A Guide to Filming Locations in the West Midlands
When visiting the West Midlands, there are some great destinations to visit that have been on the big and small screen.
Location: Birmingham
As the home of the real Peaky Blinders, Birmingham has plenty to offer those who want to explore stories associated with the criminal gang.
You can learn about the infamous mobsters, and others, during guided walking tours, or experience one of two official Peaky Blinders escape rooms - The Raid and Double Cross - where you can see if you’ve got what it takes to be part of the gang.
Another area where you can get close to the action is Digbeth. With the most amazing gritty street art, it’s a hub of creativity and home to Digbeth Loc Film and TV Studios, where parts of the feature film spin-off of Peaky Blinders will be produced.
The studio, spearheaded by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, is also where his prime-time BBC drama This Town was made - MasterChef will be moving there too, so there’s always something new to see.
As well as hit TV programmes, the city has been the backdrop in Hollywood blockbuster movies with buildings like the Old Rep and Town Hall acting as alternatives to other destinations during shoots.
Another place which certainly inspired one famous former Birmingham resident is Sarehole Mill, not far from the city centre. J.R.R Tolkien drew on life in south Birmingham when writing the books, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, which have been turned into hugely popular film series.
You can visit Sarehole Mill, which is a museum with a permanent Hobbit exhibition, and is the start of a guided Tolkien Walk in the city. A must for lovers of the Shire.
Location: Coventry
The film series that put Coventry on the cinematic map is the Christmas classic Nativity! The climax of the first film is set against the backdrop of the Coventry Cathedral ruins.
Open daily and free to visit, the Cathedral was bombed in the Coventry Blitz during the Second World War, when much of the city was destroyed.
Away from Nativity!, Coventry has also been recognised as the place where arguably the most famous car chase scene took place – the underground Mini race in The Italian Job.
We wouldn’t recommend a trip down the sewer where it happened, but there is a blue plaque marking the spot in Stoke Aldermoor.
Location: Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton, with its rich cultural diversity, celebrates the newest talent in the industry.
It is home to the Wolverhampton Screen School, which teaches skills in digital arts and media, and offers courses in everything from Computer Games Design to Film and TV Production.
Every year, the city celebrates the Wolverhampton Film Festival where budding filmmakers have the chance to screen their latest work.
Wolverhampton is also home to an art gallery that boasts one of the finest collections of Pop Art in Europe, which is well worth a visit.
Location: Dudley
There are several iconic Peaky Blinders locations at the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley.
The open-air museum transports visitors back to the streets of the 1920s and 30s where you can visit the museum’s pub for a pint of real ale, head to the yard and visit the Blacksmith’s Shop, Ironworker’s Office and Workers’ Institute & Café.
For true fans, the Peaky Blinders Nights at the attraction are unforgettable – where you’ll step into the smoky underworld to encounter some of Birmingham’s most notorious gangs.
For a slower pace (and lighter tone), there are other places of note in the area. The Red House Glass Cone and the canal network featured on the popular 90s children’s show Rosie & Jim, and Dudley Zoo & Castle has featured on a variety of small screen series over the years.
Location: Stratford-upon-Avon
When you visit Stratford-upon-Avon, you can immerse yourself in the life of William Shakespeare, whose plays have been adapted into hit movies and TV shows for decades.
Key places to visit include Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre where you can experience his family life and see famous actors and actresses treading the boards.
During your visit, if you’re a fan of the BBC TV mystery series Shakespeare and Hathaway, keep an eye out across the town for lots of locations from the show.
Location: Warwick & Leamington Spa
Warwick Castle has been the star of many shows, but it’s the tales of betrayal, bloodshed, and murder that you’ll hear there that’ll beat the drama of any movie.
With live action performances, special events and kid friendly attractions, there is so much to see and do at the Castle – you can even spend the night there in the new Warwick Castle Hotel or Knight’s Village Glamping!
Just up the road from Warwick is Leamington Spa, where you can experience the Regency feel of a costume drama thanks to the architecture of the townhouses and the grandeur of the Pump Rooms. The Jephson Gardens are also ideal for a promenade as per the Regency era (chaperone not required!).
View an interactive version of the West Midlands Guide to Filming Locations here
