James Nesbitt is back in action tonight as Bloodlands season 2 reaches BBC One, with the Jed Mercurio-produced drama returning for a second bite of the proverbial cherry.
As much as its easy to get caught up in the drama of Bloodlands, it’s also hard not to wonder where exactly the show is filmed. After all, there are some very eye-catching locations to be seen in the show.
With Bloodlands set in Northern Island, viewers will be able to spot several famous locations in Belfast, including the likes of Queen’s University and Strangford Lough, not to mention Mourne Mountains in County Down.
Nesbitt himself has spoken about the filming locations in Bloodlands, saying last year at the BFI’s Bloodlands Q&A: “To see Strangford Lough and it’s so beautiful there, to be filming down in the Mountains of Mourne, to see in the beginning some of the opening shots, driving through Belfast with that fabulous soundtrack, looking at Harland & Wolff, Tom walking through a busy, a vibrant, youthful, emerging new Northern Ireland – it was very important to me.”
Keep on reading for all the important details on the key locations where Bloodlands is filmed.
Harland & Wolff shipyard, Belfast
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Belfast’s Harland & Wolff shipyard plays a big role in Bloodlands, with the two yellow cranes frequently seen in serial killer Goliath’s calling cards.
Famous for building iconic ships such as the RMS Titanic and the HMS Belfast, Harland & Wolff’s cranes Samson and Goliath have been in operation since the mid-1960s, however the shipyard itself was founded almost 160 years ago.
Strangford Lough
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Filming for Bloodlands took place on an island in the Strangford Lough, specifically the scenes in which police find the bodies of Goliath’s victims.
The Strangford Lough, located in Northern Ireland’s County Down, is the largest inlet in the British Isles and is a popular fishing location.
Speaking at the BFI Q&A, Jed Mercurio said of Strangford Lough: “It’s eerie, it’s austere, it can be beautiful, it can also be somewhere that you would enter with a sense of foreboding so it’s a great backdrop for a thriller.”
Queen’s University, Belfast
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In episode one, we learn that Tom Brannick’s daughter Izzy is studying medicine at Queen’s University – so of course it makes sense for Bloodlands to have filmed at the Belfast-based college.
The university is located in the centre of Belfast, with the series filming outside the institution’s Main Site Tower and inside various lecture halls.
Strangford Harbour
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Bloodlands’ first episode features several shots of Strangford Harbour, where we first see Pat Keenan’s four-by-four being pulled out of the water by police.
Located on the shores of Strangford, a small village in County Down, the harbour boasts stunning views of Ireland’s northeast coast and the nearby sailing area.
Rosemary Street Masonic Hall, Belfast
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As for the police station frequented by Tom Brannick and his team, Bloodlands used a Masonic Hall on Rosemary Street, central Belfast, to recreate the local nick.
Bloodlands season 2 debuts on Sunday at 9.05pm on BBC One. While you’re waiting, take a look at the rest of our Drama coverage, or check out what’s on tonight with our TV guide.