Slow Horses Filming Locations in London
Originally published: 2024 • Last updated: 7 August 2026
My favourite moment of the week comes halfway through my Slow Horses tour. I stop beside an unassuming City alleyway and ask a group of visitors to look at some dustbins. Then I watch their faces light up as they realise they're standing in front of the staircase that leads to Slough House.
Where was Slow Horses filmed?
Slow Horses is an award-winning Apple TV+ spy thriller based on Mick Herron's Slough House novels. Many of its best-known filming locations are in the City of London, where medieval alleys, post-war architecture and quiet back streets provide the perfect backdrop for Jackson Lamb's world.
This guide highlights some of the locations you can visit yourself, along with practical tips and local insight from a City of London guide.
126 Aldersgate
The inspiration behind Slough House – the home of Jackson Lamb’s washed-up spies – is on this unassuming strip of Aldersgate, sandwiched between a newsagent and a cafe. The cafe is given a makeover before filming, turning into the Chinese takeaway where Lamb can be found slurping his noodles.
Barbican Bridge
This bridge links Barbican station with the iconic modernist estate across the road. At the beginning of Series 3, River is sent a picture of Catherine with a gun to her head, and told to be at Barbican Bridge in one minute if he wants to save her. He races to the bridge, only to encounter his old frenemy ‘Spider’ Webb…
Bunhill Fields Burial Ground
The dysfunctional spies assemble around Blake’s grave in Series 1, where Lamb delivers his own brand of ‘motivational’ speech. William Blake is buried in Bunhill Burial Ground, a Nonconformist cemetery and public garden just outside the City. It’s wonderfully atmospheric.
Bank Junction
The protestors converge on The Royal Exchange at the climax of Series 2, before Diana whips Home Secretary Peter Judd away to safety. It’s also near the spot where one of the characters comes to a sticky end in Series 1.
Golden Lane Estate
A stone’s throw from Slough House, this Grade II listed estate is right next to the Barbican, and flats here are just as sought-after as those of its neighbour. You can see the distinctive yellow apartment block in Series 3 of Slow Horses, when Lamb takes a walk through the estate while he takes a phone call.
A Guide’s Note
After leading this tour for nearly three years, it still tickles me that Slow Horses fans travel from all around the world to come to London and look at some dustbins. The books and TV series describe the Slough House neighbourhood as dingy and depressing, and that's often what overseas visitors expect.
I admire their dedication, and it's lovely being able to show them that the area is actually really nice after all.
FAQs
Where was Slow Horses filmed?
Slow Horses was filmed at locations across London and beyond. As well as extensive filming in the City of London, scenes have been shot in Westminster, Southwark, St Pancras and other parts of the capital, as well as in Oxfordshire, Essex, Watford and France. While the series ranges widely, many of its most recognisable locations are in the City of London.
Is Slough House a real building?
Yes, the fictional office is set in a real building – 126 Aldersgate Street. It’s certainly an office but as far as I know, it doesn’t accommodate a bunch of failed MI5 spies.
Where does the Slow Horses walking tour start?
The tour starts outside Greggs on City Road, just outside Old Street tube station.
Will I see every filming location?
Now that we are five seasons in (with Season 6 on the way), there are a lot of locations. So you won’t see every filming location but you’ll see the key locations in the City of London. Some of the other London locations (for example, Granary Square) are too far to walk to, but I can point you in the right direction if you plan on exploring on your own after the tour.
How long does it take to walk between locations?
Some locations are very close together, with just a couple of minutes’ walk between them. In general, the City locations are five to ten minutes apart
The purple door
Here it is – 126 Aldersgate Street. This is the office that inspired the books.
Discover the Slow Horses filming locations on a TV walking tour
Fancy following in the footsteps of Jackson Lamb and co? Book a walking tour of Slow Horses locations here or get in touch to enquire about a private walking tour of Lamb’s little corner of the City.
