The hit spy thriller Slow Horses has returned to Apple TV+ for its sixth series, and fans can visit the real south London locations that double as the backdrop for MI5's fictional headquarters and other key scenes.
The BAFTA and Emmy-winning drama, starring Sir Gary Oldman as intelligence chief Jackson Lamb and Kristin Scott Thomas as Diana Taverner, is based on the novels by Mick Herron. The new season follows the characters in a high-stakes game of "retaliation and revenge," according to the show's synopsis.
Greenwich locations: The Old Royal Naval College and University of Greenwich
One of the most prolific filming locations for the series is the historic Old Royal Naval College and nearby University of Greenwich buildings. These sites help create "The Park," the fictional headquarters of MI5. Viewers regularly see vehicles approaching the complex via College Way and the Dreadnought Building, with visual effects transforming the historic setting into a high-security intelligence base.
The riverside landmark sits within the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been used for countless films and TV shows, ranging from Marvel productions to Bridgerton. Earlier this year, residents reported seeing production activity around parts of the borough associated with Slow Horses, leading some to believe Greenwich may appear in the newest season.
Elephant and Castle, Waterloo, and South Bank streets
The railway arches of Elephant Road in Elephant and Castle featured in season one during a tense sequence involving River Cartwright. The area's Victorian brick arches, service roads, and gritty industrial backdrop were used for a scene in which a vehicle is stolen before a getaway through Elephant and Castle.
A large number of roads across Southwark and Lambeth were used during filming for the first two seasons. Roads such as Waterloo Road, Stamford Street, Westminster Bridge Road, Walworth Road, New Kent Road, Camberwell New Road, and St George's Road were all used to shoot various scenes. The mix of railway viaducts, Georgian roads, Victorian shopfronts, and modern developments helped create the everyday London landscape that contrasts sharply with the glamorous settings often seen in spy dramas.
Lewisham, Lambeth, and Battersea Park
Filming took place on Halesworth Road, Undercliff Road, and Shell Road in Lewisham during production linked to season four, according to the Lewisham Film Office. The Shard, London's tallest building, also appeared as part of the show's early filming schedule, with scenes in the first two seasons being shot there.
Season five opened with River Cartwright and Louisa Guy sharing a conversation beside the Thames. The scene was filmed on the riverside stretch between Westminster and Lambeth bridges, near the National Covid Memorial Wall on Albert Embankment and Lambeth Palace Road.
The fictional "Regent's Park Zoo" during the series' dramatic bombing storyline took place close to Battersea Park Children's Zoo. Its mature trees, internal roads, and animal facilities helped the production recreate a central London attraction without filming at the real London Zoo.
