Grassington: Town used for All Creatures Great and Small

Since the 2020 reboot of All Creatures Great and Small, the location has doubled as Darrowby, the fictional market town at the heart of James Herriot’s beloved veterinary tales.

Filming for All Creatures Great and Small(Image: CHANNEL 5)

Now into its sixth season, the Channel 5 drama continues to draw viewers with its warm storytelling and sweeping Yorkshire scenery, and Grassington remains central to the production.

Each series sees the cobbled streets, historic shopfronts and square carefully transformed to reflect the 1930s and 40s world in which the stories are set.

Producers chose Grassington for its authenticity.

The town’s stone-built architecture and preserved market square make it a natural fit for period drama, needing little beyond a change of signage and some vintage props to transport it back almost a century.

The Devonshire Arms is reimagined as The Drovers Arms, where many a Darrowby scene unfolds. The Stripey Badger bookshop becomes Endelby’s Grocers, while a private residence in the town serves as Skeldale House, the surgery and home of Herriot and his colleagues.

One of the businesses involved in the filming, The Devonshire Arms, has said it's "fascinating" to see the venue transformed in the TV show.

They said: "In July 2019, we were approached by a location scout named Alex asking if we would be interested in the pub's frontage being used for a new TV show later in the year. We thought that seemed like fun, so we said “yes”.

"Little did we know that this would be the beginning of a huge adventure.

"The Devonshire has been used in All Creatures Great and Small on Channel 5 since the show premiered in 2020.

"Way back in Summer 2019, we did not know what the show would be, so to find out that it was going to be a remake of All Creatures Great and Small was incredible – it also became the worst-kept secret in the Dales!

"Being able to watch the whole process, how the buildings are dressed, what is 'real' and what is a prop (ask us about the portico on the vets or the Post Box) was fascinating. We have photos from every stage, from different seasons.

The cast of All Creatures Great and Small(Image: CHANNEL 5)

The square itself has played host to large-scale scenes, including the annual Darrowby Show, which brings together much of the community on screen.

The series has sparked a surge in visitors to Grassington, with fans eager to explore Darrowby for themselves.

Tourists often arrive clutching maps of the show’s locations, keen to see the pub, the bookshop and the vet surgery they know from television.

The Drovers Arms is another location in the TV show(Image: PA MEDIA)

Local businesses have reported a steady rise in trade, from overnight stays to café footfall, as the town has cemented its place on the tourist map.

For residents, there is also a sense of pride in seeing their home celebrated on screen.

While the filming can cause temporary disruption with road closures and shopfront changes, the community has largely embraced Grassington’s starring role.

Filming for All Creatures Great and Small(Image: CHANNEL 5)

The show itself has gone from strength to strength.

Adapted from James Herriot’s classic books, All Creatures Great and Small first captured audiences in the 1970s and 80s.

The new adaptation has repeated that success, praised for its gentle pace, period detail and uplifting storylines.

All Creatures Great and Small: Series 2. The Alderson farm(Image: PA MEDIA)

The series has also introduced the Dales to a new generation of viewers, with international audiences tuning in to see the Yorkshire landscapes alongside the drama.

Grassington, standing in as Darrowby, has become a character in its own right.

All Creatures Great and Small: Series 2. The Darrowby Village set(Image: CHANNEL 5)

As the production continues, Grassington seems certain to remain the face of Darrowby.

Each season brings fresh storylines but the same familiar backdrop, with the town’s square and shops at the heart of the action.

For fans visiting in between filming, the traces of Darrowby can still be seen.

Some shopfronts bear subtle reminders of their on-screen roles, while others have become landmarks in their own right.

For those hoping to catch the next transformation, following the show’s official channels or local fan groups remains the best way to stay updated.