ITV’s new crime drama, starring Richard Armitage as Dr Ethan Winter, is set in Bristol. Based in the beautiful university city of Bristol, Dr Ethan Winter is one of the country’s leading forensic pathologists – highly intelligent, effortlessly stylish and deeply enigmatic.

Fans of the area will know that there have been multiple brilliant TV dramas set in Bristol just this year. These have including Eve Myles and David Morrissey drama Gone, The Crow Girl (also Eve Myles), and Falling.

We’re told: “Set against the atmospheric backdrop of Bristol, Winter follows brilliant forensic pathologist Dr Ethan Winter as he works alongside DI Lauren Bell and DS Ellis Daldry.

“Together the team need to crack a series of twisted and compelling murder cases. With his unflinching eye for detail and deep knowledge of the human body, Winter sees what others miss, revealing the secrets the dead leave behind.”

What filming locations were really used in ITV’s Winter?

The atmospheric crime drama was largely filmed near Antwerp with just a few days in Bristol.

Antwerp is a vibrant port city in the Flanders region of Belgium. It’s famous as a global hub for the diamond trade, avant-garde fashion, and rich art history. The city is also known as Belgium’s fashion capital, and is home to the famous fashion museum MoMu.

Cast and crew also filmed in Leuven, a historic student city in Belgium known for its 15th-century Gothic town hall, vibrant cafe culture, and oldest university in the Low Countries.

Talking about the Winter filming locations, actress Annabel Scholey – who plays DI Lauren Bell in the ITV series – said the setting adds something different to the drama. She said: “We shot it in Belgium with a European crew. So that brings a difference, which is exciting, combined with the odd, theatrical cases, which lifts it away from the usual genre.”

‘There’s a big French influence and even the prop food was incredible’

Talking about filming Winter in Belgium, Richard Armitage shared his favourite moments from on set. He revealed: “Eating dinner together every day was lovely. One hot day, we were working at a disused psychiatric hospital in the middle of the forest, and I managed to get an ice cream van to come down to set just to sweeten everyone’s spirit. You don’t forget those moments, and I think it made us more of a family, because everyone gets together.

“I just wanted people to go home having had a brilliant day at work. That includes actors coming in for one scene who give emotional performances, often with no preparation. I’ve been one of those actors, and we’ve got to give them everything they need. We were careful to make sure everyone felt welcome and loved. We had a great wrap party. And Antwerp and Leuven are just beautiful.”

As for the food, Richard admits he was a big fan! He told us: “I also loved all the food in Belgium, where we filmed. There’s a big French influence and even the prop food was incredible. I kept eating it, especially this extraordinary cheese and some blood oranges they were going to throw away!”

Winter on ITV filming locations: ‘They fell in love with Belgium’

Jamie Kenna, who plays DS Ellis Daldry, added: “We filmed in Belgium and the way the Belgians do everything is very inclusive. Compared to here or America where you all get your own trailers and disappear for lunch on your own. This was like a school dining experience, so we all ate together and became close. It was also more welcoming for guest stars. Being away from my family is difficult for me, but they made it a home-from-home.”

He continued: “I was lucky that my family came to visit a few times, and they fell in love with Belgium.”

Is Winter’s laboratory really filmed at Bristol Municipal Baths?

Dr Ethan Winter’s laboratory was actually specially made for the ITV crime drama. It was not, as implied by the signage, filmed at Bristol Municipal Baths.

Executive Producer Walter Iuzzolino explained: “Director Dries Vos is our partner in Belgium. They knew that we wanted a heightened, premium look and they took the lead in the actual physical vision, with the photography and the art direction. After pitching their idea for Winter’s lab, Dries realised he couldn’t find a Victorian swimming pool that has been converted into a lab with specific windows. So, he created a set, which was incredibly elaborate, and we loved it.”

In fact, cast and crew filmed at a disused psychiatric hospital in the middle of the forest.

Key filming locations used in ITV drama Winter

• There are multiple shots of Bristol’s famous Clifton Suspension Bridge. It spans the Avon Gorge and River Avon, linking Clifton in Bristol to Leigh Woods in North Somerset. At night it is illuminated from dusk until midnight. This is the sight visible from Ethan Winter’s apartment window.
• Cast and crew also used the historic Interescaut Power Station located in Schelle, which is situated in the Greater Antwerp area of Belgium.
• Episode 2 sees DI Bell interview suspects beside the historic MV Balmoral ship docked at the Bristol Harbourside outside the M Shed museum.
• Also in episode 2, viewers will see the former Kodak European headquarters, located on Avenue du Général de Gaulle in La Hulpe, Belgium.