Open season for Tudor tourism as Wolf Hall effect takes hold

The BBC serialisation of Hilary Mantel’s novel began last Wednesday to critical acclaim. Already visitors are heading to the historic properties where it was filmed

When Colin Firth emerged from the lake in front of Lyme Park in Cheshire in his clinging, soaking shirt, it changed more than just the way the actor was regarded. The stately home is still reaping the benefits of standing in for Jane Austen’s Pemberley 20 years on, and now it’s hoping for a 2015 bumper spring as far as Tudor tourism goes.

The National Trust has had a windfall from renting out six of its properties as locations for filming of Wolf Hall, BBC2’s biggest success in a decade, with nearly 4m viewers tuning into episode one. Now it has high hopes for the Wolf Hall effect.

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