Free

TV BRITAIN ON FILM RURAL

This summer BFI Player celebrates rural life with more than 750 new films added to our Britain on Film map.
The new films range from 1900 to 2007 and chart the changing countryside and rural life across the UK, highlighting activities, pursuits and traditions that still survive today alongside customs, trades and skills that have since dwindled or disappeared. Begin your journey with selected highlights below, or dive straight into the map.
Read more Close
Watch for free

Ardboe Wishing TreeArdboe Wishing Tree

News19654 mins Location: Ardboe

Graveyards tell strange stories and this one is no exception. From magic cows to wishing trees discover what lies in the Ardboe graveyard.

Watch for free

The Sash My Father WoreThe Sash My Father Wore

Amateur film19716 mins Location: Lisburn

Is mythology stronger than history? Listen to children’s takes on why they commemorate the Battle of the Boyne.

Watch for free

Sodom and BegorrahSodom and Begorrah

Amateur film196714 mins Location: Holywood

Amusing fantasy of the adventures of a priest who finds his new parish in the grip of the most blatant depravity

Watch for free

At MountstewartAt Mountstewart

Non-Fiction19303 minsSilent Location: Newtownards

A grand day out at Mount Stewart, where crowds of children jostle for the camera and form a very orderly queue.

Watch for free

By TraditionBy Tradition

Documentary196614 minsSilent Location: Cultra

See the tools in action that helped our farmers win back the soil from the weed and wilderness over generations.

Watch for free

County AntrimCounty Antrim

Amateur film19713 minsSilent Location: Larne

Enjoy the early signs of spring from the lambs gambolling in the fields to the rally cars tearing round the Circuit of Ireland.

Watch for free

Land of SongLand of Song

Travelogue19605 mins Location: Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa

As travelogues go this one doesn't quite cut it – good job Lanry household bleach can!

Watch for free

The Wonderful WyeThe Wonderful Wye

Travelogue19266 minsSilent Location: Rhayader/Rhaeadr Gwy

Enjoy these charming scenes of Powys follies at Llandrindod Wells, rescued from the cutting room floor

Watch for free

Haymaking - Trebettyn, CowbridgeHaymaking - Trebettyn, Cowbridge

Home movie19494 minsSilent Location: Cowbridge/Y Bont-Faen

The Iles family, having moved out of Cardiff just before Christmas 1948, have good weather for their very first haymaking at ‘Trebettyn’.

Watch for free

Farmer JohnFarmer John

Amateur film193013 minsSilent Location: Llanymawddwy

O, sighs the office-bound man, how wonderful to be a farmer! And, with breeches and boots, he tries the good life as ‘Farmer John’.

Watch for free

Talybont Show and Corn CuttingTalybont Show and Corn Cutting

Home movie19645 minsSilent Location: Bow Street

Tal-y-Bont Show brings the farming community together after the Davies' harvest has been safely gathered in at 'Dolclettwr', Taliesin.

Watch for free

Auld AyrshireAuld Ayrshire

Travelogue19302 minsSilent Location: Alloway

A tour of Rabbie Burns' beautiful home county, in enchanting colour.

Watch for free

Bonnie Scotland Calls YouBonnie Scotland Calls You

193816 minsSilent Location: Lismore

Join two intrepid hikers on their energetic tour of Scotland's Highlands and islands.

Watch for free

A Cattle Auction in the HebridesA Cattle Auction in the Hebrides

19329 minsSilent Location: Outer Hebrides

Folk of the Western Isles meet and drink at their annual sale of Highland cattle to the Scottish mainland.

Watch for free

Loch LomondLoch Lomond

School programme and Educational film19469 minsSilent Location: Balloch

Take a colourful post-war cruise around Loch Lomond on the paddle steamer, the Princess May, seeing Luss, Rowardennan and the small islands; a moving record of a vanished era.

Watch for free

Winter in ScotlandWinter in Scotland

School programme and Educational film19609 minsSilent

Wrap up warm for a frosty portrait of a wintry 1960s Scotland in this chilly episode from the Seasons in Scotland educational series, with snowmen and snowball fights galore!

Watch for free

Selkirk Common Riding 1899Selkirk Common Riding 1899

Documentary19095 minsSilent Location: Selkirk

Selkirk does its Border traditions proud with a cavalcade of riders and a herculean feat of banner waving.

Watch for free

Postman PlusPostman Plus

Documentary197014 mins Location: Penrith

It's always nice to see the friendly postman - mail deliveries and more in the Lake District.

Watch for free

Cornish Gorsedh DancingCornish Gorsedh Dancing

Current affairs19631 mins Location: Cornwall

The Gorsedh Kernow perform a traditional Celtic dance

Watch for free

It's Not all CoalIt's Not all Coal

Amateur film195430 minsSilent Location: Bellingham

A magical travelogue of Northumberland proves it’s not all grim up North.

Watch for free

The Earth RemainethThe Earth Remaineth

193718 minsSilent Location: Wiltshire

Rural idyll or shifting landscape? Harvest season and country life through a Wiltshire farmer's eyes.

Watch for free

Canal BargeeCanal Bargee

News19664 mins Location: Norbury Junction

Jack Roberts has spent a life on the canals of Britain. With his trusty horse Sally how much longer can this veteran carry on?

Watch for free

Beef and Sheep in the South-westBeef and Sheep in the South-west

Advert196626 mins Location: Wiveliscombe

The grasslands of south-west England are made rich and fertile by the application of science