Where was The Magic Faraway Tree movie filmed? Explore the forests, historic estates, and storybook settings where Enid Blyton’s beloved world came to life.
Having grown up with my nose firmly tucked into Enid Blyton’s books, the prospect of watching a live-action movie based on her Magic Faraway Tree series feels like a little piece of childhood magic brought to life.
The Magic Faraway Tree (2026) movie takes a modern family, removes their Wi-Fi, moves them to the English countryside, and then gives the children access to a magical tree. Frankly, most family relocations are not nearly this productive.
Directed by Ben Gregor and written by Simon Farnaby, the fantasy adventure adapts Enid Blyton’s beloved Faraway Tree stories. Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy play Tim and Polly Thompson, while their children, Beth, Joe, and Fran, discover Moonface, Silky, Dame Washalot, Saucepan Man, and a succession of fantastical worlds.
The film was released in UK and Irish cinemas on March 27, 2026, with its production spanning southern England, Malta, and studio work in Berkshire.
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🌳 The Magic Faraway Tree Filming Locations
The production of The Magic Faraway Tree did not find one conveniently enchanted patch of countryside and call it a day. Instead, the filmmakers pieced together locations across the Home Counties, with Malta supplying some particularly otherworldly scenery.
🌿 Surrey Hills, Near Guildford
The Surrey Hills provided the film’s principal countryside setting, with a private estate south of Guildford used for the Thompson family’s home and surrounding landscape.
Its rolling countryside, woodland, and wonderfully storybook atmosphere helped create the family’s new rural world, proving that moving house becomes considerably more interesting when the local property comes with access to a magical forest.
What was filmed here:
- Surrey Hills, near Guildford: Thompson family countryside home and landscapes.
What to see & do here:
- Surrey Hills National Landscape: Walk scenic woodland and countryside trails.
- Guildford: Explore historic streets and riverside attractions.
🌲 Windsor Great Park, Berkshire
A very private section of Windsor Great Park became part of the film’s magical woodland, providing the real forest surroundings for the Faraway Tree‘s extraordinary adventures.
Not normally accessible to the public, this little-trodden part of the park helped the production capture woodland that felt wonderfully untouched.
The wider public areas of Windsor Great Park remain a superb place to experience the same broad mix of ancient woodland, open landscapes, and suitably cinematic English scenery.
What was filmed here:
- Windsor Great Park: Untouched magical woodland surrounding the tree.
What to see & do here:
- Windsor Great Park: Explore public woodland and parkland trails.
- The Long Walk: Follow Windsor’s famously grand avenue.
- Virginia Water: Enjoy lakeside walks and gardens.
Book a tour:
- Personal Private Guide Walking Tour of Windsor
- From London to Windsor Castle Private Tour with Driver
🏡 South Oxfordshire, Near Henley
South Oxfordshire, just north of Henley-on-Thames, supplied several village scenes and additional footage connected with the Thompson family’s new home. The production remained firmly rooted in the Home Counties while assembling its ideal version of Blyton-esque countryside.
There’s also a pleasing literary connection in the wider region, since Enid Blyton lived in nearby Buckinghamshire and drew inspiration from the English countryside while creating her magical worlds.
On screen, this area helps bridge ordinary village life and the increasingly less ordinary business of children disappearing into a giant magical tree. Your average village noticeboard simply cannot compete.
What was filmed here:
- South Oxfordshire, Near Henley: Village scenes and family home footage.
What to see & do here:
- Henley-on-Thames: Stroll the historic Thames-side town.
- River Thames: Experience a lovely boat trip.
- Chiltern Hills: Step back in time and ride a vintage steam train.
Book a tour:
✨ Malta, Europe
Malta brought a dramatic Mediterranean twist to The Magic Faraway Tree, serving as the backdrop for the fantastical Land of Spells and the exterior of Dame Snap‘s formidable school.
After England‘s soft green countryside, Malta‘s distinctive limestone architecture and sunlit landscapes gave the production a convincing route into a completely different magical realm.
The island itself is wonderfully easy to explore, with historic cities, coastal scenery, and enough cinematic architecture to make visitors suspect another fantasy film might be shooting around the corner.
What was filmed here:
- Malta: Land of Spells & Dame Snap‘s school.
What to see & do here:
- Valletta: Explore historic streets and architecture.
- Mdina: Wander Malta‘s atmospheric Silent City.
- Blue Grotto: See dramatic sea caves and coastline.
🎥 Shinfield Studios, Berkshire
Studio work for The Magic Faraway Tree took place at Shinfield Studios, now operating as Shadowbox Studios Shinfield, near Reading in Berkshire.
This was where the production could build and control the film’s more elaborate fantasy elements without asking an ancient tree to cooperate with lighting rigs, cameras, children, stunt work, and the general chaos of filmmaking.
The titular tree itself was a hybrid creation: the surrounding woodland was real, but the tree was built by the art department and enhanced with CGI and visual effects.
What was filmed here:
- Shinfield Studios, Berkshire: Faraway tree and visual-effects sequences.
What to see & do here:
- Reading: Explore museums, shops, and riverside walks.
- Forbury Gardens: Visit Reading’s historic central gardens.
❓ The Magic Faraway Tree FAQs
Here are the answers to the questions curious viewers may be asking, including the extremely important matter of whether anyone can actually climb that tree.
Is The Magic Faraway Tree based on Enid Blyton’s books?
Yes. The film is based on Enid Blyton’s Faraway Tree series, while Simon Farnaby‘s adaptation updates the story into a contemporary family adventure.
What is The Magic Faraway Tree collection?
The original source material is Enid Blyton’s Faraway Tree book series, including:
- Book 1: The Enchanted Wood
- Book 2: The Magic Faraway Tree
- Book 3: The Folk of the Faraway Tree
- Book 4: Up The Faraway Tree
How does the movie differ from the books?
The 2026 film gives Tim and Polly a much larger role, modernizes the family setting, and builds a more continuous cinematic story around the children’s magical adventures rather than simply reproducing the books’ episodic structure. It also updates the siblings’ names to Beth, Joe, and Fran.
Where is The Magic Faraway Tree set?
The story is set around a remote English countryside community where the Thompson family relocates and the children discover the magical tree in an enchanted woodland.
Is the Magic Faraway Tree real?
Not as one single natural tree. The woodland around it was real, but the tree itself was built by the art department and enhanced with CGI and visual effects.
When was The Magic Faraway Tree released?
The film opened in UK and Irish cinemas on March 27, 2026, and was released theatrically in the United States on August 21, 2026.
Are there sequels to The Magic Faraway Tree?
Yes. Two sequels are in development, with Simon Farnaby writing the next installment, Ben Gregor expected to return, Malta set to remain a key location, and major cast members expected to reprise their roles.
Who’s in the cast of The Magic Faraway Tree?
- Andrew Garfield: Tim Thompson
- Claire Foy: Polly Thompson
- Phoenix Laroche: Joe Thompson
- Billie Gadsdon: Fran Thompson
- Delilah Bennett-Cardy: Beth Thompson
- Nonso Anozie: Moonface
- Nicola Coughlan: Silky
- Jessica Gunning: Dame Washalot
- Dustin Demri-Burns: Saucepan Man
- Rebecca Ferguson: Dame Snap
- Judi Dench: Voice of the Fridge
- Lenny Henry: The Great Know-All
- Michael Palin: The Great Know-All
- Simon Russell Beale: The Great Know-All
- Mark Heap: Mr. Oom Boom Boom
- Oliver Chris: Mr. Watzisname
- Hiran Abeysekera: Angry Pixie
What are some other movies like The Magic Faraway Tree?
- Paddington 2 (2017): Whimsical British comedy with enormous heart
- Wonka (2023): Imaginative musical adventure full of wonder
- The BFG (2016): Child discovers giant magical hidden world
- Mary Poppins (1964): Magical nanny transforms family life.
- Nanny McPhee (2005): Eccentric magic transforms chaotic family life
- The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008): Children uncover creatures near new home
These films share some combination of magical discovery, eccentric characters, family warmth, and the useful lesson that moving somewhere strange is rarely as boring as initially advertised.
📺 Where to Watch The Magic Faraway Tree
Where is The Magic Faraway Tree showing or playing in cinemas? The film has already completed its UK, Irish, and US theatrical launches. Check current showtimes based on your location and local release schedule.
The Magic Faraway Tree proves that sometimes the best escape is not a holiday, a portal, or even a wardrobe, but a very large magical tree with strange lands, unforgettable characters, and adventure waiting around every branch.
Disclaimer: This fan-created article is provided for entertainment purposes only. We don’t guarantee the accuracy of any of these facts and don’t recommend making important life decisions based on them. All referenced titles, names, and related intellectual property are the property of their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended.
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