Where was Slow Horses filmed? Discover the filming locations in London, Istanbul, and rural France behind MI5’s misfits, murky conspiracies, and spy games.
London has plenty of spies, but apparently MI5 has a special department for the ones who keep making a mess of things.
Welcome to Slow Horses, the darkly funny espionage series starring Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb, the spectacularly foul-mouthed boss of Slough House, MI5’s dumping ground for disgraced agents.
Based on Mick Herron’s Slough House novels, the series follows Jackson Lamb and MI5’s most dysfunctional rejects as they stumble into kidnappings, Russian sleeper agents, betrayals, and conspiracies that make their original blunders look adorable.
Jack Lowden plays ambitious agent River Cartwright, while Kristin Scott Thomas is the formidable Diana Taverner, a senior MI5 official with her own ideas about damage control.
Since its 2022 debut, the show has served up razor-sharp writing, toxic office politics, and spycraft gone spectacularly wrong. The agents may be MI5’s worst advertisement, but the filming locations are worth investigating.
Table of Contents
🕵 Where is Slow Horses Filmed?
Slow Horses is filmed primarily in London and across England, with additional locations in Istanbul and rural France. The series combines real streets, markets, and historic buildings with studio sets and visual effects to bring its fictional spy world to life.
🏙️ England – London’s Spy Headquarters
London is practically a character in Slow Horses. Its grimy streets, imposing office buildings, busy markets, and anonymous alleyways give the series its distinctive atmosphere.
The production returns to familiar locations across the seasons, particularly around Barbican, while venturing into the surrounding countryside whenever the plot requires a change of scenery.
Season 1 introduces the shabby Slough House headquarters and the elegant MI5 establishment known as The Park. Season 2 expands into Kent and the Cotswolds, while Season 3 makes use of central London streets and canals.
Season 4 brings shopping-centre chaos and canal-side action, and Season 5 showcases even more of the capital. Season 6 also extends the action into Suffolk.
Book a tour:
- London: Slow Horses Filming Locations Walking Tour
- Reel London: Film Locations & Insider Stories
- London: James Bond & Spies Guided Walking Tour
- London: James Bond Shooting Locations Tour by Black Taxi
What was filmed here:
- 129 Aldersgate, Barbican, London: Slough House HQ exterior.
- St John’s Street, London: Slough House rear alleyway & fire escape.
- Vecchio Parioli, London: Restaurant beneath Slough House office in Season 4.
- 50 Long Lane, London: Roddy tracks the Dogs in the Season 1 finale.
- Middle Street & Easy Passage, London: Season 3 Tiger Team chase.
- Goswell Road, Clerkenwell, London: Stand where Jackson Lamb stands.
- Fann Street Laundrette, City of London: Real-life MI5 meetings.
- Beppe’s Café, London: Lamb grabs breakfast in Season 5.
- St Michael’s Cornhill, City of London: Lamb‘s meeting with Ingrid Tearney.
- Royal Exchange, City of London: Featured throughout the series.
- Golden Lane Estate, London: Roddy Ho’s Season 5 commute.
- Bunhill Fields Burial Ground, London: Emergency meeting at Blake’s grave.
- Regent’s Canal, London: Season 3 canal-side scenes.
- Middlesex Street, Petticoat Lane, London: Roddy Ho’s residence & street.
- Leather Lane Market, Farringdon, London: Season 4 explosion.
- Primrose Hill, London: Claude Whelan’s Season 5 jogging scenes.
- Endsleigh Place, Bloomsbury, London: Season 5 car explosion.
- City Hall, Royal Docks, London: Season 5 mayor’s office scenes.
- Holland Park Mews, London: Season 5 Gimball residence.
- Barking Riverside, London: Season 6 filming location.
- Askew Road, Hammersmith, London: Season 6 street scenes.
- St Pancras Station, London: Season 4 railway station scenes.
- The Lighterman Pub, King’s Cross, London: Season 4 pub scenes.
- King’s Cross Estate, London: Season 4 action sequences.
- Gresham Street, City of London: Season 4 Flyte-Cartwright fight scene.
- Golden Lane Estate, City of London: Roddy dances his way into danger.
- Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London: The Park’s HQ.
- West Herts College, Watford, Hertfordshire: Season 4 shopping centre.
- Orwell Bridge, Suffolk: Season 6 bridge filming location.
- River Orwell, Suffolk: Season 6 riverside scenes.
- RAF Bentwaters, Suffolk: Season 6 filming area.
- London Stansted Airport, Essex: Season 1 airport pursuit.
- St Frideswide Farm, Water Eaton, Oxfordshire: David Cartwright’s home.
- Cotswolds, Gloucestershire: Season 2 countryside & village backdrops.
- Tunbridge Wells, Kent: Season 2 train and tracking sequences.
What to see & do here:
- Tower of London, London: Explore royal history and Crown Jewels.
- British Museum, London: Discover world-famous historical collections.
- Covent Garden, London: Shop & watch street performers.
- St Paul’s Cathedral, London: Admire the iconic dome.
- Westminster Abbey, London: Visit the royal coronation church.
- Barbican Centre, London: Explore Brutalist architecture.
- St Bartholomew the Great, London: Oldest surviving priory church.
- Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London: Tour the Painted Hall.
- Greenwich Park, London: Enjoy panoramic skyline views.
- Hampton Court Palace, Richmond upon Thames: Tudor palace gardens.
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, Leavesden: Famous film sets.
🚢 Istanbul, Turkey – Season 3’s International Spy Games
Season 3, adapted from Real Tigers, takes the action beyond Britain with an opening storyline set in Istanbul.
The Turkish capital of intrigue brings a different visual energy to the series, with busy waterfronts, historic passageways, and dense urban streets providing the backdrop for a disastrous MI5 operation involving Alison Dunn and Sean Donovan.
The production filmed at real Istanbul locations, including the Bosphorus waterfront and the historic Fatih district giving the opening sequence a convincing sense of place.
Book a tour:
What was filmed here:
Some locations are working buildings or busy public spaces, so check access before visiting, and avoid private or restricted areas.
- Şehir Hatları Ortaköy Ferry Terminal, Istanbul: Alison Dunn’s taxi-boat.
- Büyük Valide Han, Fatih, Istanbul: Tense foot-pursuit.
- Kuledibi Multi-Storey Car Park, Beyoğlu, Istanbul: Parking facility.
- Galatasaray Stadium area, Istanbul: Background city shots.
- Istanbul Old Town: Atmospheric urban establishing shots.
What to see & do here:
- Ortaköy Mosque, Istanbul: Admire the Bosphorus-side mosque.
- Galata Tower, Istanbul: Enjoy panoramic city views.
- Grand Bazaar, Istanbul: Browse famous covered market stalls.
- Hagia Sophia, Istanbul: Discover centuries of architectural history.
- Topkapi Palace, Istanbul: Former residence of the Ottoman sultans.
- Blue Mosque, Istanbul: Admire its beautiful tiles & graceful silhouette.
🌾 Val-d’Oise, France – Season 4’s Eerie Countryside
Season 4 adapts Spook Street, sending River Cartwright beyond Britain to the fictional French town of Lavande, where a trail of clues leads him into increasingly dangerous territory.
Filming took place in Val-d’Oise, northwest of Paris. The village of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte supplies Lavande’s streets and café, bringing a distinctly French setting to River’s latest intelligence nightmare.
The historic 17th-century Domaine de Seraincourt Château doubles as Les Arbres – Frank Harkness’s secluded mercenary compound – with visual effects giving the elegant estate an appropriately neglected, overgrown look.
You can book a stay in the Chambres au Domaine de Seraincourt – renovated guest rooms situated on the estate grounds.
What was filmed here:
- Saint-Clair-sur-Epte, Val-d’Oise: Fictional Lavande exterior scenes.
- Domaine de Seraincourt, Seraincourt, Val-d’Oise: Les Arbres estate.
- Le Saint Clairois, Place Rollon, Saint-Clair-sur-Epte: Le Blanc Russe Café.
What to see & do here:
Explore the villages, châteaux, and countryside of Val-d’Oise, with Monet’s gardens and historic towns within reach.
- Château de Villarceaux, Chaussy: Historic château & gardens.
- Cathédrale Saint-Maclou, Pontoise: Historic Gothic cathedral.
- Loire Valley Chateaux Tours: Fairytale castles, gardens, & rivers.
- Abbaye de Maubuisson, Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône: Historic abbey & art.
- House of Van Gogh, Auvers-sur-Oise: See his stark Room 5.
- Monet’s Water Garden, Giverny, Normandy: Step into his brushstrokes..
- Château de La Roche-Guyon, Île-de-France: Cliffside château & village.
- Palace of Versailles, Île-de-France: Grand royal palace of French monarchs.
- Gardens of Versailles, Île-de-France: Formal French gardens behind palace.
❓ Slow Horses FAQs
From Jackson Lamb’s management style to real filming locations, here’s the lowdown on Slow Horses and its gloriously dysfunctional spies.
Is Slow Horses based on a book?
Yes. The series adapts Mick Herron’s Slough House novels, beginning with Slow Horses. Later seasons draw on subsequent books.
Why are they called Slow Horses?
The nickname refers to MI5 agents reassigned to Slough House after career-ending mistakes, where they’re expected to handle dull administrative work.
Who wrote the Slow Horses theme song?
Mick Jagger wrote and recorded “Strange Game” specifically for the series.
Why does Jackson Lamb look so scruffy?
Gary Oldman works with the hair and wardrobe departments to create Lamb’s deliberately unkempt appearance, reflecting his shabby, irreverent personality.
Is Jackson Lamb as active in the books?
Not quite. In Mick Herron’s novels, Lamb relies more on his intelligence and insults than physical action, while the TV adaptation gives him more movement.
Where is the Slow Horses office?
Slough House’s exterior is on Aldersgate Street in London’s Barbican area, with its rear alleyway on St John’s Street. The interiors were recreated on a studio set.
Where is The Park in Slow Horses filmed?
The fictional MI5 headquarters combines the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich with visual effects and constructed sets.
Where was Slow Horses filmed in the Cotswolds?
Season 2’s fictional village of Upshott was filmed in Castle Combe, Wiltshire, where the main street appears in scenes featuring River Cartwright. Other rural filming took place in Stroud, Gloucestershire.
Where was Slow Horses Season 2 filmed?
Season 2 filmed in London and Greenwich, with additional scenes around Tunbridge Wells, Kent, and the Cotswolds.
Where was Slow Horses Season 3 filmed?
Season 3 filmed in Istanbul at Ortaköy Ferry Terminal, Büyük Valide Han, and Kuledibi Multi-Storey Car Park, alongside recurring London locations.
Where was Slow Horses Season 4 filmed?
Season 4 used London locations including Leather Lane Market, St Pancras Station, and King’s Cross, plus Saint-Clair-sur-Epte and Domaine de Seraincourt in France.
Where was Slow Horses Season 5 filmed?
Season 5 featured Golden Lane Estate, Primrose Hill, Endsleigh Place, City Hall in the Royal Docks, and Holland Park Mews in London.
Where was Slow Horses Season 5, Episode 2 filmed?
Episode 2 features Petticoat Lane, including Middlesex Street & Wentworth Street, plus chase scenes around the Westway and Pedley Street.
Where was Slow Horses Season 6 filmed?
Reported locations include Barking Riverside, Hammersmith, and Suffolk, particularly the Orwell Bridge and River Orwell area.
Who’s in the cast of Slow Horses?
- Gary Oldman: Jackson Lamb
- Jack Lowden: River Cartwright
- Kristin Scott Thomas: Diana Taverner
- Saskia Reeves: Catherine Standish
- Rosalind Eleazar: Louisa Guy
- Christopher Chung: Roddy Ho
- Aimee-Ffion Edwards: Shirley Dander
- Kadiff Kirwan: Marcus Longridge
- Jonathan Pryce: David Cartwright
- Ruth Bradley: Emma Flyte
- James Callis: Claude Whelan
- Tom Brooke: J.K. Coe
- Kyle Soller: Jim (GRU assassin)
- MyAnna Buring: Jane (GRU assassin)
How did Slow Horses keep its seasons coming so quickly?
Apple TV+ commissioned seasons in pairs, allowing production to film them back-to-back and shorten the gaps between instalments.
What are some other films like Slow Horses?
- The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965): Cold War double-crosses.
- The Amateur (1981 & 2025): CIA cryptographer seeks revenge.
- Mission: Impossible (1996-present): Impossible missions, agency betrayals.
- James Bond films: International intrigue and high-stakes espionage.
- Spooks/MI-5 (2002): British intelligence & national security.
- Jason Bourne movies (2002-2016): Rogue agent uncovers deadly conspiracies.
- The Recruit (2003): CIA agent investigates agency mole.
- Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011): Mole hunts, Cold War betrayals.
- Homeland (2011): CIA investigations, terrorist threats.
- The Americans (2013): Soviet spies living undercover.
- Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014): Spy recruits save world.
- The Night Manager (2016): Undercover espionage & arms dealing.
- A Most Wanted Man (2014): Intelligence agencies pursue a suspect.
- Bodyguard (2018): Political conspiracies & security threats.
- Killing Eve (2018): Assassins & darkly comic cat-and-mouse.
📺 Where to Watch Slow Horses
Where is Slow Horses streaming? You can find this darkly comic British spy thriller on Prime Video with an Apple TV+ subscription.
- ➡️ Watch Slow Horses on Prime Video
- ➡️ Watch Slow Horses on Apple TV+
From London‘s shabby spy headquarters to Istanbul‘s historic streets and France‘s unsettling countryside, Slow Horses proves that spycraft isn’t all martinis and Aston Martins – sometimes it’s a spectacular career meltdown and a desk at Slough House.
Disclaimer: This fan-created article is for entertainment purposes only. We do not guarantee the accuracy of its information or recommend relying on it for important decisions. All referenced titles, names, and intellectual property belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended.
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