In the footsteps of Jackson Lamb: Discovering Slow Horses filming locations in London

Apple TV+’s Slow Horses quickly became a must-watch for fans of British gritty espionage dramas. The series follows the misfit spies of Slough House, led by the brilliantly disheveled Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman). With its dark humour, sharp writing from Will Smith, and tense storytelling, the show has carved out a unique place in the spy thriller genre—and it has never shied away from using London as a character in the story.

One thing that makes the series so compelling for film tourists like me is its use of the real-world locations across London. From the little tucked-away alleys, iconic tourist spots and grand brutalist structures, the show captures the capital in a way that feels both authentic and atmospheric. Walking through these spots brings a new appreciation for how cleverly the series blends everyday London with the shadowy underworld of espionage.

And with the brand-new season being released today, there’s no better time to revisit these filming locations. I’ve been exploring many of the key spots featured in the first four series, and I’ve even created a custom map to make it easier for you fellow fans and travellers to follow in the footsteps of Jackson Lamb and his team. In this post, I’ll share my experiences visiting these locations and share my photos of where they filmed the scenes.

As you explore the map there are 3 locations outside the main hub of London and then 3 clumps of locations around the city. You can read below about my travels in each one, find the exact address of each location and look at my photos in each area.

Paddington & Marylebone

Exploring the filming locations around Paddington and Marylebone was a real highlight of my London walk. These areas perfectly capture the show’s gritty yet understated spy-world vibe, with their mix of quiet backstreets, old office buildings, and bustling stations. Wandering through Paddington’s hidden corners and Marylebone’s elegant streets, it was easy to imagine the Slough House misfits slipping by unnoticed, blending into the city’s everyday rhythm.

Marylebone Station - S2 E1 Dickie Bow and a mysterious man end a chase in the station

St Mary's church Marylebone - S1 E2 River follows Holden

2 Penfold Place - S2 E2 Min follows the Russians

CWC Paddington Green campus - S1 River visits Spider's office

Embankment & Covent Garden

Visiting the filming spots around Embankment and Covent Garden offered a completely different atmosphere, blending the more iconic London landmarks with the show’s darker espionage edge. From the Thames-side views near Embankment to the lively yet historic streets of Covent Garden, these locations bring out the contrast between London’s bustling heart and the shadowy spy world the series portrays. Walking through them, I could see exactly why the show chose these backdrops—they feel both familiar and full of intrigue.

Cortinthia Hotel - S2E3 Louisa arrives at the Ambassador hotel

Royal Horseguards Hotel - S2E5 Duff is picked up at a restaurant

Freemasons Hall exterior - S4E4 Standish & Chapman enter the Orianne Hotel

Wild Court - S4E4 Chapman follows the suspect on foot

Barbican & City of London

The Barbican and the City of London provided some of the most striking filming locations I visited. With their blend of stark modern architecture, hidden walkways, and glass-fronted corporate towers, these areas perfectly echo the cold, bureaucratic side of the spy world. Walking through the Barbican’s concrete maze and the City’s financial district, it was easy to picture high-stakes meetings and covert operations unfolding right in the middle of London’s daily rush.

St Michael's Cornhill - S2 E6 The group gather at the church in memory of Min

Cornhill - S2 E5 Protest scene

22 Gresham street - S4 E5 Dogs car is hit by a rubbish truck

2 Goswell Road - S3E1 Lamb eats a kebab in the street

50-52 Long Lane - S1E5 The group hide out in the Smithfield cafe

134 Aldersgate Street - S3E2 Spider & River meet on the bridge

And in this section of the walk you can also find yourself at Slough House! You can find the main street entrance at 126 Aldersgate street and then the back alley entrance at 16 St John Street.

Old Royal Naval College

The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich is always one of the most impressive filming locations each time I visit. Its grand architecture and sweeping courtyards have long been a favourite backdrop for film and TV, and in the series they add a sense of scale and authority to the world of British intelligence. Exploring the grand grounds of the college with vast courtyards, colonnades and perfectly manicured lawns —it brings a cinematic weight that perfectly contrasts with the scruffier corners of Slough House.

Southbank

Great Guildford Street on Southbank was a fascinating location to track down. Tucked between warehouses, modern offices, and railway arches, it has the kind of gritty, unpolished character that fits the show’s tone perfectly. Walking along the street, with trains rumbling overhead and the mix of old and new architecture around me, I could easily imagine the tense scenes that played out here with Standish in series 3.

Watford

Visiting West Herts College in Watford gave a completely different feel from the central London locations. Used as the big shopping centre 'Westacres' the building was cleverly transformed with banners, Christmas decorations and plenty of extras for an explosive scene. Seeing it in person, away from the bustle of the city, highlighted how the show cleverly transforms an ordinary college building into the perfect location for the secretive world of MI5’s misfit spies.

Visiting the filming locations of Slow Horses has been a brilliant way to experience London (and beyond) through the lens of one of today’s most gripping spy dramas. From the gritty backstreets of Paddington to the grandeur of Greenwich, each spot brings the series to life in a new way and adds a layer of intrigue to familiar places. With a new season now streaming, it’s the perfect time for fans to dive deeper into the world of Jackson Lamb—not just on screen, but on the streets themselves. And if you’re planning your own spy-themed adventure, my custom map is ready to guide you through every twist and turn.