Where was Blue Lights season 3 filmed?

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Season 3 of Blue Lights is finally here, bringing viewers back to the challenging streets of Belfast after a short break since the last season.

This season promises to be even more challenging than before. Our newer team members – Grace (Siân Brooke), Tommy (Nathan Braniff), and Annie (Katherine Devlin) – have gained experience and are now facing increased pressure from every aspect of their work.

This third season introduces both continuing and fresh narratives, and explores the connection between legitimate businesses, criminal organizations, and the influence of international drug cartels in Belfast. It shows how paramilitary groups are often controlled by these gangs, who use Northern Ireland as a transit point for large-scale drug trafficking.

Belfast is a huge part of what makes Blue Lights so special – it’s as important to the show as the actors themselves! The BBC series was filmed in many local spots around the city. Curious about the exact filming locations? Keep reading to find out everything you need to know.

Where was Blue Lights filmed?

Just like season 1, all of Blue Lights season 2 was filmed in Belfast, Northern Ireland. This time, filming took place in specific locations, including the Monkstown area of Newtownabbey and the Granton Park housing estate.

Season 2 filming also took place in several other locations, including the city centre and High Street, and Dundonald, a town located east of the city.

The people who make the show have repeatedly complimented the team working in Northern Ireland. When asked about changes for season 2, Patterson explained they’ve “taken more risks in how we portray the filming locations… while still keeping the realism and ensuring it feels true to a modern city like Belfast”.

You know, as someone who’s seen a lot of films, I was talking to the director, and he said something that really stuck with me. He explained that some of the footage was tough to present because it forces us to really examine ourselves as a society. And he pointed out that it’s not easy, because there aren’t any simple solutions to the issues they tackle. It’s a film that makes you think, and honestly, that’s what I love about cinema – it doesn’t always give you the answers, but it asks the important questions. You can find more about the film here.

We’re presenting situations without explicitly solving them, and that’s a real challenge creatively. However, if your story has compelling characters, audiences can handle not having every question answered. It’s more important to see how people behave when they’re facing a challenge and trying to figure things out in the moment.

Lawn shared that Belfast plays a more significant role in this series compared to the first one, and that the show captures the entire essence of the city across all episodes.

Patterson explained, “In terms of how the show looks and feels, for the second series we aimed to develop things further and showcase more of Belfast. This wasn’t just about including more scenes of police officers in Belfast, but also featuring independent shots of the city that had relevance to the plot.“

We put a lot of effort into discovering the visual themes of tapestries and blankets, using them to introduce our settings and characters, which helped create a more intense and believable experience. Our goal was to showcase this place we care about, while also acknowledging its ongoing challenges.

Where is Blue Lights set?

Blue Lights takes place entirely in Belfast, and portrays the everyday experiences of officers serving with the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland).

According to co-creator Adam Patterson, the team aimed to produce a series that they could be proud of, that resonated with people in Northern Ireland, and accurately portrayed the place they all cherish. He noted that they put a significant amount of personal effort into the first season.

As a film enthusiast, I was really intrigued to hear what co-creator Declan Lawn had to say. He explained that Blue Lights is deeply rooted in a particular location, but surprisingly, it explores themes that are totally relatable to everyone. He pointed out that we’ve all been the ‘new person’ at some point, felt the weight of pressure, and, in a way, built connections with people who become like a second family. It’s that universal feeling he’s hoping to capture.

This impacts everyone, no matter their background, so that might explain why it connected with so many people.

What year is Blue Lights set in?

Blue Lights is set in contemporary Belfast and chronicles fictional events set in the present day.

Patterson went on to say, “We can’t overlook the continuing danger faced by those who risk their safety to protect our society. It’s truly admirable, and we greatly appreciate the police for their service. Naturally, like any organization, they aren’t perfect and have areas where they can improve.”

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2025-09-29 17:05