergraduate at Cambridge University, focusing on his diagnosis with motor neurone disease and his relationship with his first wife Jane Wilde. The famous university city of Cambridge looks spectacular on screen, the backdrop to scenes of student life and the flowering of a great romance, with a fabulous May Ball scene.  (Visit in June, rather than May, to see students dressed up to the nines making their way to these glamorous events – unfortunately, mostly closed to visitors). The imposing St John's Collegewas used for filming – take a tour and the moments played out on screen will come to life. Couples can enjoy a kiss on the bridge nearest St John's, with the Bridge of Sighs in the background, just as Stephen and Jane do on screen.

Just an hour's train journey from London, visitors can explore the stunning colleges of one of the world's oldest universities, punt along the river Cam and visit the university's museums that house more than five million works of art, artefacts and specimens.

Into the Woods

Nominations: Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role – Meryl Streep; Achievement in Costume Design; Achievement in Production Design         

Based on the stage-production, the film ties the classic tales of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel together through an original story about a baker and his wife who wish to begin a family, their interactions with a witch who has put a curse on them, and the characters they run into in the woods.  Dover Castle, Waverly Abbey, and Ashridge Estate are all sets to visit to get the feel of what it is like to live like a prince, baker or peasant.  For those a little more adventurous, and looking for a little more magic, head to Windsor Great Park which are the woods each character travelled through.

Mr. Turner

Nominations: Achievement in Cinematography; Achievement in Costume Design; Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score); Achievement in Production Design          

Mr. Turner follows the last quarter century of JMW Turner'slife.  Arguably one of Britain's best artists, Turner took inspiration from the glorious British landscapes around him to become one of the most renowned landscape artists in the world. Tour the National Trust's Petworth House, where Turner lived and painted and where scenes from the film take place. Until March 11, 2015, don't miss the special Mr Turner exhibition that will amuse art and film buffs alike.

Maleficent

Nomination: Achievement in Costume Design         

Petworth House makes another appearance in Maleficent, the film that follows the evil fairy from Sleeping Beauty, starring Angelina Jolie.  The lands around Petworth House were shot in the film as well as the forest at Ashridge Park.  Either setting is perfect for travelers to stroll through and see what magic they can find there.

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For further information, please contact:

Katrina Early, VisitBritain, (310) 201 3036, katrina.early@visitbritain.org

Meredith Pearson, VisitBritain, (212) 850 0377, meredith.pearson@visitbritain.org 

Notes to Editors

•   For press materials and story ideas, www.visitbritain.com/mediaroom

•   For access to VisitBritain's free image library for media, www.visitbritainimages.com

•   For travel information on visiting Britain: www.visitbritain.us

About VisitBritain

• VisitBritain, the national tourism agency, is responsible for inspiring the world to explore Britain and for developing the UK's visitor economy.
• Americans made 2.8 million visits to Britain in 2013 and spent $4.17 billion USD (£2.54 billion). The US remains in the top spot in terms of market value for inbound tourism and is one of the top three most important markets in terms of visitor numbers.
• Visitors traveling to Britain can find out more information from visitbritain.us plus purchase money and time saving local transport, sightseeing, attraction, theatre and tour tickets from visitbritainshop.us 
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