Apple TV’s spy drama Slow Horses is returning for its sixth season, bringing the gritty world of MI5 rejects back to the screen.. Recent reports have identified several London landmarks used to bring the series' tension to life.
The Aldersgate Street reality of Slough House
The success of Slow Horses relies on its ability to ground high-stakes espionage in a recognizable, lived-in urban environment. This trend of using gritty, real-world locations to heighten the tension of spy thrillers helps audiences connect more deeply with the characters' struggles and the murky undeworld they navigate.
According to a report by The Mail on Sunday, the dilapidated headquarters known as Slough House is actually located on upmarket Aldersgate Street near the Barbican. This setting is situated directly above Vecchio Parioli, an authentic Italian restaurant that frequently appears in the series. it is here that the slovenly Jackson Lamb, played by Gary Oldman, is often seen eating meat-based tagliatelle while being confronted by MI5 security head Emma Flyte.
Beppe's Cafe and the 1932 Smithfield connection
Another frequent setting for the show's characters is Beppe's Cafe, located on West Smithfield. This venue has been owned by the same family since 1932 and maintains its historic charm with green-tiled walls and booth-style seating. The cafe serves as a primary location for Jackson Lamb to fuel up for the day, situated just a short walk from the Slough House office through the Smithfield Rotunda Garden.
CGI-enhanced landscapes from Greenwich to Regent's Park
While the agents' headquarters is a real building, the high-tech MI5 citadel known as "The Park" is a fictional construct. The production team uses computer-generated imagery to place this imaginary building within Regent's Park, even though the area actually contains a running track. To create the visual identity of this intelligence hub, the crew filmed at the Old Royal Naval College and the campus of Greenwich University.
The Dreadnought Building at Greenwich University serves as a key backdrop when Jackson Lamb walks through the college greens. however, the production often layers CGI modern buildings behind these historic structures to achieve a heightened, cinematic feel. Interestingly, the actual entrance used to represent the MI5 building is the car park at Greenwich University.
The Gate Grill Cafe and the Kew Gardens discrepancy
While the show's settings feel authentic, certain details remain unverified or intentionally altered for the camera. For instance, the "New Empire Cafe" on Aldersgate Street is actually the Gate Grill Cafe, which uses a different sign for filming purposes.. Furthermore, while scenes appear to take place within Regent's Park Zoo, an explosion sequence was actually filmed at Kew Gardens, leaving the exact boundaries of the show's "real" London somewhat blurred.
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