The film and television industry has used Manchester locations for decades to shoot scenes. The city centre and the surrounding areas have played a big part in iconic onscreen moments, from Marvel's Captain America to the BBC's Peaky Blinders.
It's always fun watching a film or TV show and recognising a location. We rewind and pause the scene, and immediately head to Google for any evidence to prove we’re right.
The MEN has looked back at a number of local locations that appear in scenes in films and shows that many of us walk past everyday. With props and greenscreens, some of the places can look very different, especially if they’ve been transformed to look like they’re from a completely different decade.
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Northern Quarter
Captain America: The First Avenger completely transformed the Northern Quarter in 2010. The neighbourhood was used in a car chase scene set in 1940s New York, so the street used was covered with American street signs and cars. Most recently, Peaky Blinders took over the Northern Quarter to film, giving Mangle Street a 1920s makeover.
Manchester Town Hall
One of the city’s most iconic buildings has appeared on screen various times. As well as having unique architecture and being steeped in history, the relatively short distance between the city centre location of the Town Hall and MediaCity makes it an ideal location for films and shows filming at the studios there.
In The Iron Lady, the building is used as the Palace of Westminster, with Margaret Thatcher (Meryl Streep) arriving at the Town Hall for one of her debates. Sherlock Holmes, which stars Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, filmed at the Town Hall with it doubling-up as the Houses of Parliament. Most recently, BBC drama A Very English Scandal also used the building for scenes set inside the Houses of Parliament.
Mayfield Road
The student house in Channel 4 comedy-drama Fresh Meat where the main characters live is a real Manchester home on Mayfield Road in Whalley Range. The majority of internal scenes, however, are filmed in a TV studio.
St Bede's College
Another Whalley Range location that has been a go-to filming spot for many production companies over the years is the grand St Bede's College. BBC show Clocking Off filmed at the school in the early 2000s, with classic films The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Jewel in the Crown also shooting on location here back in the day.
Victoria Baths
Before Victoria Baths in the Chorlton-on-Medlock area closed for restoration, TV show Prime Suspect filmed at the Grade II* listed building in the 1990s. BBC’s Life On Mars also shot several scenes at Victoria Baths, with actors John Simms, Philip Glenister and Dean Andrews filming there.
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
The 1960 film Hell is a City uses the rooftop of the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel (formerly known as the Palace Hotel) on Oxford Street in an iconic scene. The Inspector follows Starling as he makes his way onto the roof, with a chase across numerous rooftops ensuing.
Canal Street
The city centre street has welcomed various film crews over the years. Screenwriter and TV producer Russell T. Davies chose Canal Street as the centre location for a few of his TV shows, including Queer as Folk, Banana and Cucumber.
Have you spotted any other Manchester locations in films and TV shows? Let us know in the comments section below.
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