From gripping police dramas to twisted mysteries and cinematic heists, Northern Ireland has provided the backdrop for some of the most compelling crime stories on screen. Across bustling cities, dramatic coastlines, historic towns and atmospheric landscapes, productions have transformed familiar places into scenes of intrigue, investigation and danger.

From following the officers of BBC’s Blue Lights through Belfast to uncovering dark secrets in Dublin Murders at Tollymore Forest, these locations reveal the real-life settings behind some of television and film’s most captivating crime stories. With Blue Lights returning for a fourth series and Jimmy McGovern’s award-winning BBC drama Time bringing its latest story to Belfast’s historic Crumlin Road Gaol, Northern Ireland’s crime story on screen continues to make its mark.

Start: No Ordinary Heist | Belfast – Donegall Square

Step into the heart of Belfast with No Ordinary Heist, the gripping crime thriller inspired by the infamous 2004 Northern Bank robbery. Starring Eddie Marsan and Éanna Hardwicke, the film follows two bank employees forced into an extraordinary £26.5 million heist when their families are taken hostage. 

Donegall Square West brings the story back to where the real events unfolded, with the former Northern Bank headquarters featuring as a filming location. At the heart of Belfast city centre, the surrounding area is no stranger to crime and police drama, with nearby Belfast City Hall featuring in Line of Duty, Marcella and Dalgliesh.

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Stop 2: The Fall | Belfast – Botanic Gardens 

Step into the dark world of The Fall, the gripping psychological crime thriller starring Gillian Anderson as Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson and Jamie Dornan as serial killer Paul Spector. Filmed extensively across Belfast, the BAFTA nominated series transformed familiar streets and landmarks into the backdrop for an intense game of cat and mouse. 

The beautiful Botanic Gardens provided one of the series’ Belfast locations, offering a striking contrast to its darker storylines. The gardens have also featured in crime dramas Bloodlands and Malpractice, while the surrounding Queen’s Quarter has welcomed The Deceived, Dalgliesh, The Truth Commissioner and A Patch of Fog, making this part of Belfast particularly rich in crime-screen connections. 

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Stop 3: Blue Lights | Belfast – Stormont Parliament Buildings 

Enter the world of BAFTA winning Blue Lights, the acclaimed BBC police drama following rookie officers as they navigate the pressures and dangers of policing Belfast. Starring Siân Brooke, Martin McCann and Katherine Devlin, the series uses locations across the city to create an authentic backdrop for its tense and compelling storylines. 

Among them are the iconic Stormont Parliament Buildings, one of Belfast’s most recognisable landmarks. Its imposing architecture and sweeping estate provide a striking screen setting, while Stormont has also featured in political thriller The Truth Commissioner. Elsewhere in East Belfast, locations have provided the backdrop for crime drama A Patch of Fog, adding another layer to this part of the city’s screen story. 

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Stop 4: The Truth of Murder | Cultra – Ulster Folk Museum 

Uncover a classic murder mystery at the Ulster Folk Museum in Cultra, which provided an atmospheric backdrop for The Truth of Murder. Starring Ruth Bradley as literary detective Agatha Christie, the period crime drama imagines the celebrated author becoming embroiled in a real-life murder investigation, where fact proves every bit as intriguing as fiction. 

With its historic buildings, traditional streets and distinctive period character, the Ulster Folk Museum lends itself naturally to stories from another era. The location has also appeared in crime and mystery drama Dalgliesh and psychological thriller The Secret, adding to its impressive screen credentials. 

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Stop 5: Line of Duty | Bangor 

Follow the investigation to Bangor with Line of Duty, the hugely popular BBC police drama centred on AC-12, the specialist unit tasked with uncovering corruption within the police. Starring Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar, the gripping series became renowned for its twisting investigations, tense interrogations and hunt for ‘bent coppers’. 

Bangor is one of the many Northern Ireland locations that helped bring the world of Line of Duty to the screen. The seaside city has also provided locations for crime and mystery productions including Dublin Murders, The Truth Commissioner, Murder Most Puzzling and The Invisibles, giving this coastal stop an impressive collection of crime credentials. 

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Stop 6: Hope Street | Donaghadee 

Head to Donaghadee, the on-screen home of Hope Street, the popular BBC police drama set in the fictional seaside town of Port Devine. Following the town’s police officers as they investigate local crimes while navigating the relationships, secrets and surprises of life in a close-knit community, the series has made Donaghadee’s picturesque harbour, streets and distinctive lighthouse instantly recognisable to viewers. 

Filming extends beyond the town to nearby Orlock, where the rugged coastline and sweeping views across Belfast Lough help create the wider world of Port Devine, showcasing this beautiful stretch of the County Down coast throughout the series. 

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Mount Stewart

Mount Stewart, located on the shores of Strangford Lough in County Down, is Northern Ireland’s much loved family home…

Mount Stewart

Stop 7: The Woman in the Wall | Portaferry 

Uncover the dark secrets of The Woman in the Wall, the gripping BBC mystery thriller starring Ruth Wilson and Daryl McCormack. The drama follows Lorna Brady as a disturbing discovery in her home leads to questions about her past and an investigation into long-buried secrets connected to Ireland’s Magdalene laundries. 

The atmospheric harbour village of Portaferry provides a striking setting for the unfolding mystery, its coastal streets adding to the drama’s haunting sense of place. This seemingly peaceful corner of County Down has also welcomed crime and mystery productions The Invisibles, Bloodlands and Dublin Murders, giving Portaferry a surprisingly dark collection of screen credentials. 

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Stop 8: Whole Lotta Sole | Downpatrick 

Head south to Downpatrick with Whole Lotta Sole, the crime comedy starring Brendan Fraser, Colm Meaney and Martin McCann. A botched robbery sets off a chaotic chain of events, mixing crime, comedy and unexpected encounters as an increasingly complicated situation spirals out of control. 

Historic Downpatrick provided one of the backdrops for the film and has proved particularly versatile for crime and detective storytelling. The area has also welcomed Ellis, Dalgliesh, A Patch of Fog and Crookhaven, giving this historic County Down town an impressive collection of screen-crime connections.

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Stop 9: Dublin Murders | Tollymore Forest 

Venture into the atmospheric woodland of Tollymore Forest with Dublin Murders, the BBC crime drama inspired by Tana French’s bestselling Dublin Murder Squad novels In the Woods and The Likeness. The series follows detectives Rob Reilly and Cassie Maddox as a murder investigation draws them into a disturbing mystery with connections to the past. 

Tollymore Forest’s ancient woodland and secluded trails provide an appropriately haunting setting for the series. The forest has also featured in psychological thriller The Fall and crime drama Bloodlands, making this beautiful County Down landscape an unexpectedly dark recurring backdrop for some of Northern Ireland’s most gripping screen stories.  

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Stop 10: The Frankenstein Chronicles | Armagh 

Step into the dark world of The Frankenstein Chronicles, the period crime drama starring Sean Bean as Inspector John Marlott. Set in 19th-century London, the series follows Marlott’s investigation into a series of gruesome crimes, blending murder mystery and police investigation with a chilling reimagining of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. 

Armagh’s historic streets and striking Georgian architecture were transformed into period London for the series, with locations including Vicar’s Hill, Armagh Courthouse and Armagh Gaol helping bring its sinister world to life. The city provides a suitably atmospheric setting for one of Northern Ireland’s most distinctive screen investigations. 

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Stop 11: Murder Most Puzzling | Lisburn 

Put your detective skills to the test with Murder Most Puzzling, the mystery drama inspired by Parnell Hall’s bestselling Puzzle Lady novels. Centred around an unconventional amateur sleuth with a talent for solving clues, the series combines murder, mystery and puzzles as seemingly baffling cases begin to unravel. 

Lisburn provides one of the Northern Ireland settings for the production, adding another crime drama to the city’s growing screen story. The area has also welcomed Dalgliesh, the acclaimed detective series based on P.D. James’ novels, strengthening Lisburn’s connection to classic murder mysteries and investigations. 

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Stop 12: Dead and Buried | Derry~Londonderry 

Uncover a story of obsession and revenge in Dead and Buried, the psychological thriller starring Annabel Scholey and Colin Morgan. A chance encounter brings a woman face-to-face with the man responsible for a tragedy in her past, setting in motion a dark chain of events as her determination to uncover the truth begins to consume her. 

Derry~Londonderry provides the backdrop for this tense story, its distinctive streets and cityscape adding a strong sense of place to the unfolding drama. The city also featured in The Truth Commissioner, further connecting it with screen stories exploring crime, investigation, hidden histories and the search for truth.

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Stop 13: Ellis | Gracehill 

Journey to the historic village of Gracehill, which provided a backdrop for Ellis, the gripping detective drama starring Sharon D Clarke as DCI Ellis. The series follows the determined detective as she is brought in to investigate complex cases that have stalled, uncovering secrets and tensions within seemingly ordinary communities. 

Gracehill’s beautifully preserved Georgian streetscape lends a distinctive sense of place to the drama, transforming into the fictional town of Ashenham for the series. Its historic character and atmospheric surroundings provide a fitting backdrop for Ellis, where picturesque settings often conceal much darker stories.

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Stop 14: Aontas | Glenarm 

Continue south to the picturesque coastal village of Glenarm, a key filming location for Aontas, the Irish-language crime drama starring Carrie Crowley, which has been selected as Ireland’s official entry for the International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards in 2027. The tense thriller follows three women whose lives collide during the aftermath of a violent robbery, gradually revealing the events that brought them together and the secrets each is hiding. 

Glenarm’s historic streets and distinctive coastal setting provide an atmospheric backdrop for the unfolding mystery. The village has also featured in detective drama Ellis and futuristic crime thriller Zone 414, showcasing its versatility as a location for very different screen worlds.

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The Steensons

For three decades the Steensons have been hand crafting their distinctive jewellery in the picturesque village of Glenarm…

The Steensons

Stop 15: Dalgliesh | The Gobbins 

Follow another investigation with Dalgliesh, the acclaimed detective drama based on P.D. James’ bestselling novels and starring Bertie Carvel as the enigmatic Detective Chief Inspector Adam Dalgliesh. Combining intricate murder mysteries with atmospheric settings, the series follows Dalgliesh as he unravels complex cases where appearances can be dece iving and secrets rarely stay buried. 

The dramatic County Antrim coastline at The Gobbins provided one of the many Northern Ireland backdrops for the series. With rugged cliffs, crashing waves and spectacular coastal scenery, the location brings a suitably atmospheric edge to Dalgliesh, demonstrating how Northern Ireland’s landscapes can add tension and drama to even the most intricate murder mystery.

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Stop 16: The Secret | Carrickfergus 

Discover the disturbing true story behind The Secret, the gripping crime drama starring James Nesbitt and Genevieve O’Reilly. Based on real events, the series follows a respected dentist and a Sunday school teacher whose secret relationship ultimately becomes entwined with deception and murder. 

Historic Carrickfergus provided one of the backdrops for the drama, its familiar streets taking on a much darker screen identity. The town has also featured in police drama Line of Duty and crime thriller Bloodlands - reinforcing the town’s recurring association with stories of policing, crime and investigation.

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Carrickfergus Castle

Get ready to step back in time at Carrickfergus Castle, an incredible Norman castle nestled in the charming seaside town of…

Carrickfergus Castle

Stop 17: The Deceived | Belfast – Titanic Quarter 

Uncover a web of secrets in The Deceived, the psychological thriller starring Emily Reid, Emmett J. Scanlan and Paul Mescal. The drama follows a young student drawn into a complicated relationship with her lecturer, leading her into a dark story of obsession, deception and mistrust where nothing is quite as it seems. 

Belfast’s Titanic Quarter provided a contemporary backdrop for the twisting drama, its distinctive waterfront and industrial heritage adding to the production’s strong sense of place. The area has also featured extensively in Bloodlands as well as in Blue Lights, bringing another gripping Northern Ireland crime drama to this iconic part of the city.

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Stop 18: Malpractice | Belfast – Cathedral Quarter 

Delve into the tense world of Malpractice, the medical thriller where a routine hospital shift spirals into an investigation with potentially devastating consequences. Combining psychological drama with the intrigue of a criminal investigation, the series follows the search for answers as professional decisions, personal relationships and hidden secrets come under scrutiny. 

Belfast’s atmospheric Cathedral Quarter provided one of the backdrops for the drama. Its distinctive streets are already well accustomed to the screen, with the surrounding area also featuring in The Fall, Line of Duty, Blue Lights, The Deceived and Bloodlands, making it one of Belfast’s richest locations for crime and police drama. 

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Stop 19: Showtrial | Belfast – Custom House Square 

Return to Belfast for Showtrial, the gripping BBC legal crime drama where murder investigations unfold under the intense glare of the courtroom and public opinion. The series explores the twists, competing narratives and questions of truth that surround high-profile criminal cases, with Belfast providing the backdrop for its tense storytelling. 

Custom House Square is among the city locations featured in the production, placing the drama in the heart of Belfast. This landmark location has also appeared in Line of Duty and The Truth Commissioner, giving the historic square strong connections to stories of policing, investigation and political intrigue. 

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Final Stop: Time | Belfast – Crumlin Road Gaol 

There’s only one place to end a journey through Northern Ireland’s world of crime on screen - behind bars. Step inside the world of Time, Jimmy McGovern’s award-winning BBC prison drama, returning for a third series with an all-star cast led by David Tennant and Siobhan Finneran. Set inside a Young Offenders Institution, the new three-part story explores the impact of incarceration as a prison tragedy brings guilt, difficult choices and divided loyalties to the surface. Filmed in Belfast, Series 3 brings the acclaimed drama to Northern Ireland for a new chapter. 

With its atmospheric corridors, cells and imposing Victorian architecture, the former prison has proved a natural location for darker screen stories. Starred Up, Dublin Murders, The Secret and Doing Money have also filmed here, giving the Gaol some serious crime-screen credentials and providing a fitting final destination for a journey that began with a heist. 

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More Screen Tourism Itineraries to Explore

Northern Ireland has provided the backdrop for everything from blockbuster productions and bestselling book adaptations to stories brought to life by some of Ireland's most recognisable actors. If you're looking for more filming locations, behind-the-scenes stories and screen-inspired adventures, these itineraries are a great place to start.