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Have you ever been watching a hit TV drama and thought: 'I'm sure I've walked past that building before?'
You aren't imagining it; Leeds has quietly become a powerhouse for television production, serving as the backdrop for some of the biggest global hits of the last decade.
From the rolling hills of the Dales to the gritty, industrial corners of our city centre, Yorkshire has long been a favourite of location scouts and directors.
But while many shows wear their Yorkshire heart on their sleeve, others use Leeds as a 'chameleon,' with our local landmarks doubling for everything from 1920s Birmingham to the streets of London.
Be it 1970s soaps to modern Netflix mega-hits, here are 17 essential Yorkshire-filmed shows every local should see, including 10 that were made right here in Leeds.
13. Last Tango in Halifax (2012–2020)
A beautiful, witty drama about second chances, the scenery is a star in its own right. It captures the steep, dramatic hills of the Calder Valley, with filming locations including Holdsworth House in Halifax, the canals of Sowerby Bridge, and various spots across Huddersfield. | Matt Squire/BBC
14. This is England (‘86, ‘88, ‘90) (2010-2015)
Set and filmed in Sheffield, the series offers a gritty, emotional, and often hilarious look at life in South Yorkshire across three distinct time periods. The sprawling Gleadless Valley estate and the iconic Park Hill flats serve as the backdrop for the gang's misadventures, capturing the raw, industrial soul of the city during the Thatcher and rave eras. | Channel 4
15. Heartbeat (1992–2010)
The Sunday night staple is inseparable from the village of Goathland on the North York Moors, which served as the fictional Aidensfield. Fans still flock to the village to see the "Aidensfield Arms" (The Goathland Hotel) and the local garage. The show also showcased the dramatic North Yorkshire coast, with frequent filming in the seaside town of Whitby. | Provided
16. Last of the Summer Wine (1973–2010)
The gentle misadventures of Compo, Clegg, and Foggy (and their many successors) made the town of Holmfirth a worldwide landmark. From the steep cobbled streets and Sid’s Café to the rolling green hills of the Holme Valley, the show’s scenery became just as famous as Nora Batty’s wrinkled stockings. | Alan Bell/BBC
17. Downton Abbey (2010–2015)
While the iconic "big house" is actually Highclere Castle in Berkshire, the Crawley family's story is firmly set in North Yorkshire. The 2019 film brought the production back to the region in style, featuring major scenes at Harewood House and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway in Pickering. The film also made use of the magnificent Wentworth Woodhouse in South Yorkshire for its spectacular ballroom sequences. | Rory Mulvey/Focus Features LLC