When you think of Hollywood, what comes to mind?
Perhaps glamorous boulevards, celebrity-filled streets and an extravagant display of wealth?
In the UK, a town has been dubbed ‘Hollywood of the North’.
Yet it’s not quite the same as the Los Angeles district frequented by A-listers.
Bolton in Greater Manchester gained the nickname as a result of its beautiful architecture – and the fact it’s been used for filming several TV shows.
Bolton was historically a key centre for cotton spinning during the Industrial Revolution and was once home to more than 200 cotton mills.
Nowadays, though, it’s a modern town known for its Victorian architecture and for being home to Bolton Wanderers football club.
This has been a major appeal for film crews, with teams from Netflix, the BBC and ITV racking up a total of 88 days filming in 2023 alone.
Bolton in Greater Manchester gained the nickname as a result of its beautiful architecture – and the fact it’s been used for filming several TV shows
Bolton was historically a key centre for cotton spinning during the Industrial Revolution and was once home to more than 200 cotton mills
It’s the cobbled streets and grand buildings that lure in TV crews, it seems.
For instance, Le Mans Crescent and the town hall have featured in many TV series over the last few years.
Crews from Netflix, BBC and ITV among others spent 88 days filming in Bolton in 2023 with the town’s use as a drama location has continued this year.
Shows partially filmed in Bolton include Happy Valley, The Reckoning, Gentleman in Moscow, Ridley and Alma’s Not Normal.
Peaky Blinders was also filmed in Bolton.
Le Mans Crescent doubled as London in the acclaimed series.
As such, stars of the show were spotted in Bolton, adding to its Hollywood reputation.
Other dramas using the town as a backdrop include It’s a Sin, Nolly, Brassic, The Ipcress File, The Full Monty and Red Rose.
Le Mans Crescent has featured in many TV series over the last few years
The town hall has also been used in TV series such as A Gentleman in Moscow and Red Rose
Stars such as Cillian Murphy, Ewan McGregor, Adrian Dunbar and Jodie Whittaker have been spotted in Bolton.
Bolton’s curved Le Mans Crescent and the old Magistrates’ Court building was also used as a filming location for court scenes in Coronation Street.
Plus, the Victoria Hall was used for TV series A Gentleman in Moscow.
Bolton town centre also doubles as Moscow Square in the show.
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The unlikely British town dubbed ‘Hollywood of the North’
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