Where was Willow filmed?

Our key villain of the entire film is Queen Bavmorda. She strikes fear into the heart of the strongest man and no one should ever question her or disappoint her. So, when her troops come back from a mission to find and bring back Elora empty handed once more, her frustration can be seen.

“Why with my powers, with the strength of my army, can you not find one little child?”

We’ve all had to deal with incompetence in the workplace, but this seems a little extreme. For the interior shots of Queen Bavmorda’s castle, Nockmaar, the Willow production team had to return to what is now the Backlot of Elstree Studios in London and build it from scratch.

Elstree Studios is home to some of the biggest movies in the world, including The King’s Speech, Alfred Hitchcock’s movies, and many Star Wars films. Over the years, different parts have been demolished and rebuilt to keep up with demand, but it is still in action even now.

As it’s a working movie studio, you can’t just pop by for a tour, but there are many shows like Strictly Come Dancing and A League of Their Own that have free studio audience tickets that you can apply for.

There are plenty of bus routes that stop right outside and the Elstree and Borehamwood train station is a short walk away.

Throughout the film, Elora either almost gets taken or indeed does get stolen away, with Willow, Madmartigan, and the gang having to get her back. One who succeeds in stealing her is Sorsha (Joanne Whalley), Queen Bavmorda’s daughter.

Having been spelled with some fairy love dust, Madmartigan professes his undying love for Sorsha while the group is trying to steal Elora back. Safe to say it doesn’t go well and the group flees down the mountainside on a sled.

As Madmartigan careens down the hillside, with Willow aboard the sled, he shouts: “You’re gonna get us killed!”

Madmartigan really isn’t the best driver of sleds, but somehow they seem to make it through the wilderness and out to safety!

For this snow-capped scene, the Willow production team headed to the South Island of New Zealand, specifically to the Cardrona Alpine Resort between Queenstown and Wanaka.

Super popular with winter sports enthusiasts and hikers in the summer, this area quickly became a tourist hotspot after opening in 1980. Obviously, it’s a lot more built up than it was in 1988, but you can now stay there and live your Willow winter fantasy!

You can visit there all year round depending on your sport of choice, but you’ll probably need to drive as there isn’t much transport available from neighboring Queenstown or Wanaka. While you’re there, there are plenty of restaurants, cafes and things to do.

Having yet another run-in with Bavmorda’s guards on the road, the gang has to fight them off while on a speeding cart that is quickly losing its wheels, with every bump and jolt. Willow tries to regain steering control while Madmartigan fights off a guard on the back of the cart.

Meanwhile, Rool has fallen in between the cart’s wooden frame, with Franjean having to help his buddy out. Seeing that there is a load of barrels on the back of the cart, held just by a rope, Franjean tries to get Rool to stop messing around and says:

“This isn’t funny, help me cut the rope.”

The pair successfully cut the rope and the barrels rocket off the back, taking out one of the guards who were going after Madmartigan.

The iconic cart Willow action scene takes place in Black Park, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England. This country park is home to ten miles of trails, a high ropes adventure course and more.

You will need to drive to this Willow filming location as there isn’t a lot of transport, but it’s just off London’s M25 highway and has a huge parking lot.

It all boils down to the final fight scene. The two armies are battling outside of Nockmaar Castle with the victor controlling the outcome of the prophecy forever. The stakes couldn’t be higher.

In the melee, Madmartigan’s mentor and friend Airk (Gavan O'Herlihy) is facing off against the dreaded General Kael (Pat Roach). After some back and forth, Airk falls down. Madmartigan sees this and shouts his friend’s name.

Dying on the floor outside the castle, Airk tells Madmartigan, “Win this war for me.” A warrior until the very end.

This final battle scene and indeed all the exterior shots of Nockmaar Castle were filmed at Dinorwic slate quarry in North Wales, just outside Snowdonia National Park. This former slate quarry has been used for many films and is now home to a slate museum and an adventure park.

You can get a bus either from Llanberis or Caernarfon, but it is easier to drive and park up at one of the many trailheads in the area.

Towards the start of the film, we see Willow, our sorcerer in training, trying to dazzle the other residents of Nelwyn with his magic at a local festival. It’s safe to say that he has not been trained anywhere near enough.

Closing out his set, he says: “Now for my final amazing feat, I will make this entire pig disappear!”

He does indeed make the pig disappear, only for it to reappear instantly around the back of the table. Everyone laughs and leaves. Willow is left feeling like a failure. Not a good start for our soon to be hero.

The scenes set in the village of Nelwyn, are filmed at Brocket Hall, Lemsford, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, which is a Georgian house and estate. It’s now also home to a golfing resort with a very nice restaurant. So, you can actually stay and eat surrounded by Nelwyn!

As the estate is out in the countryside, driving is essential, but you can definitely make a weekend of it, exploring the grounds.

As a part of their quest, the group is told to find the enchantress Fin Raziel (Patricia Hayes), who’ll be instrumental in their success. Legend says she was to be found on an otherwise uninhabited island in the middle of a lake at the foot of Tir Asleen.

When our intrepid adventurers arrived there, they say that Raziel had in fact not only been banished here by Bavmorda but also turned into a possum. The Brownies sum up the meeting pretty well.

Rool: That's Raziel?

Franjean: I don't know, I expected something more grand, less...

Rool: Fuzzy.

Franjean: Fuzzy.

This beautiful scene was shot in one of the most outstanding natural spaces in the world, Milford Sound, New Zealand. The fjord lands surrounding Milford Sound are visited by thousands of people every year and are heralded for their beauty and tranquillity.

No wonder the Willow production team chose it for their uninhabited island surrounded by a lake! There is a bus from Queenstown to Milford Sound, as well as a local airport and numerous tour companies driving to this area. You can drive there, but if you can get public transport, it’s better for maintaining the natural surroundings.