Bolton is leaning into its ‘Hollywood of the North’ status by launching a series of TV and film walking tours from the end of August, as part of the Town of Culture events programme.
Having recently won the award for Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture 2024, Bolton has run a variety of entertaining arts and culture events around the town, including a Bolton Arts Trail as well as a children’s summer programme filled with free activities taking place around the borough.
The series of TV & film location tours will be offered to the public, allowing TV and film enthusiasts to be taken around key filming spots in Bolton whilst a dedicated tour guide provides fascinating insight on where all the hit shows and films have been shot.
Leading the tours is local historian and professional tour guide, Suzanne Hindle.
She said: “The tour offers unique access to areas usually inaccessible to the public, uncovering film location smoke and mirrors with opportunity to get your TV and film buff thrill as you tread in the footsteps of Thomas Shelby, Alma Nuttall, Sgt Catherine Cawood, and even Rocky Balboa.”
The behind-the-scenes tour will feature the town’s famous filming spots that include Le Mans Crescent and the Magistrates’ Court, thanks to their step-back-in-time architecture and scenery.
These locations as well as other spots around Bolton have been used by the TV and film industry in productions such as Peaky Blinders, A Gentleman in Moscow, Spring and Port Wine, Happy Valley, It’s a Sin, Coronation Street, Alma’s Not Normal, Ridley, and Phoenix Nights.
During the tour, visitors will get to explore the court room, cells and Crescent corridors whilst hearing tales of how the industry adapt locations to set the scene.
Executive Cabinet Member of Culture, Cllr Nadeem Ayub, said:
“When thinking up special events and offerings to link to our recent Greater Manchester Town of Culture award, it was a perfect opportunity to lean into our reputation as the Hollywood of the North.
“With our recently earned status, thanks to numerous high-profile production companies choosing Bolton as one of their key filming spots, we’re so excited to offer these tours to further educate and draw attention to the impact Bolton really does have on the arts and culture industry.
“So many shows and films have been set here, with Bolton’s streets, town centre, and the famous Le Mans Crescent appearing in world-famous productions.
The Bolton TV & Film Tours dates are as follows:
Friday 30th August 1:30 pm
Friday 13th September 11am and 1:30 pm
Thursday 19th September 11am and 1:30 pm
Friday 27th September 11am and 1:30pm
Saturday 28th September 11am
Thursday 3rd October 6:30pm
Friday 4th October 1:30pm (Wheelchair accessible)
Tours are suitable for ages 16+ and last approximately 90 minutes.
Tours will begin from the Bolton Museum Shop, Bolton Library and Museum, Le Mans Crescent, BL1 1SE.
Spots are free, but booking is required, with each tour having a limit of 20 places.
You can book your spot through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/on-location-bolton-tv-film-tours-3578299
