If you fancy experiencing the inside of a Christmas classic, then it’s time to head to Shere, Surrey. The rom-com ‘The Holiday’, now synonymous with the December month, was shot in a quintessentially English countryside village with only half an hour away from London and with a small population of less than 4,000.
‘The Holiday’ starring Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet, follows a house-swap between American Amanda Woods (Diaz) and British writer Iris (Winslet) over the Christmas period. Throughout the film, romantic interests transpire to the beautifully contrasting backgrounds of snowy England and sunny California.
So, what does the village of Shere actually have to offer? One of Shere’s best features has to be the architecture. The beautiful 12th-century St James Church is a wonderful place to simply admire the Christmas magic of Shere, or if you wish to actually attend a service at the Church then there are multiple communions and carol services throughout December. The village also offers to visitors a tearoom, a few pubs: White Horse, The Bray or The Dabbling Duck, and a small museum. The Shere museum has free access to all and will guide you around the surprisingly interesting pre-Domesday village of Shere. Oh… and Shere offers some of the most idyllic looking public toilets that you may come across in England.
While you may not run into the lovely-looking Jude Law in Shere and start a complicated ‘situationship’, you are guaranteed to get into the Christmas spirit amongst the quaint buildings, have a few pints at the local pubs, and learn more about the village at the museum. All in all, a lovely daytrip to take.