Where Is “The Bay” Filmed?

Can’t stop binging the latest season of The Bay? Neither can we. But between all the drama, you might wonder – where is The Bay filmed? Season 3 may not have Morven Christie at the helm, but there’s still plenty of crime, drama, and emotional events to keep us all at the edge of our seats. Plus, Marsha Thomason is brilliant in her role as new detective Jenn. Is Morecambe Bay a real place you can visit? That’s what Peerspace is here to clear up. 

Here’s a guide to where The Bay is filmed. And if you need help finding an awesome place to film for your own projects, remember that Peerspace can lend a helping hand. 

Where is The Bay filmed? 

The Bay is an ITV crime drama that takes its name from its setting, Morecambe Bay. Morecambe Bay is a former resort town near Lancaster, England, which was popular among tourists for the first half of the 20th century. During the 1970s, Morecambe fell out of fashion among British tourists, and the town fell into a state of faded grandeur. 

The Bay is the first drama to take place in the Morecambe area. And its originality was precisely why screenwriter Daragh Carville chose it for the setting. “One of the reasons I wanted to write this story and to set it there was just simply because nothing had been set there before,” Carville told Radiotimes. “And I think there’s something really important about seeing your own life represented on screen or on stage.”

The Bay Season 1 filming locations

Each season of The Bay has featured different areas of Morecambe Bay. Season 1 made heavy use of the beach. Morecambe has a five-mile stretch of coastline lined with restaurants and hotels. According to Radiotimes, filming took place near Stone Jetty, which is the only thing left of Morecambe’s original Victorian harbor. 

The karaoke bar, where Lisa and her friends go out, is The Royal Bar. The abandoned arcade, where a construction worker convinced Abbie to have a look around, is also a real spot. “There are existing amusement arcades that are still there,” said Carville. “All of that is very real.”

According to Republic World, the Lido scene was shot at Grange Lido, which has been abandoned since the 1990s. The show also prominently features the Winter Gardens, which first opened its doors in 1897. At the time of writing, the garden is currently closed for renovations with promises to reopen by Easter 2022. The exteriors for the police station were also filmed in Morecambe, while interior scenes were shot at an unused police station in Manchester. 

The Bay Season 2 filming locations 

Season 2 featured a few new filming spots. The showrunners wanted to showcase a different aspect of life in Morecambe. 

“In the first series the family was very much a blue collar working class family and they lived on an estate in town, and this time it’s a more middle class family and a bit more well-to-do,” Carville told Radiotimes. “We’re not talking big money here, but they’re a bit more well-off and they live in… there’s an area of Morecambe called Bare, which is the leafier, more suburban side. So we get to see that.”

Bare is located on the east end of Morecambe’s promenade. It’s home to several boutique stores, restaurants, hotels, and even has a rail station connecting it to Morecambe and Lancaster. 

The Bay season 3 filming locations

Season 3 of The Bay flipped the script over previous seasons. This season features a new protagonist in Jenn, played by Marsha Thomason. This change in the character lineup also prompted a few new filming locations around the Morecambe area. 

According to a local publication, the production secured permission to film at a local landmark for the opening of season 3. The landmark in question is a sculpture that locals call “The Ship”. 

The Ship is a nautical-inspired sculpture originally erected in March 2019. Created by artist Anna Gillespie on behalf of the Morecambe Bay Partnership, The Ship is a celebration of Morecambe Bay’s maritime heritage. You can visit the ship on the beaches at Half Moon Bay. 

According to MSN, the production also stopped over at local Bar 1866 on Queen Street. This provided a few lucky fans the opportunity to watch from the bar’s large windows. 

The show has reinvigorated interest in Morecambe Bay

Remember how we said that Morecambe Bay had lost steam as a tourist destination? Well, The Bay could help bring Morecambe back on the map.

There are several new developments and projects happening around Morecambe, including renovations for popular Morecambe landmarks like the Winter Gardens. LancsLive reported that Morecambe has seen an uptick in tourism, thanks to fans eager to see where The Bay is filmed with their own eyes. 

“We’ve captured a lot of the beauty of the place, while at the same time telling a gritty and sometimes dark, story,” said Carville. “It is a crime drama so there is a dark aspect to this story and we can’t get away from that… But that’s not all it’s about, and we also kind of show the beauty of the place and the richness and warmth of that community. Richness in the sense of a lived history. And I think that’s all there, in the mix.”

Where to find “The Bay” inspired filming locations 

Now that you’ve got answers to the question “Where is The Bay filmed”, let’s talk about where you can find other awesome filming spots throughout the UK.

As the largest online venue marketplace in the world, Peerspace makes it easy to find and book filming locations for productions of any budget. And now that Peerspace is live in the UK, it’s never been easier to find an amazing space. You can filter listings by price, size, amenities, and other features, then book them by the hour for as long as you need. 

Give it a try next time you’re on the lookout for a perfect place to film. You might just find a hidden gem. 

Find unique filming locations on Peerspace