Based on the Slough House novel series by Mick Herron, Slow Horses is yet another hit on Apple TV+.
The quick-witted spy drama debuted in 2022 and is already set for at least five seasons. 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?
Image Credit: Apple TV+
Slow Horses: what to know about the Apple TV+ show
Everything you need to know before watching Slow Horses.
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 Slow Horses?
Gary Oldman 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 — isn’t that reason enough to watch? Throw in the rising star of Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Rosalind Eleazar, and you’ve got yourself the caliber of talent enough to handle a tight script that doesn’t bog the series down with dreaded “filler” episodes.
How many seasons of Slow Horses are there?
In January 2024, Apple TV+ announced that Slow Horses has been renewed for a fifth season. Three seasons are already streaming on Apple TV+, and a fourth is currently in production.
Image Credit: Apple TV+
Where was Slow Horses filmed?
Slow Horses is 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.
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, in Gloucestershire, and Castle Combe, in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (or Cotswolds AONB).
Is Upshott 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. Cozy Cotswold hotels, historic pubs, and Double Gloucester cheese await you.
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’s 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.
Image Credit: Apple TV+
Apple TV+’s Slow Horses 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.
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.
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’s.
Stroud
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.
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:
Header Image Credit: Apple TV+