The BBC One series Happy Valley follows veteran police officer Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire) as she deals with the lifelong fallout from her daughter’s death.
The TV show also stars James Norton as a multiple murderer and lifelong criminal Tommy Lee Royce.
Other well-known faces in the series include Siobhán Finneran from Coronation Street, who plays Clare Cartwright.
The series has been hugely popular and has shone a spotlight on the heavily name-dropped areas of Hebden Bridge, Sowerby Bridge and Halifax, as well as locations used in the series throughout Leeds and Bradford.
Happy Valley 3 was largely shot in the Calderdale area of Yorkshire but did venture out into Leeds, Bolton, Bradford and Kirklees areas for some of the other locations.
Calderdale saw filming in Halifax, Hebden Bridge, Mythomolroyd, Luddenden, Ripponden, Sowerby Bridge and Wainstalls.
The following streets, buildings and other locations were used:
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Warley Moor Reservoir
The body of water that Tommy Lee Royce cycles up to in Ep 5 is Warley Moor Reservoir (Yorkshire Water), between Sowerby Bridge and Haworth on Cold Edge Road between Oxenhope and Wainstails.
Warley Moor Reservoir, also known as Fly Flatts Reservoir, is a drinking water reservoir in West Yorkshire, England, owned and operated by Yorkshire Water. Completed in 1872, the reservoir was built by the engineer John Frederick La Trobe Bateman.
Halifax Sailing Club use the reservoir – contact them to find out more about taking part.
Cold Edge Road / Withens Road
This road in Wainstalls up to and past the wind farm was used for a number of car driving and drone scenes in the series.
The Crossroads Inn, Wainstalls
“The cast and crew used our pub as a base whilst filming the latest series. We provided hot soup and drinks as it was so cold during filming. Some afternoons we’d have the actors relaxing and rehearsing lines in the pub between shoots which was very exciting for the staff and customers! [James Norton, Con O’Niel!!]
“**Spoiler Alert ****
“They used our car park to set up their filming ‘rigs’ then went down to a nearby field on Wainstalls lane to film a car chase scene which we believe will be in the final episode. The car was covered in fake blood and was parked in our car park between shoots and caused quite a stir with our customers! We had to reassure people it was all fake and being used for filming as it looked quite realistic and was quite a sight! We are hoping that there is a shot of the pub in the final episode!!!!
“The cast and crew have used the pub as a base for previous series and one of our locals houses was also used as a filming location whilst it was being renovated.”
Jayne Barton, The Crossroads Inn, Wainstalls
Find out more about what it took to film the car chase, from drone operator Phil Fearnley, here.
Regent Street, Hebden Bridge
This holiday let in Regent Street, Hebden Bridge was used by the cast and crew of the Happy Valley for makeup, costume changes and catering. It is located in the same lane as Catharine Cawood’s conservatory featured in the series.
Leeds Railway Station
Leeds Railway Station is used for a number of scenes, including where Ryan spots the henchmen after Tommy’s escape.
Kirkgate Market
Featured in episode 5, Kirkgate Market is the backdrop for Tommy Lee Royce’s dramatic escape, with a brief glimpse of the Vicar Lane entrance as he cycles away past police. Find it yourself at Kirkgate, Leeds LS2 7DJ.
Baitings Reservoir
Bradford saw filming for the drained “Baitings reservoir” – a real reservoir, which hasn’t been drained – using a different disused quarry not open to the public near Denholme.
Thornton, Bradford
Thornton is the birthplace of the Brontes, but also saw filming on Market Street for Happy Valley.
The Piazza Shopping Centre, Huddersfield
Located at: 23 Princess Alexandra Walk, Huddersfield HD1 2RS.
Opening times:
- Monday 8:00 am – 6:30 pm
- Tuesday 8:00 am – 6:30 pm
- Wednesday 8:00 am – 6:30 pm
- Thursday 8:00 am – 6:30 pm
- Friday 8:00 am – 6:30 pm
- Saturday 8:00 am – 6:30 pm
- Sunday 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Greenhead Park, Huddersfield
Located at: Trinity Street, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD1 4DT
Holdsworth House Hotel
A beautiful, listed Jacobean manor Holdsworth House Hotel offers 36 luxury rooms and an award-winning restaurant. Used as the film set for the BBC’s Last Tango in Halifax the historic house is surrounded by lovely mature gardens and hidden terraces, it has free private parking on site and guests get a free welcome drink on arrival.
Booking.com
Holdsworth House Hotel commented:
We have seen a huge amount of interest in our social media posts with regards to the filming of Happy Valley at Holdsworth House Hotel.
Filming
In spring 2022, the crew arrived at Holdsworth House to film a scene for series 3, episode 5, where Richard Cawood goes to meet Darius Knezevic. The location team moved furniture and pictures around, and whilst an actor played the part of the hotel receptionist, our own reception team were hiding behind the reception’s closed door, ready to answer phones in between takes.James Norton was a very popular hotel guest, but he hid his long hair under his beanie hat – now we know why!
Stars who stayed in 2022 for filming
James Norton (Tommy Lee Royce)
Rhys Connah (Ryan Cawood)
Karl Davies (Daniel Cawood)
Derek Riddell (Richard Cawood)
Susan Lynch (Alison Garrs)
George Costigan (Nevison Gallagher)
Amit Shah (Faisal Bhatti)
Charlie Murphy (Ann Gallagher)
Mollie Winnard (Joanna Hepworth)
Rick Warden (Mike Taylor)
Vincent Frankloin (Andy Shepherd)
Greg Kolpakchi (Zeljko Knezevic)
Oliver Huntingdon (Ivan Sertic)
Jack Bandeira (Matja)
Anthony Flanagan (Viktor)
Mete Dursun (PC Gorkem Tekeli)
Sally Wainwright (writer and director)Previous Happy Valley series’ guests:
Sarah Lancashire (Catherine Cawood)
Siobhan Finneran (Clare Cartwright)
Con O’Neill (Neil Ackroyd)
Shirley Henderson (Frances Drummond)
Matthew Lewis (Sean Balmforth)
Amelia Bullmore (Vicky Flemming)
Angela Pleasence (Winnie)Past filming with Sally Wainwright
Sally Wainwright wrote elements of her other hit show, Last Tango in Halifax, with Holdsworth House in mind (where Alan and Celia got married). The influence she has had in the area is phenomenal. Since Last Tango in Halifax and Gentleman Jack, we have welcomed guests from all over the world. We’re hopeful that Happy Valley has the same effect.60th year as an independent family-owned hotel
Holdsworth House Hotel
2023 marks the diamond anniversary of Holdsworth House’s private ownership by the Pearson family. Now a third-generation family business, the hotel continues to be one of the leading hotels and wedding venues in Yorkshire.
D3 Design & Display
Scenes for Happy Valley Series 2 were filmed at D3 Design and Display. The “Nevison Gallagher” factory and boardroom were used by Sally Wainwright, George Costigan and Matthew Lewis.
Fabulous facts & photos. Thank you. Will book to do a tour if available?