Where was Patience shot? Revisiting key filming locations of the detective series

If you're watching Patience on Channel 4 or Apple TV+ and find yourself strangely distracted by the backdrop during crime scenes, you're not alone. Between the compelling performances and offbeat cases, the series has subtly positioned the city of York as its silent co-star. Forget generic cityscapes—Patience makes its locations count, using them not just as settings, but as subtle clues to its characters’ psychology and narrative tone.

Starring Ella Maisy Purvis as the brilliantly observant Patience Evans, the show adds a fresh neurodivergent lens to the detective genre. But just as unique as Patience’s mind are the streets she walks—full of gothic arches, cobbled chaos, and atmospheric alleys that turn every corner into a potential plot twist. The filming didn’t just use York—it absorbed it into the story’s DNA.

So where exactly was the show shot? The production took a tour through some of York’s most distinctive and historical nooks and crannies, and we’re breaking down the highlights for anyone ready to retrace the mystery, one landmark at a time.

York’s dramatic stage: Towers, terraces, and timeworn tales

Production of the show took place in spring 2023, and York was front and center. Viewers will recognize York Castle (Clifford’s Tower) almost instantly—its commanding presence made it a natural fit for the show’s murky cases. The series also weaves in glimpses of the iconic Shambles, a narrow, timber-framed street that looks plucked straight from a storybook—or, in this case, a crime novel.

The King’s Staith riverside, Blake Street, and Stonegate add variety to the visual palette, giving scenes a textured realism. Each location choice seems deliberate: charming by day, enigmatic by night. And it’s not just the postcard spots that got screen time. Residential areas like Monkgate Yard and New Walk Terrace offer just enough anonymity to let the show’s more personal subplots breathe, while still keeping the vibe distinctly York.

A touch of Belgium, and a dose of clumsy charm

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While York claims most of the screen, the show also briefly steps into continental territory—some sequences were shot in Antwerp, Belgium. That’s right: fossil-smuggling plots and neurodiverse sleuthing just went international. According to co-star Laura Fraser, the Antwerp shoots were a breath of fresh air, with riverside strolls and Tai Chi on days off adding a strange calm between the stormy plotlines.

Back in York, though, it wasn’t all smooth sailing—or walking. Ella Maisy Purvis admitted she found the city’s cobbled streets a bit treacherous in her loafers. “It felt like walking through a Victorian film,” she said, adding that it also felt like she might fall into a Victorian film at any moment. But that slightly chaotic energy? It mirrors the show perfectly. A little off-kilter, a little unpredictable, and entirely captivating.

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