Where Was After The Flood Filmed In Uk

So, you’ve just finished binging After the Flood, the ITV thriller that had you shouting at your telly and Googling “flooded streets near me” at 2 AM. You’re now convinced that Joanna Scanlan’s character, a straight-laced cop, is your new best friend. But hold up—where exactly was all that wet, moody drama actually filmed?

Spoiler alert: it wasn’t in some CGI water tank. The show’s creators went full-on British and shot it in a real town that gets rainier than a soggy biscuit. Prepare for a geography lesson that’s actually fun, unlike that time you got lost in the Peak District in the dark.

Welcome to Stockport, the Unsung Star

The primary filming location is Stockport, a town just southeast of Manchester that normally minds its own business. It’s famous for a viaduct that looks like something a Roman emperor would build if he’d also invented train delays. After the Flood turned this perfectly pleasant place into a cinematic swamp.

They shot in the St. Petersgate area, among other spots, and the production team basically said, “Let’s make it rain for three weeks straight.” And the British weather, being the cooperative diva it is, obliged. You’ll recognize the cobbled streets and the brutalist car parks—they’re the real stars.

The Flood Wasn’t CGI—It Was a Hose

Here’s the shocking truth: those sweeping shots of water gushing through alleys were mostly practical effects. The crew didn’t actually flood Stockport, because that would be bad form. Instead, they used giant water cannons, rain machines, and a lot of industrial-grade hosepipes to drench the set.

If you look closely during the big flood scene, you might spot a crew member in a wetsuit just out of frame, holding a nozzle like a firefighter fighting a particularly aggressive lawn fire. It’s almost as funny as the time someone on set reportedly slipped and shouted, “I’m method acting!”

But Wait, There’s Manchester Too

Stockport isn’t a one-town wonder. The show also filmed extensively in Manchester city centre, because every British thriller needs a rainy backdrop of brutalist architecture and a Greggs bakery. They shot along the Bridgewater Canal and near Deansgate Locks, where the water is suspiciously green.

After the Flood filming locations | Where was the ITV drama filmed

You know that spooky underground parking garage where someone gets chased? That’s the Manchester Arndale car park. Yes, the same place where you once spent forty minutes trying to find your Fiat 500. It’s officially scarier than the flood itself.

Lung the Flood! (That’s a Joke, Sort Of)

A surprising fact: the show didn’t just use exterior shots. Lung, a real-life floating bar and social club on a barge in Stockport, doubles as a key location. In the series, it’s a dodgy hangout where shady deals go down. In real life, you can get a decent pint there while looking at the same canal water.

Imagine ordering a bag of crisps at a place that was once the backdrop for a corpse discovery. It adds a certain je ne sais quoi to your afternoon. The owners must have made a fortune letting the crew hose down their deck every other day.

The Peak District: Where It Gets Wet and Wild

For the more remote, “I’m definitely going to die here” scenes, the production team took a day trip to the Peak District National Park. Specifically, they filmed near Dovestone Reservoir, which is spectacularly bleak in the best way.

That scene where the main character stares into the misty, flooded valley, contemplating her life choices? That’s not acting—that’s just what Dovestone does to a person. The wind there is so fierce it could peel paint off a car. The crew’s coffee cups probably had to be nailed down.

Where ITV After The Flood was filmed - including locations across

Why This Town?

You might wonder: why Stockport? Why not flood London or some glamorous village? Because After the Flood is about working-class grit, relentless rain, and the feeling that your boiler will break at the worst possible moment. Stockport delivers that vibe in spades.

Plus, the local council was reportedly thrilled. They got to say, “Our town looks amazing covered in three inches of water,” which is niche but powerful PR. A local pub even put up a sign: “The Flood: Filmed Here. Also, We’re Still Dry Inside.”

The Verdict: It’s All Wetter Than Your Dog After a Walk

So next time you watch After the Flood, play “Spot the Stockport Landmark.” You’ll see the familiar chip shop, the dodgy bridge, and that one bus shelter where the rain drips in a particularly cinematic way. It’s like a tour of Northern England, but without the hypothermia.

And remember: if you ever visit Stockport, bring an umbrella. Not because it’s going to rain—that’s a given—but because you might accidentally walk onto a set. The crew might still be there, holding a hose, just waiting for a star.

Go on, take a selfie with the wet cobblestones. Your mates will be flooded with jealousy. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)