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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Louise Lavigueur

What happened to iconic TV homes - Airbnb money spinner to infuriating tourist trap

The homes of some of our favourite TV shows and movies are now almost as famous as the stars whose characters resided in them.

Whether it's a gritty mystery such as Sherlock or a feel good film like Home Alone - these iconic properties have become a pivotal part in the unfolding events played out on screen.

With this in mind, we take a trip down memory lane to check out some of the homes - and the ones you can even pay to spend the night in - but only if you're quick!

Sherlock Homes

The fictitious detective famously lived at 221B Baker Street but a century and a half later, the North London location now houses a dedicated Sherlock Holmes Museum.

Fans can enjoy checking out various artefacts from the Victorian era as well as raising a glass in the aptly named pub on the iconic street.

Sherlock Holme's address is now a museum dedicated to the fictitious sleuth (Ilya Dmitryachev/TASS)

Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey is instantly recognisable as the Grantham family's grand stately home, which is in fact Highclere Castle in Hampshire.

The Earl and Countess of Carnarvon are the real owners of the sprawling grand home and estate which has been viewed by millions around the globe since the TV drama and subsequent movie captured the hearts of viewers.

Fans of the hit show staring Hugh Bonneville and Michelle Dockery can visit the Newbury mansion, as it opens its doors to the public for behind the scenes tours on a restricted number of days each year.

Highclere Castle is now instantly recognisable as Downton Abbey (AFP via Getty Images)

Bampton Village in Oxfordshire plays the part of Downton village while the interior of Basildon Park in West Berkshire is the setting for the Crawley family's London home, Grantham House.

And with the second movie release due early next year, visitors will be flocking in their droves to soak up some Downton magic.

Last of The Summer Wine

Iconic steps of Nora Batty's home in Holmfirth (Getty Images)

From magnificent mansions to humble homes as we head to Yorkshire to see Nora Batty's house at 28 Huddersfield Road.

The cottage is tucked away in the quiet village of Holmfirth, West Yorkshire and the famous battle axe's pad is available to rent from £11 per person a night.

The property, which sits next to the river in the town of Holmfirth in Yorkshire, has two double bedrooms, a kitchen/diner, a spacious living room and a bathroom that are all fitted out with a retro feel.

There are also plenty of pictures of the cast of the programme throughout.

Only Fools and Horses

Harlech Tower aka 'Nelson Mandela House' where Del Boy and his family lived in Only Fools and Horses (SWNS)
Nicholas Lyndhurst as Rodney Trotter and David Jason as Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter (BBC)

From Nora's iconic steps of to the mismatched wallpaper in the Trotter's home in Nelson Mandela House.

Only Fools and Horses viewers watched the family dream of becoming millionaires, on the fictional Nyrere Estate in Peckham, which was home to Derek Del Boy Trotter, his brother Rodney and his grandad.

But the exterior of the tower block which is always seen in the opening credits of the BBC One sitcom was filmed in Ealing, West London, at a block called Harlech Tower.

The setting for the Trotter's famous flat is due to be bulldozed in the coming years.

Harry Potter

Harry Potter's house - 4 Privet Drive in Harry Potter Philosopher's Stone was previously up for sale (Splash News)

Harry Potter’s house where his aunt and uncle live is tucked away in suburbia but features throughout the magical movies (and books) it is an iconic one.

The home is where Potter fans are introduced to Harry as the boy who lives under the stairs and plays an important factor in the character throughout the series.

The rather modest three-bedroom house just an hour outside of London is a real family home which was previously listed on the market at £475,000.

Fresh Prince of Bel Air

The house, which is 6400 sq.ft and worth more than $6 millions, was used for exterior establishing shots in the series, but interior live-actions was shot in a Los Angeles studio. (AFP via Getty Images)

The mega mansion is being advertised on Airbnb and fans can rent off a wing of the sprawling abode for the bargain price of $30 per night.

The show starred Will Smith as a fictionalised version of himself – a streetwise teenager who is sent to live with his wealthy aunt and uncle in their Bel Air mansion after getting into a fight in his hometown of Philadelphia.

Sex and The City

The iconic steps to Carrie's apartment (AbacaPress / SplashNews.com)
Sex and the City apartment lands in London as fans gear up for And Just Like That (HBO)

Fans of Sex In The City will remember countless episodes as Carrie Bradshaw lounges in her apartment when chatting to pals or typing her newspaper column.

Following Airbnb's stunt for fans to be able to visit the apartment in NYC, now HBO are bringing the apartment - you know, the one with two bathroom doors - over to the UK.

The pop-up will be in Covent Garden from December 11-12, to promote the launch the SATC revival And Just Like That.

Home Alone

Arguably the most famous Christmas movie house ever! (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

With the holiday season fast approaching we couldn't fail to check into the Home Alone house.

And the instantly recognisable family home, which is situated in the Chicago suburb of Winnetka, is available to rent for one night only on 12th December.

Airbnb has even recruited actor Devin Ratray – who played Kevin McCallister's older brother Buzz in the original Home Alone movie – to host the one-night stay.

Breaking Bad

Owners of the Breaking Bad property had to take matters into their own hands with a huge fence after they were inundated with visitors (Getty Images)

But not all property owners are thrilled by the attention caused by their homes being in the limelight.

The Netflix aired crime drama, saw meth maker Walter White's house in Albuquerque become a regular tourist spot - so much so the owners erected a "six-foot-high wrought-iron fence," according to KOB4.

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