Based on the Slough House novel series by Mick Herron, Slow Horses is yet another hit on Apple TV+.
The quick-witted spy drama quickly became one of Apple TV+’s most streamed series and is in its fourth season. Combine the dark humor of Killing Eve with the explosive thrills of Jack Ryan, and you’ll get a sense of what Slow Horses is all about.
And did we mention it stars Gary Oldman, turning in arguably one of his best performances since The Dark Knight trilogy?
Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb in Slow Horses (Season 4, Episode 3). Image Credit: Apple TV+
Where was Slow Horses filmed?
Slow Horses was filmed in England, with London being its primary location in the first season. Later seasons venture out into Oxford and the Cotswolds. You’re in luck if you’re trying to seek as many Slow Horses filming locations in a single vacation: Oxford and the Cotswolds are among the best day trips from London by train.
What part of London is Slow Horses filmed in?
Slow Horses films throughout London, including in the boroughs of Southwark and Islington. Sure, the show gives us the glamor shots of London, as filmmakers in the English capital tend to do, but we will warn you: some of the filming locations for Slow Horses aren’t as spy-sexy as they look on screen. You won’t believe what they use a simple underground car park for.
Is the Glasshouse real?
Nope. The Glasshouse is not a real building in London. As cool as it looks in Season 2 of Slow Horses, it's actually a mix of two buildings. For exterior shots, the Glasshouse in Slow Horses stitches together the Leadenhall Building and the building at 100 Bishopsgate.
What is the village in Slow Horses?
The village in Slow Horses is Upshott, which is set in the Cotswolds. The actual filming took place in Stroud, Gloucestershire, and Castle Combe, all in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (or Cotswolds AONB).
Sunrise over the River Wye in Symonds Yat, Gloucestershire, England. Image Credit: Getty Images, joe daniel price
Is Upshott in the Cotswolds a real place?
No, unfortunately for Slow Horses fans, Upshott is not a real village in the Cotswolds. The real villages throughout this English countryside are splendid all the same, offering a mix of cozy cottages and hotels, Michelin-star restaurants and historic pubs, and, of course, all of the Cotswold cheese you can eat.
Towns like Gloucester are popular for outdoor recreation and the annual Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake. Cheltenham hosts music, literature, and culture festivals throughout the year while Cirencester has Roman ruins and Christmas markets to check out.
What is the park in Slow Horses?
"The Park" in Slow Horses is the MI5 Headquarters. It's fictionally located in The Regent's Park and is tasked with the UK's domestic security. Diana Taverner, played by Kristin Scott Thomas, is the head of MI5.
Is MI5 in Regent’s Park?
MI5 is in Regent’s Park only in fiction, not in real life. Regent’s Park is still worth visiting even if you’re not into espionage. Close to Marylebone train station, Regent’s Park is home to the London Zoo and Queen Mary’s Gardens. It is also close to Madame Tussauds London and The Sherlock Holmes Museum on Baker Street.
Where is MI5 headquarters London?
The MI5 headquarters in London is Thames House. It’s located at 12 Millbank in London, on the west side of the Thames River near Lambeth Bridge. The MI5 headquarters is only a 10-minute walk south of Westminster Abbey — not that it matters, though. Thames House is not open for tours, but if it were, we could only imagine how cool the gift shop would be.
James Callis as Claude Whelan and Kristin Scott Thomas as Diana Taverner in Slow Horses (Season 2, Episode 1). Image Credit: Apple TV+
Slow Horses seasons 1-4 filming locations
As well as using the sound stages at 3 Mills Studios in London, you can visit many of the filming locations for Slow Horses across London, Oxford, and the Cotswolds.
Handa Walk car park
Closest station: Highbury & Islington
And if you thought 126 Aldersgate Street was less-than-stellar, just wait until you check out Handa Walk underground car park. Yes, it is a legitimate parking lot in real life; the set designers dressed it up with a glass wall and lighting rigs to create a subterranean headquarters.
Cambridge train station
Closest station: Cambridge
We always love it when an English train station gets a feature… even if said train station is masquerading as another. Cambridge’s train station was labeled as High Wycombe station.
Dustin Demri-Burns as Min Harper and Rosalind Eleazar as Louisa Guy in Slow Horses (Season 2, Episode 1). Image Credit: Apple TV+
The Slough House at 126 Aldersgate Street
Closest station: Barbican
From the outside, 126 Aldersgate Street seems like a rather unnoteworthy filming location — but perhaps that’s the point. This address is the face of Slough House. Interior scenes were filmed at OMA X Film Studios.
Stroud as the village of Upshott
Closest station: Stroud
When Slow Horses ventures out of London for season two, they head to Upshott. Sadly, this village is the stuff of fiction; Stroud stood in for many of the scenes.
London Stansted Airport
Closest station: Stansted Airport
A fun nod to the series for any travelers arriving at London Stansted Airport, Slow Horses used the airport as a filming location during a chase in the first season. Need a lift from there to London city center? The Stansted Express has you covered.
Leather Lane Market
Closest station: Farringdon
Season 4 of Slow Horses starts with a bang. The explosion was set at a chicken shop in London’s Leather Lane Market.
Petticoat Lane Market
Closest station: Aldgate
Another London market hit the screen as Petticoat Lane Market acts as the backdrop for a chase scene.
Jack Lowden as River Cartwright and Rosalind Eleazar as Louisa Guy in Slow Horses (Season 4, Episode 1). Image Credit: Apple TV+
The Shaftesbury Tavern
Closest station: Crouch Hill
In Season 4, Louisa and River meet up for a pint in The Shaftesbury Tavern. This restored Victorian haunt features classic pub grub and traditional Sunday roasts.
🚂 Trainline Trivia: Banksy’s Tree Mural is a 10 minute walk south down the A103!
The Langham Hotel
Closest station: Oxford Circus
Slow Horses Season 4 brings one of London’s best 5 star hotels into the mix. A few swanky suites on the higher floors of The Langham were used for Episode 4.
Gresham Street
Closest station: St. Paul’s
Production teams crashed onto London’s Gresham Street to film Episode 5’s ambush scene.
Regent’s Park
Closest station: Baker Street
In Slow Horses, The Regent’s Park is the location for the MI5 headquarters. Called “The Park”, parts of the set were also filmed at Greenwich’s Old Naval College while exterior shots CGI’ed the building into the northern side of The Regent’s Park.
The Lighterman
Closest station: King’s Cross
King’s Cross and St Pancras International are featured in Season 4 and nearby Granary Square plays a key role in Episode 6. The Lighterman is a pub right on Regent’s Canal that set the scene for Season 4’s final showdown.
Jack Lowden as River Cartwright in Slow Horses (Season 2, Episode 3). Image Credit: Apple TV+
Slow Horses: what to know about the Apple TV+ show
Everything you need to know about Slow Horses, the hit Apple TV+ show.
What is Slow Horses about?
Slow Horses is a sharp-tongued thriller on Apple TV+ starring Gary Oldman and Jack Lowden. The two are members of MI5 — the British intelligence service — who have made mistakes in the field and are now relegated to a departmental dumping ground called Slough House. When a man is kidnapped and threatened with beheading on the internet, the group sees an opportunity to redeem themselves, among other selfish agendas.
Who is in the cast of Slow Horses?
Slow Horses stars Gary Oldman (Harry Potter, Bram Stoker’s Dracula) who plays a bitter, often intoxicated, disgraced MI5 agent who berates his team with a grasp of the English language that’s as hurtful as it is hilarious. Slow Horses also stars Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas (Fleabag), Rosalind Eleazar, Saskia Reeves (Luther), Christopher Chung, Aimee-Ffion Edwards (Peaky Blinders), Kadiff Kirwan (My Policeman), and Jonathan Pryce (The Crown).
How many seasons are planned for Slow Horses?
Slow Horses has only been renewed for a fifth season; but since Season 4 was just released in September of 2024, we’ll assume that a sixth season will get the greenlight, too. Slow Horses is one of Apple TV+’s most popular shows and the writers have plenty of source material to draw from.
Rosalind Eleazar as Louisa Guy and Dustin Demri-Burns as Min Harper in Slow Horses (Season 2, Episode 1). Image Credit: Apple TV+
How many episodes will there be in Slow Horses season 4?
Season 4 of Slow Horses has six episodes. Every other season of Slow Horses thus far has had six episodes as well, so we don't suspect they will increase that count unless they've got an especially layered story to tell.
When is the Slow Horses Season 5 release date?
Season 5 of Slow Horses does not have a release date, but is expected to drop on Apple TV+ in late 2025. Season 1 debuted in spring of 2022, followed by Season 2 in fall of the same year. Seasons 3 and 4 were also released in the fall (2023 and 2024 respectively), which makes us think Season 5 may come out between September and November of 2025.
Is Slow Horses based on a book?
Yes, Slow Horses on Apple TV+ is based on The Slough House novels written by Mick Herron. The first book is called Slow Horses. Additional books in the series include: Dead Lions, Real Tigers, Spook Street, London Rules, Joe Country, Slough House, and Bad Actors. Herron also wrote a series of novellas in the Slough House universe called Standing By The Wall, The List, The Marylebone Drop, and The Catch.
Is there such a thing as Slow Horses in MI5?
In real life, the MI5 — aka the Security Service — does not have a Slough House and any "slow horses" are likely assigned to administrative duties or removed from the service for any acts of incompetence.
What is Slow Horses slang for?
The term "Slow Horses" is slang for past their prime and failed MI5 agents who've been relegated to the dumping ground that is the Slough House.
Watch the trailer for Slow Horses
Download the Trainline app: it’s a clandestine way to purchase the most affordable train tickets available on a whim. Our app doesn’t limit you to London, either; purchase train tickets to visit other filming locations for shows like Slow Horses across England and beyond, including:
Kristin Scott Thomas as Diana Taverner and Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb in Slow Horses (Season 1, Episode 6). Header Image Credit: Apple TV+