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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Travel
Julie Delahaye

Where was Spooks filmed? London locations including the spot used for Thames House

Spooks is back on our screens as the BBC shared the entire boxset as part of an effort to provide entertainment while we're all staying home during the coronavirus lockdown.

It's a serious dose of nostalgia for some - and a chance to finally watch the show for others.

The gripping drama, which stars Peter Firth, follows the work of a MI5 officers at the service's Thames House headquarters in their secure offices known as 'The Grid'.

Some filming took place at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, but the series was predominantly filmed on location in London.

Although the show is set in Thames House, it was actually the Freemasons Hall in central London which provided the MI5 headquarter exteriors during scenes. Some of its interiors were also used - for example, the Library and Museum of Freemasonry.

BBC series Spooks is currently available on iPlayer (BBC)

A BBC 'Spooks Expert' explained that they were unable to film exterior shots at the real Thames House because of "the practicalities of filming". They explained that while Thames House shots have been available for films such as James Bond, "it takes much longer to film a series like [spooks]".

They added: "There was no guarantee that the exteriors would be available for the time period available to the production company."

Throughout the various series, iconic London landmarks and neighbourhoods have provided the backdrops for all of the action.

For example, Waterloo Bridge and the National Theatre provided the setting for the episode where agents negotiate with a sniper, while Westminster Bridge is where you'll find the bench where Harry and Ruth meet to talk.

The Millennium Bridge has also been the setting for a few scenes throughout the series.

Other spots include Canary Wharf and the general Docklands area, the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, and other hotspots including HMS Belfast and London Liverpool Street Station.

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