Lisa McGee’s How to Get To Heaven From Belfast may begin with a wake, but the series quickly turns into a road trip across Ireland and beyond. The show follows three women retracing old memories while chasing the truth about a missing friend, and the locations do a lot of storytelling on their own. Instead of staying in one city, the production moved across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and even parts of London and Malta. From coastal villages to isolated hills and city landmarks, the series uses real places to give the mystery a grounded, lived in feel.
Carnlough in County Antrim Used as the Fictional Wake Town
The seaside village of Carnlough on the Antrim coast stands in for the fictional town where the women gather for the wake. Many early scenes unfold here, including their stay at the local hotel and the first stage of their investigation.
The Harbourview Hotel in Carnlough is used as the central base for these scenes. Its position right on the water gives the opening episodes a quiet but slightly uneasy mood, which fits the story’s shift from reunion to suspicion.
Belfast City Filming Locations Including Pubs, Hotels, and Theatre Scenes
Belfast appears throughout the series and serves as the emotional starting point of the story. Several scenes showing the friends reconnecting, going out, and moving between leads were filmed here.
Landmarks used include the Duke of York pub and parts of the Titanic Quarter. Club scenes were shot at Dockers Club, while the Grand Central Hotel appears in interior sequences tied to Saoirse’s professional life.
The Lyric Theatre was also used for staged event scenes, doubling for awards settings.
London South Bank Used for Saoirse’s TV Career Sequences
Only a small portion of filming took place in London, mostly exterior scenes connected to Saoirse’s television career. These moments were shot along the South Bank to establish her work life outside Ireland.
Interior scenes linked to those London moments were filmed back in Belfast rather than on location, allowing the production to keep most work close to home.
Murlough Bay on the Antrim Coast Used for Early Confrontation Scenes
Murlough Bay on the north coast appears in one of the show’s early confrontation scenes. The steep cliffs and open coastal road create a tense setting for the women’s first serious brush with danger.
The landscape here is dramatic but not overly polished, which suits the show’s tone of ordinary people pulled into something darker than expected.
Donegal Landscapes Used for Road Trip and Travel Sequences
Although the fictional town in the series is meant to sit in Donegal, filming there focuses mainly on wider landscape shots. Rolling hills, isolated roads, and exposed coastal stretches help give the story a sense of distance from city life.
These locations appear in travel sequences as the characters move deeper into their investigation.
County Louth Motel Location Used for the Roadside Thriller Episode
A disused hotel in County Louth was transformed into the unsettling roadside motel seen in later episodes. The building’s remote feel helped create the uneasy atmosphere needed for those scenes.
Since Ireland has few places that match the look of American roadside motels, this location was heavily dressed to achieve that effect.
Malta Resorts Used to Double for Southern European Holiday Scenes
Some scenes set in a southern European resort were filmed in Malta rather than Portugal. Hotels including The Westin Dragonara and Salini Resort were used for these sequences.
The warmer climate and coastal views contrast sharply with the grey Irish landscapes, visually marking a turning point in the investigation.
Galboly Village in the Antrim Hills Used for the Final Episode Showdown
The remote stone settlement of Galboly in the Antrim Hills serves as the setting for the final episode’s confrontation. Its isolation, old stone houses, and wide open surroundings make it ideal for a climactic location.
The site has appeared in other major productions before, and its rugged setting gives the ending a strong visual identity.
Dublin Filming Locations Used for Airport and TV Studio Scenes
Dublin appears briefly in scenes involving television production and travel sequences. Airport scenes meant to represent both Belfast and Dublin were filmed here.
RTÉ’s Television Centre is also used for scenes connected to Saoirse’s on air appearance.
St John’s Point Lighthouse Used as the Secluded Hideout
The lighthouse at St John’s Point in County Down is used as a secluded hideout in the series. Its position on a narrow stretch of land surrounded by sea gives the location a sense of confinement and distance.
Nearby cottages also appear, reinforcing the feeling that this is a place cut off from everything else.
Clandeboye Estate Woodland Used for the Cabin Fire Flashback
Flashback scenes involving a burning cabin were filmed within woodland on the Clandeboye Estate. A full cabin structure was built for the shoot and burned during night filming.
The dense forest setting helps link the present day mystery to the characters’ past.
FAQ
Where was How to Get To Heaven From Belfast mainly filmed?
Most filming took place across Northern Ireland, especially County Antrim and Belfast, with additional shoots in the Republic of Ireland, London, and Malta.
Was the show actually filmed in Belfast?
Yes. Many key scenes, including pubs, streets, and event interiors, were filmed in Belfast.
Where is the fictional town in the series supposed to be?
In the story the town is placed in Donegal, though filming for it was largely done in Carnlough, County Antrim.
Were the resort scenes filmed in Portugal?
No. Those scenes were filmed in Malta, which doubled for a southern European holiday destination.
Where was the final episode filmed?
The climax was filmed in the remote stone village of Galboly in the Antrim Hills.
Courtesy: TimeOut
