We're now one week into Bloodlands season 2, and even after that explosive end to season 1 it's fair to say that things are hotting up even further this time around.

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As ever the show, which is executive produced by Line of Duty's Jed Mercurio, features plenty of mystery, intrigue and twists, but on top of all that it also features some stunning vistas and notable landmark.

That's because as well as being set in Northern Island the series is also filmed there, with multiple Belfast locations on display across the series. Viewers who know the area might be able to spot Queen's University, Strangford Lough, or the Mourne Mountains in County Down.

James Nesbitt, who stars in the show as Tom Brannick, has previously spoken about the filming locations used for Bloodlands, noting how it was "very important" to him for the show to display the "vibrant, youthful, emerging new Northern Ireland" during BFI's Bloodlands Q&A.

Read on for everything you need to know about the filming locations used for BBC crime drama Bloodlands.

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Harland & Wolff shipyard, Belfast

Bloodlands
BBC

Belfast's Harland & Wolff shipyard plays a big role in Bloodlands, with the two yellow cranes frequently seen in serial killer Goliath's calling cards.

Famous for building iconic ships such as the RMS Titanic and the HMS Belfast, Harland & Wolff's cranes Samson and Goliath have been in operation since the mid-1960s, however the shipyard itself was founded almost 160 years ago.

Strangford Lough

CHRISTOPHER WALLEY
CHRISTOPHER WALLEY BBC

Filming for Bloodlands took place on an island in the Strangford Lough, specifically the scenes in which police find the bodies of Goliath's victims.

The Strangford Lough, located in Northern Ireland's County Down, is the largest inlet in the British Isles and is a popular fishing location.

Speaking at the BFI Q&A, Jed Mercurio said of Strangford Lough: "It's eerie, it's austere, it can be beautiful, it can also be somewhere that you would enter with a sense of foreboding so it's a great backdrop for a thriller."

Queen's University, Belfast

James Nesbitt in Bloodlands
James Nesbitt in Bloodlands BBC / HTM Televison /Steffan Hill

In episode one, we learn that Tom Brannick's daughter Izzy is studying medicine at Queen's University – so of course it makes sense for Bloodlands to have filmed at the Belfast-based college.

The university is located in the centre of Belfast, with the series filming outside the institution's Main Site Tower and inside various lecture halls.

Strangford Harbour

Bloodlands
BBC

Bloodlands' first episode features several shots of Strangford Harbour, where we first see Pat Keenan's four-by-four being pulled out of the water by police.

Located on the shores of Strangford, a small village in County Down, the harbour boasts stunning views of Ireland's northeast coast and the nearby sailing area.

Rosemary Street Masonic Hall, Belfast

Tom Brannick (James Nesbitt), Izzy Brannick (Lola Petticrew) in Bloodlands.
Tom Brannick (James Nesbitt), Izzy Brannick (Lola Petticrew) in Bloodlands. BBC/HTM Television

As for the police station frequented by Tom Brannick and his team, Bloodlands used a Masonic Hall on Rosemary Street, central Belfast, to recreate the local nick.

Bloodlands season 2 continues on Sunday 25th September at 9pm on BBC One. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what's on tonight.

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