National tourism agency, VisitBritain and etv online have launched a free British Film Location App for iPhone and iPod touch, which is now available from the App Store.

The application allows iPhone and iPod touch users to discover and photograph the most iconic British film locations in cinematic history. It also shows the most famous film scenes on Google maps, and the app allows users to search by film title.

Those using the app can plan an entire British film tour, whether they are seeking Harry Potter’s Hogwarts or one of the Braveheart battlefields. Each location is accompanied by a detailed synopsis and description of how to find it.

VisitBritain’s research indicates that 40% of potential visitors would be very likely to visit places they have seen in films or in TV.

“The message is clear, wherever you are in the UK you are never far from a British film location. The app gives visitors the opportunity to recreate their favourite scenes from some of our most iconic British films,” said Justin Reid, head of offline, VisitBritain. “Users can take pictures on location or make their own short films posting them on Facebook, Twitter or any of their social networking pages. For VisitBritain, 2010 is going to be a massive year for film tourism to Britain and we are making sure our digital campaigning is at the forefront of these events.”

Andy Rogers, managing director, etv online, said: “This Great British Film Location iPhone App is the perfect addition to the VisitBritain digital campaign to celebrate the Sherlock Holmes movie. Apps for iPhone and iPod touch are becoming an integral part of etv’s online business as they are cost effective to develop, with the potential to attract thousands of users.”