Your first stop on this TV-themed route is the unassuming town of Hadfield, aka 'Royston Vasey', where the popular British sitcom 'The League of Gentlemen' was filmed.
Written by Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith, Mark Gatiss and Jeremy Dyson, the hilarious and at times dark comedy series follows the surreal lives of the offbeat characters living in Royston Vasey, all played by all but the latter of the four script writers above. These include an extreme xenophobic couple who run "a local shop for local people", a transsexual taxi driver who always reveals a little bit too much information, a Job Centre officer who despises and belittles the unemployed, and a cleaning-obsessed couple who hold their visiting nephew hostage.
Today, you can walk down the high street and spot many of the shops – including the infamous H Briss & Sons Butchers – portrayed in the series, although none bear the name you'll remember if you've watched the show.
You can park at the train station car park free of charge for two hours.

Many of the show's filming locations can be found along Station Road, starting with train station itself. See how many shops you recognise as you make your way to 'Big Brekkie', a local breakfast spot not just for local people. Keep your eyes peeled for the Town Hall, 'Shebab's Restaurant', 'Video Vault', the 'Joke Shop', and the hapless Dr Chinnery's vetinary surgery.
At Big Brekkie, you can go all out on a Full English, or settle for a toasted sandwich or panini, served with tea or coffee.

It's definitely too early for fish and chips, but a walk up to Station Road Chippy will take you past more locations used for the series, including 'Sensations Massage Parlour', 'Steve's Tattoo Studio', 'Dick Fisher's Bookies' and 'The Mason's Arms', where best pals Geoff, Brian and Mike would meet for a drink that often ended in disaster. Sadly, the pub is no more and the space is now occupied by a Tesco Express – but you can still wander down the alleyway opposite, where the three friends walked up to the pub in one episode.

From the chippy, take a sharp right and walk up Bank Street, a steep hill that will eventually bring you to the building that was used as the Job Centre. It was here where one of the show's mainstay characters, Pauline (played by Pemberton), would conduct unbelievably cringeworthy and patronising sessions for job seekers like Mickey (played by Gatiss), and battle – sometimes mentally, often physically – with Ross (played by Shearsmith), who, unbeknownst to Pauline, was working undercover for the Job Centre.
At the top of Bank Street is Tawny Barn, a woodwork gift shop. Keep walking up Paradise Street where the Denton family home can be seen, and turn right along Old Hall Square. Bear right, walking along The Cross, then turn left down Hadfield Road. Walk on a bit further until you see the turning for Railway Street, which brings you back to the train station.

At the bottom of the hill is D & D Newsagents, which, although not actually used for the series, is just about the best example of 'a local shop for local people' you are going to find in Hadfield. Wander inside and take your pick of Royston Vasey souvenirs, from fridge magnets to coffee mugs and 'Papa Lazarus' posters.

If you've taken slightly longer than expected and it's past midday, pop into The Palatine over the road to check out the League of Gentlemen memorabilia displayed on the walls. Then head back to the car park and prove that you can actually leave Royston Vasey – contrary to the fictional town's memorable promise. Note, the pub doesn't open until midday.

From sitcom to period drama, your next visit is to Lyme Park, Cheshire – the filming location of the original BBC dramatisation of the novel Pride & Prejudice. The great Lyme House looks just as it did in the TV series that captivated viewers back in 1995 – and catapulted Colin Firth into the limelight with his portrayal of perfectly bumbling Englishman, Mr Darcy. Step inside to explore the elaborately embellished rooms, from the 16th-century dating Drawing Room, to the supposedly haunted Knight's Bedroom, and the rope-free Library where you can take a seat and enjoy the room as generations of the Legh family have done for centuries.
After seeing all those stately rooms, head outside and explore the grounds. The Rose Garden and the Orangery are especially beautiful in spring and summer, when the flowers are blossoming or in full bloom. Cross the lake to see the house in all its glory, and cast your mind back to that scene when Elizabeth spied Darcy fling off his shirt and dive into the water.
Depending on how you're doing for time, walk a little deeper into the parkland and enjoy the scenery away from the bustle. You could walk up to The Cage and walk back in about 45 minutes, but ultimately you could spend a full day here and probably still not have seen it all.
You no longer need to book to visit Lyme. Entry is free for National Trust members, including the garden, park and car park. Non-members will need to buy an admission ticket on arrival. Note, Lyme House closed on Wednesdays for conservation work.

After a good walk around the estate, your stomach will be rumbling again. Swing by the Timber Yard Café for a bite to eat and some tea or coffee to wash it down. You'll find a good selection of sandwiches, cakes, pastries, ice cream and soft drinks. There might be a bit a short wait for service if you're visiting at the weekend.

There's a certain allure about Arley Hall & Gardens that keeps filmmakers coming back. Among the films and TV series to have been shot here are ITV’s Coronation Street and Cold Feet, plus BBC's The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and – perhaps most famously – Peaky Blinders.
On the weekends when it's open, the Hall hosts a filming exhibition which features behind-the-scenes images and stills from the programs, and anecdotes from the Arley staff who were here for the filming. Be sure to check in advance which weekends the Hall is open – so that you will also be able to enter the room where Tommy Shelby, played by Cillian Murphy, hosted guests like Oswald Mosley (played by Sam Claflin) and Alfie Solomons (played by Tom Hardy), as well as other family members including Polly (played by Helen McCrory) and Aberama Gold (played by Aiden Gillen).
The gardens at Arley are open daily and boast an outstanding variety of plants and flowers. To find out when the Hall is open, check the official website.

From October 2022, Arley Hall & Gardens will also be hosting the official and Warner Bros-funded Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience. Tickets will need to be booked weeks in advance – especially for earlier time slots between 5–6pm.
Your walk will take you on an illuminated nighttime woodland trail, filled with magical creatures and wizard-like wonders from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films. Whether you're a fan of the franchise or not, you will be impressed by the theatrics installed across the gardens, which depict iconic forest scenes from the films, bringing the fantastical world to life.
Find out the full details here, or if you're already convinced then book your tickets here.

One last stop before the drive home – and if you only grabbed a scone or sandwich at lunch, then you'll be ready for it. Originally a 17th-century farmhouse, the highly rated Bears Paw Country Inn & Restaurant, in High Legh, offers an a la carte menu bursting with English and European favourites like rosemary breaded camembert, duck spring roll, marinated sea bass, and 7oz fillet steak. It doesn't stop at mains either, with Ticky Tacky Pudding (date sponge with butterscotch sauce), crème brûlée, Dutch apple pie, and good old-fashioned Eton Mess available for dessert.
If a warm evening, there's seating in the courtyard, otherwise settle at a table in the dining room and enjoy the top-notch food and service.
Book ahead to avoid disappointment.