Belfast on Film

Did you know Belfast is a popular filming location? We’ve been on TV, Film and even Music Videos! Belfast LOVES a police drama… but don’t worry we won’t list them all, or we’d be here all day.

Starting with an obvious one, but we’d be wrong not to include it! Our most famous feature has to be this blockbusting TV show, filmed in Belfast Studios and across Northern Ireland, Croatia and Iceland this is on of our biggest and finest moments. Filming locations include The Dark Hedges, Tollymore Forest Park and Castleward!

It’s probably our second most well known TV feature and no list would be complete without it. Line of Duty has been running for 6 seasons, with all but the first being filmed here in Northern Ireland.

If you’ve been living in Belfast for a while you may well have accidentally become an extra in this hit show. Pictured here is the The Subway from the Albert Clock at Queen’s Square to High Street!

Other filming locations in the City Centre include the Royal Mail Building, the BT Building and St. Anne’s Cathedral!

This hilarious show was actually written by a QUB alumnus and we couldn’t be prouder. If you haven’t seen Derry Girls yet you’re in for a treat and perhaps you’ll learn a bit about our history too.

Belfast filming locations include: Smithfield Market, Parish Church of St George, St Mary’s University College and Hunterhouse College!

It was quite the cultural reset when Rihanna came all the way to Bangor to film the We Found Love music video and she was promptly scolded by the farmer for her lack of clothing.

Look fimilar? Chances are you walk past this all the time on your way to the McClay!

Filmed quite literally on our doorstep in Botanic Gardens, you have the thrilling show The Fall, following Jamie Dornan as he kills his way around Belfast.

This film is coming out this year and Belfast was in absolute chaos hearing Kevin Hart was coming to stay. He even performed a few comedy shows while he was here!

Here’s Kevin filming in one of Belfast’s most famous bars, The Crown Bar in the City Centre! He could also been seen at Ward Park in Bangor where filming also took place!

If your a fan of Normal People then you might be interested in Paul Mescal’s upcoming show, The Deceived (he’s not pictured but we promise he’s in it!).

Much of the show takes place in Cambridge University, where the main character, Ophelia, is a student reading English.

For some shots of the university, Queen’s University and Campbell College in Belfast doubled for Cambridge University.

Remember when Taylor Swift kept randomly popping up around Belfast? That’s because her boyfriend, Joe Alwyn was in town filming Conversations with Friends!

Queen’s University, independent bookshop on Botanic No Alibis and the Lyric Theatre feature in this show as stand ins for Dublin locations.

One of Netflix’s newer films, The School For Good And Evil, used Belfast as a backdrop, including St Anne’s Cathedral, The Clandeboye Estate and Carrickfergus amongst other Northern Irish spots.

This one’s a bit of a throwback but if you watched CBBC back in the day you’ll definitely have watched Dani’s Castle at somepoint. She inherited Killyleigh Castle and chaos ensued.

Killing Bono follows two brothers who attempt to become rock stars but can only look on as their secondary school friends form U2 and become one of the biggest bands in the world..

We’re really proud of this one… because they actually used Mandela Hall in the old Students’ Union building to film!

If you’ve been to the Empire or Limelight for a night out or to catch a gig- you’ve also stepped foot on a previous film set!

Does this backdrop look familiar to you?

This is another one you may well have starred in. This is police drama Bloodlands, starring quite the familiar face, of Jimmy Nesbitt, if you live in Belfast.

You’re probably thinking, well what about Belfast? Interestingly this award-winning film wasn’t actually filmed here at all. Covid restrictions and the modernisation of Belfast meant it was almost completely filmed on closed sets in London.