Whether it’s classic British kitchen sink dramas or modern blockbuster epics, Manchester is a popular choice for film crews looking for the right location.
In recent years parts of the city have been used in everything from Captain America: The First Avenger to acclaimed TV drama Peaky Blinders.
But Manchester has a long history of being put on screen, and someone who understands and knows this is Gary Lunt who runs Reel Tours, which offers walking trips around Liverpool pointing out where the city has featured in film.
We teamed up with Gary to go through the decades and find eight times when Manchester was depicted in the cinema, ranging from gritty dramas to historical epics to films telling some of the most iconic stories of the people and places that make the city famous.
We’ve also found an intriguing example of a film about an event in Manchester but which was not actually made in the city. See how many locations you’ve spotted on screen for yourself!
1. A Taste of Honey
The Barton Swing Aqueduct and the canals feature prominently in the 1961 screen version of Shelagh Delaney’s play. Other locations in Salford were used but they have changed massively since the start of the 1960s and now have modern housing. Photo: Google Maps Photo: Google Maps
2. Hobson’s Choice
The 1954 film of Hobson’s Choice featured a number of locations in and around Salford, with Peel Park one of the most prominent places appearing in the film. Photo: Google Maps Photo: Google Maps
3. East is East
This Art Deco building in Ashton under Lyne was used for the cinema scene in East is East, which also filmed at a now-demolished housing estate in Openshaw. Photo: Google Maps Photo: Google Maps
4. Charlie Bubbles
Regent Street in Manchester is one of the locations used in Charlie Bubbles. The film was shot at places in and around the city and Salford, including Piccadilly Gardens. Photo: Google Maps Photo: Google Maps