Where was Ridley Road filmed? Manchester and Bolton filming locations of BBC drama set in 1960s London

Ridley Road is a market street in Hackney, where riots took place in 1962 as Neo-Nazism re-emerged 
Ridley Road, starring Agnes O’Casey, was filmed in Manchester and BoltonRidley Road, starring Agnes O’Casey, was filmed in Manchester and Bolton
Ridley Road, starring Agnes O’Casey, was filmed in Manchester and Bolton

BBC One’s period-drama Ridley Road begins on 3 October, telling the story of a young couple who join the fight against the far-right during 1960s London.

Based on Jo Bloom’s novel, the storyline is inspired by 62 Group, an anti-fascist group formed in 1962 by Jewish men and women.

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The series was commissioned by the BBC back in 2019 and is expected to be a huge hit with viewers.

So, where was it filmed and which parts of London is it set in? This is what you need to know.

Where was Ridley Road filmed?

The period-drama was filmed in Manchester’s Northern-Quarter in 2020, primarily on Tib Street.

The filming locations were between the city’s Piccadilly and Ancoats, with streets transformed into swinging sixties London using shop signs and vintage props.

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Pictures from Twitter account @TheManc and @NQManchester showed signs for ‘Reed Records’ and even a ‘Nonstop Striptease Live show’.

In Greater Manchester, Stamford Street in Ashton-under-Lyne in Tameside was also used for filming.

Other scenes were reportedly also filmed on Bolton’s Le Mans Crescent and Silverwell Street in November 2020, as sixties-style cars lined the streets.

Camera crews and equipment such as cranes were also pictured outside Bolton town hall.

1960s vinitage cars were parked in Bolton in November 2020 as Ridley Road filmed in streets around the city (Picture: Bolton News)1960s vinitage cars were parked in Bolton in November 2020 as Ridley Road filmed in streets around the city (Picture: Bolton News)
1960s vinitage cars were parked in Bolton in November 2020 as Ridley Road filmed in streets around the city (Picture: Bolton News)

Where is Ridley Road set?

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Ridley Road is set in 1962, the year anti-fascists in London formed ‘62 Group’.

The name gives away quite a lot about the series, as Ridley Road is actually a market street in Dalston, Hackney.

In 1962, Neo-Nazism and far-right movements re-emerged in Britain and the creation of the National Socialist Movement (NSM).

Flyers from the time show the ill-fated rallies which took place on Ridley Road in the sixties, and pictures also highlight the growing support for the NSM and 62 group which both used militant means of protest.

A real flyer from 1962, advertising an NSM rally in Hackney (Picture: Hackney History)A real flyer from 1962, advertising an NSM rally in Hackney (Picture: Hackney History)
A real flyer from 1962, advertising an NSM rally in Hackney (Picture: Hackney History)
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The most infamous Ridley Road rally led to former Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster  and British Union of Fascists leader Sir Oswald Mosley being assaulted and punched to the ground during a meeting he was chairing.

Rallies were held on Ridley Road in 1962 (Picture: Hackney Museum)Rallies were held on Ridley Road in 1962 (Picture: Hackney Museum)
Rallies were held on Ridley Road in 1962 (Picture: Hackney Museum)

Police were forced to close the meeting within three minutes and made 54 arrests - including Sir Oswald’s son Max.

While the BBC drama is not a true depiction of events, it is largely inspired by the real events on 1962’s anti-fascist movement.

When is Ridley Road on TV?

Ridley Road is a four-part series which begins on Sunday 3 October at 9pm on BBC One.

Episodes two to four will air across consecutive Sundays at 9pm on BBC One.

All episodes will be available on BBC iPlayer shortly after being shown on TV.

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