Gone on ITV filming locations: Which stunning UK city it's set in, and identity of private school posing as St Bartholomew's
It's perfect for a long weekend break
Gone is arguably the best crime drama to land on ITV in 2026 so far, and its stunning filming locations only help to add to the gravitas provided by TV icons David Morrissey and Eve Myles.
The new series introduces headmaster Michael Polly, who appears to have the charisma of a sharpened knife. Inscrutable and unbending it’s hard to have sympathy for him when his wife Sarah goes missing. And even their daughter Alana seems to be giving her dad a suspicious side-eye.
As the hours roll on with no sign of Sarah, Michael eventually reports her disappearance to the police. No-nonsense detective DS Annie Cassidy takes on the case, and is immediately suspicious of the headmaster’s lack of emotion.
As the case escalates with the emergence of puzzling evidence, Annie is assigned the role of Family Liaison Officer… And so begins a delicious cat-and-mouse thriller, described as a “deep-seated mystery.”
The beautiful filming location of a historic city provides the perfect backdrop to ITV drama Gone, juxtaposed with the imposing St Bartholomew’s School. So what’s real and what’s not? Here’s everything you need to know.
Where is ITV thriller Gone set?
The story is a psychological thriller set in and around a prestigious private school in Bristol, as well as the surrounding countryside and forests.
The opening scenes show impassive headmaster Michael Polly surveying a school rugby pitch as the First XV of St Bartholomew’s, his team, snatches victory from the jaws of defeat… But just minutes later, he returns to his period home to discover his wife Sarah is missing.
So what filming locations did cast and crew actually use for the six-part crime drama?
Gone ITV filming locations: Where was it actually filmed?
As well as being set in Bristol, Gone was largely filmed in Bristol, too. The historic city is located on the River Avon, and bordered by Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. It has a short coastline on the Bristol Channel. As a result of being bordered by so much water, it has a rich maritime history and city-centre port. The harbour’s 19th-century warehouses now contain restaurants, shops and art galleries.
Bristol is famous for its iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge, which features multiple times in the ITV thriller. Other notable tourist attractions include the floating harbour, and science museum We The Curious.
In fact, locals know that the whole area is famous for its art. It is the hometown of the famous anonymous artist Banksy, with his work and other graffiti art decorating city walls. Just recently, Lonely Planet named the city one of the top 50 destinations in their Best in Travel 2026.
If you’re going to visit after being inspired by the filming locations in ITV thriller Gone, you might want to go in August. Every year, there’s the jaw-dropping Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, where over 100 hot hair balloons take flight over three days.
Key filming locations used in ITV crime drama Gone
- Cast and crew filmed in 2025 at The Bottle Yard Studios and on location in and around Bristol with Film Office assistance. The Bottle Yard Studios is one of the largest film and TV studios in the West of England.
- Annie’s place of work Redland police station is not a real police station. Although there IS a Redland in Bristol, it is covered by the Avon and Somerset Police. There is no dedicated station in Redland itself. The nearest police station would be the main station in Bristol city centre.
- The house where Michael Polly lives was filmed at Danby Lodge, in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. In real life, it actually has a pool, which they have ‘airbrushed out’ for the purposes of filming. After all, we can’t imagine the uptight headmaster drinking a Pina Colada in his speedos by the water. The Grade II listed 17th-century keeper’s lodge sits within a secluded two-acre plot in the Forest of Dean. The property’s woodland surroundings contribute to the show’s isolated atmosphere. You can actually stay in the Lodge via Booking.com.
- The very grand Ammerdown House in Kilmersdon, Somerset is a Grade I listed 18th-century country house. The location was used for estate scenes.
What building was used for Bartholomew’s School?
There is no Bartholomew’s School in Bristol. Instead, Downside School in Somerset was used to film all the scenes at Michael Polly’s work place. It’s located at Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Radstock, Somerset, BA3 4RJ.
Downside School is a real historic boarding school in Somerset which is “steeped in history”. Much like Bartholomew’s, Downside School is “rooted in the Catholic and Benedictine tradition”. The independent co-educational day and boarding Catholic school educates children aged 11 to 18 (for a hefty fee).
Founded in 1606, it is set in 500 acres of beautiful English countryside and based just 25 minutes from the famous World Heritage City of Bath. It’s one of England’s oldest and most distinguished Catholic schools.
‘Bristol is a great city – vibrant, cultural, and very beautiful to look at’
Talking about filming in Bristol, actor David Morrissey – who plays Michael Polly – said: “I’ve not been to Bristol much before, but I’ve loved being here. It’s a great city; vibrant, cultural, and very beautiful to look at. We’ve been filming at Bottle Yard Studios, but also on location at Downer School, which is between Bristol and Bath.
“We had to film in the school during the Easter holidays, and pupils from the school helped us, which was really great. They had to do a lot of rugby, and they were brilliant.”
What other famous TV shows were filmed in Bristol?
Gone isn't the first TV series to use Bristol as a filming location – and it won't be the last! Iconic shows such as Sherlock, Doctor Who, Skins, Broadchurch, and Only Fools and Horses all filmed scenes in and around the historic city. Other notable productions filmed at The Bottle Yard Studios in Bristol include Wolf Hall, Rivals, Poldark, Am I Being Unreasonable? and The Outlaws.
BBC drama Sherlock used Bristol for multiple city scenes, including Arnos Vale Cemetery and Bristol South Swimming Baths.
ITV's crime drama Broadchurch filmed in Bristol, and nearby Clevedon.
Historic drama Wolf Hall used Bristol Cathedral as a double for Westminster Abbey.
BBC comedy The Outlaws was set and filmed throughout Bristol. Creator Stephen Merchant was born and bred there.
Jason Watkins drama The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies was set and filmed in Bristol, which is where Joanna Yeates was murdered in 2010.
Channel 4 Andrew Lincoln drama Teachers was also filmed in and around the city.
Lastly, BBC One medical drama Casualty filmed in Bristol for over 25 years, before moving to Wales.
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