My Dad’s Christmas Date Filming Locations in England
There’s nothing like watching a cheesy, feel-good Christmas movie during the holiday season. So when My Dad’s Christmas Date popped up on my featured list for Amazon Prime, I HAD TO WATCH IT! As soon as it started I knew it was filmed in York and so, my filming locations guide to My Dad’s Christmas Date was born.
I literally just finished watching the movie and turned on my laptop (gotta keep it fresh in my head)!
My Dad’s Christmas Date Filming Locations
My Dad’s Christmas Date Storyline
Jules (played Olivia-Mai Barrett) is a typical 16-year-old girl living in York with her single dad, David (played by Jeremy Piven). Their relationship has been suffering for the past two years since the mother died in a car crash.
He’s American, his daughter was born and raised British. (I assume the mother was British?) You never find out why he’s living in England or what the back story really is.
Between all the bickering and fighting, Jules decides (with a little push from her best friend, Emma) that her father needs a companion in his life and sets up a dating profile for him (on MULTIPLE dating sites) without his knowledge.
Jules then invites her father out to numerous places and he gets hit on by numerous women who have no idea his daughter was the one that invited them out.
Throughout the movie, the father/daughter relationship is tested along with Jules’ other relationships with her boyfriend and best friend.
Will David find out what Jules has done? Will this repair their crumbling relationship? Will it pull them apart?
York
The entire movie was filmed in Yorkshire, England with the majority filmed in York. (I have a complete locals guide to York if you are planning a weekend away!)
You’ll find that a lot of the York shots were taken in the same area (around Lendal Bridge) and it’s SUPER close to the train station!
York is also an easy day trip from London and you can book your tickets on Trainline!
Opening Credits
A beautiful aerial shot of York Minster is the first shot we see.
Followed by the streets of York and The Shambles.
The river banks of the River Ouse and the Christmas tree in front of the Mansion House are also highlighted in the opening.
You also get a glimpse of York’s amazing Christmas Market and all the wooden stalls!
Drone Shots and Exterior Shots
All the aerial shots are views around York.
Mainly of the York Minster.
Which looks exceptionally grand in the shots right after the first scene when David is driving Jules to school.
You’ll also see quick shots of Clifford’s Tower and the car driving over Lendal Bridge which crosses the River Ouse.
The River Ouse
The Ouse is one of two rivers that run through York. All the river banks scenes where David and Sarah are having their daily exercise together are filmed on the banks of the River Ouse.
At one point you can even see Lendal Bridge in the distance.
City Screen Picture House
13-17 Coney St
York
YO1 9QL
Jules has a date with Ben at the cinema.
It’s actually a movie theatre in York and you can see a movie here yourself!
St. Peter’s School
Clifton
York
YO30 6AB
St. Peter’s School is a large boarding and day school in York and one of the oldest school’s in world founded in 627 AD.
All the exterior shots for Jules’ school is filmed at St Peter’s School.
Not sure about the interior shots as I have never been inside the school and I’m pretty sure it’s not open to the public.
The Shambles
One of the most well-known streets in England and the rumored inspiration for J.K. Rowling’s Diagon Alley, The Shambles is a must-visit for any tourist visiting York.
Although we see bits and pieces of the shambles in between scenes, it’s actually featured in the scene after the montage of David’s potential love interests.
Jules and her bestie are listening to the band play outside one of the shops and then they move onto the Nutcracker Christmas Shop where they look at another potential date and Emma says “you’re dad is so popular, told you he was fit”.
York Art Gallery
Exhibition Square
York
YO1 7EW
Official Site
Jules sets up her dad’s first “date” with Natasha, inviting him to an art exhibition.
As they are walking into the gallery through the square you can see Bootham Bar in the background.
Clearly they walk into the York Art Gallery.
York Castle Museum
Tower St
York
YO1 9RY
Official Site
David’s third date he is “stood up” by Jules who is watching from the window above.
A Victorian top hat is slapped on his head and he’s dragged into some weird Irish jig circle dancing.
He then bumps into his “date”, weirded out by their conversation he chugs some mulled wine and gets right back to dancing!
The York Castle Museum is a GREAT day out and it’s quite large. All the scenes that feature this museum are filmed in Kirkgate, which is the museum’s recreated Victorian street.
The movie’s final scene where Jules and David are dancing together is also filmed on Kirkgate.
The Perky Peacock
North Street Postern Tower
York
YO1 7DJ
David’s next date is with Veronica. This time the date knows Jules is the one trying to set her up with her dad.
David and Jules head to the Perky Peacock (right below Lendal Bridge) and start arguing while they are in line for coffee and cakes. They walk outside and continue their argument at the table.
David walks out of the heated argument “I’m gonna go get some air”
Veronica overhears the whole thing and storms off, leaving Jules sitting at the table by herself.
Yorkshire Museum
Museum Gardens
Museum Street
York YO1 7FR
Official Site
David storms off from the cafe to sit on a bench outside the Yorkshire Museum (also in the Lendal Bridge area).
He lets out a big sigh as the rain falls down and GOVARDO plays in the background.
There’s a great shot that pans around to the ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey located in the museum gardens.
Jules meets her father and sits next to him on the bench.
They have a heart felt conversation about her future and what she wants to do for the rest of her life. David admits he wanted to be a dancer when he was younger. Jules says he always played things safe and David continues to share his previous life choices.
Hotel Du Vin
89 The Mount
York
YO24 1AX
Official Site
David decides to go on a real date with one of his former colleagues, Amanda, from London.
You can tell it’s Hotel Du Vin they meet up in because of the funky edgeing on the bar.
The date starts out really well and then ends with disaster when Amanda brings up David’s dead wife and he doesn’t want to share, but she keeps on pressing.
Oh well.
Beverley
There are quite a few scenes in Beverley that are used as filming locations for My Dad’s Christmas Date.
The town of Beverley is easily accessible by car. There’s plenty of car parks and it’s only an hour drive from York!
If you don’t have a car, then you can take the train from York Station to Beverley Station. It takes a little under 2 hours and you’ll need to change in Hull. I always book my tickets on Trainline!
*There is also a train with a change in Seamer. DO NOT book that train, you are majorly going out of the way!
The Monks Walk Inn
19 Highgate
Beverley, Easy Yorkshire
HU17 0DN
Official Site
The Monks Walk is a pub in Beverley, East Yorkshire.
The pub is only a 5 minute walk from the train station and it’s right across the street from Beverley Minster! It’s one of the oldest pubs in Beverley. They serve food and have a range of local beers and ciders.
This is where we were first meet, Sarah, David’s friend and ex girlfriend. She kind of plays the role of David’s mentor throughout the movie.
In this scene they are sharing a drink in the pub as David is complaining about his teenage daughter growing up and becoming more “fussy”.
Beverley Minster
38 Highgate
Beverley
HU17 0DN
Official Site
All the choir lesson scenes are filmed at Beverley Minster (nope, not York Minster like they want you to believe).
The final choir performance is also filmed here and really highlights the beautiful choir area and east window of the minster.
The exterior shots we see of the church before choir practice are also filmed at Beverley Minster.
FUN FACT: Beverley Minster was used as Westminster Abbey in the hit ITV show, Victoria, and scenes from the BBC drama, Gunpowder were also filmed here.
Have you been to any of the My Dad’s Christmas Date filming locations? Are you planning a trip to York now? Let me know in the comments below!!
If you want to visit another Christmas movie filming location, then check out my post on A Very British Christmas Filming Locations. These locations are a short drive/train ride from York!
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Lovely description of York as I did really enjoy the environment, buildings and places in this movie (the film was quite ok but I was really interested to learn where it was filmed) and will definitely plan for a detour when in London next time! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you! York is a beautiful city and an easy day trip from London! Definitely make time for a detour!
I was in this movie, as a Beverley Minster Chorister. It was pretty cool filming it, and I could never find the name of the film until now!
Oh that’s amazing! Did you spot yourself in the film?!