Where was 28 Years Later shot? Revisiting key locations of the latest post-apocalyptic horror threequel

The post-apocalyptic horror threequel 28 Years Later has been filmed in the United Kingdom. And within the country, various locations across England were explored.

Helmed by Danny Boyle, this is the third film in the 28 Years Later film franchise. The first film in the franchise was released in 2002, followed by its sequel in 2007.

Released on June 20, 2025, the film is set in the aftermath of the virus outbreak. Set 30 years later, the film follows a community of survivors uncovering more gruesome truths about the pandemic. The film stars Jodie Comer, Alfie Williams, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes and many others.

Its synopsis, as per IMDb, goes as follows:

"A group of survivors of the rage virus live on a small island. When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors."

Let us find out more about the primary filming locations of 28 Years Later.

Key filming locations of 28 Years Later, explored

The filming of 28 Years Later took place last year, in 2024. It took around two months to complete the shooting. It commenced on 7th May and concluded on July 29, 2024.

The cinematography was done by the Academy Award-winning cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle, who has also worked on the original film of the franchise. Interestingly, this film has mostly been filmed using iPhone 15 Max. For the rest of the shots, drones and several other cameras were used as well.

Even though most of the shots were done on the real filming locations, some CGI work was also needed in some particular bird's eye views shot on Holy Island.

1) Cheddar Gorge

This gorge seems like a perfect spot for filming the mysterious and horrifying scenes where people are striving to survive post-pandemic. This location has historical significance too, as the earliest human skeleton of Britain was found in this very location.

This adds more eeriness to the atmosphere, and the film also has the bone temple, which serves as a crucial part of its storyline. So, given its visuals and historical weight, Cheddar Gorge is a good choice of filming location.

2) Sycamore Gap

A still from '28 Years Later' | Image via @YouTube/SonyPicturesEntertainment

The historical 150-year-old tree has been included in the scenes of the film. Unfortunately, the tree was cut down in the year 2023. In the film, the Sycamore Gap tree stands as a symbolic representation of time and survival, since both of these themes play an integral role in the storyline of the franchise as well.

Even though the tree is no longer in existence, this film has thoughtfully memorialized it. However, it is not clear though if this shot was taken when the tree existed or was created through CGI.

3) Kielder Forest, Northumberland

The high-stakes scenes of survivors escaping from one place to another amid the lush green Kielder forest give us give us a true sense of its danger. Situated in Northumberland, England, it serves as the biggest artificial greenwood which encompasses an area of 250 square miles.

The rest of the filming locations of 28 Years Later include: