The film was predominantly shot in the northeast of England, conveying the stark beauty and distinctive character of the region. The series follows a perceptive, somewhat disheveled Detective Chief Inspector who works for the fictional Northumberland and City Police, solving complex murder cases across various landscapes. The show ran for 14 seasons and became one of the longest-running and most beloved British detective dramas. In the last two seasons (13 and 14), real locations in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham, and Teesside were extensively used, turning market towns, coastal villages, historic bridges, and industrial landmarks into fictional crime scenes. The production team made significant efforts to use real locations instead of studio sets, even building fake standing stones on real cliffs for the finale instead of CGI. The heroine's own home is located on the tidal island of Lindisfarne, one of the most atmospheric places on the English coast, giving her personal life a sense of seclusion and beauty.

Filming Locations:

Hexham (fictional town of Bentham)

In the film

Scene where the fictional Bentham is shown: the covered market, narrow streets, a Mexican restaurant, a café, and Vera walking under the arch of an ancient abbey. Also visible is Tyne Green Country Park, and behind it, the recognizable stone bridge.

In reality

The scene was filmed in the historic market town of Northumberland, which became the fictional Bentham in season 13. Here you can see the medieval Hexham Abbey in the background, the Shambles covered market built in 1766, where scenes at a vegetable stall were filmed, and the narrow ancient street St Mary's Chare at Market Place. The Tannery pub played the role of the Old Market Tavern, and in Tyne Green Country Park, the seven-arch Hexham Bridge is visible in the background.

Wylam Railway Bridge (Hagg Bank Bridge)

In the film

Scene where the crime scene is shown on this historic cast-iron bridge. In the wide shot, the nearby Wylam Train Station and another bridge over the Tyne, about a mile away, are also visible.

In reality

The scene was filmed at a railway bridge built in 1876 that connected Wylam to Newcastle. In 1975 it was converted into a pedestrian bridge. It is a notable architectural landmark in Northumberland, crossing the River Tyne in a beautiful stretch of the Tyne Valley. In wide shots, Wylam Train Station and another bridge over the Tyne about a mile upstream from the main location also appear.