Knockdara and all the locations where How to Get to Heaven from Belfast was filmed
Posted by Ra Moon
Set in the fictional town of Knockdara, How to Get to Heaven from Belfast was primarily filmed in Northern Ireland, with additional locations in Ireland, London, and Malta.
The dark comedy-drama created by Lisa McGee, the writer of Derry Girls, follows three estranged childhood friends who reunite in Belfast after the sudden death of a former friend, only to uncover long-buried secrets about their past.
Welcome to Knockdara and our spoiler-free guide to all the filming locations of How to Get to Heaven from Belfast. You'll find the locations in order of first appearance.
The dark comedy-drama created by Lisa McGee, the writer of Derry Girls, follows three estranged childhood friends who reunite in Belfast after the sudden death of a former friend, only to uncover long-buried secrets about their past.
Welcome to Knockdara and our spoiler-free guide to all the filming locations of How to Get to Heaven from Belfast. You'll find the locations in order of first appearance.
Where was How to Get to Heaven from Belfast filmed?
The first scene with Roisin Gallagher as Saoirse in London was filmed at the Seahorse Restaurant, an elegant fine-dining venue located on the second floor of the Grand Central Hotel in central Belfast.
The exterior scene when Saoirse leaves the restaurant was actually filmed in central London by the River Thames, near Blackfriars Bridge.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
Belfast City Airport is located close to the city centre. For Dara (played by Caoilfhionn Dunne), the car park was extortionate, so she and Robyn (Sinéad Keenan) wait for Saoirse on nearby industrial land in the Titanic Quarter, with the Samson and Goliath cranes as a backdrop.
From Belfast, the trio heads to Donegal in Ireland, crossing scenic landscapes until the petrol station.
Pictured are the Sliabh Liag sea cliffs in County Donegal, rising nearly 600 metres above the Atlantic Ocean, offering some of the highest and most spectacular coastal views in Europe.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
The Knockdara village
The welcome to Knockdara sign (Fáilte go Knockdara) and the panoramic view of the town were filmed in Ardglass, a fishing village on the east coast of County Down, Northern Ireland.
This image, pictured with the harbour, appears in the fifth episode.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
The Knockdara Hotel exterior and reception hall was filmed at the Harbourview Hotel in Carnlough, a small coastal village in County Antrim.
Originally built in the 19th century, this charming hotel’s typical room rates are around £100–£140 per night.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
The How to Get to Heaven from Belfast house
The Elm Manor in Knockdara Village, Donegal Co, is actually the St John’s House in Killough, County Down.
The house is located near St. John's Point Lighthouse, about an hour’s drive south from Belfast.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
The St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School in Belfast doubles as the Our Lady of the Sorrows College.
Founded in 1859, the school also has a large sports track, featured in the series.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
The area with the little roadside shrine is the Mamore Gap, a scenic mountain pass on the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal, Ireland.
Mamore Gap is known for its steep, winding road and panoramic views over the Urris Hills and the Atlantic coast.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
The dock scene in London, just before the BAFTA ceremony, was filmed outside the Oxo Tower Wharf on the South Bank in London.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
However, the BAFTA reception was filmed at the Lyric Theatre Belfast hall, which opened in 2011 on the banks of the River Lagan near Queen’s University.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
This church is St Patrick’s, a historic Roman Catholic church in the Cathedral Quarter area of Belfast.
Opened in 1877, it was designed in the Gothic Revival style.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
The modern house, located in the Orlock coastal area in County Down, Northern Ireland, was featured in an episode of RTÉ's Home of the Year.
This stylish residence with a 60s vibe is called Fliphouse, as the bedrooms are at the bottom and the living area is on top to maximise views.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
This church exterior, also in the second episode, "The Secret", is the iconic Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Moneybag, Donegal.
This photogenic church, with its distinctive design, is located at the foot of Mount Errigal.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
St. John's Point Lighthouse is a 19th-century landmark on the east coast of County Down, marking the entrance to Dundrum Bay.
First lit in 1844 and later rebuilt in 1893, it is distinctive for its black-and-yellow banded tower and continues to guide vessels along this stretch of the Irish Sea.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
The Calmas Águas Azuis hotel in Portugal, which appears for the first time in the third episode, "The Ghost", is the Salini Resort, overlooking Salina Bay in St Paul’s Bay, Malta.
This 4-star seaside hotel, renovated in 2015 with modern rooms and an infinity pool, has average prices ranging from roughly €80–€180 (£70–£157 GBP) per night.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
But in the fourth episode, "The Girl From Sagres", some parts of Calmas Águas Azuis were filmed at the The Westin Dragonara Resort, a luxury 5-star hotel on a private peninsula in St Julian’s, Malta.
With direct access to the Mediterranean and panoramic sea views near the Dragonara Casino, the resort was opened in the late 1990s and extensively refurbished in recent years.
Typical room rates usually range from around €120–€290 (£105–£250) per night.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
The Titanic Studios in Belfast became internationally famous as the primary production base for Game of Thrones.
Constructed inside former shipbuilding paint halls, the studios have hosted numerous large-scale productions, more recently A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
The rustic accommodation was filmed under the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, located in the hilltop town of Mellieħa, in the northern part of Malta.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
In the fifth episode, "The Box", Liam (Darragh Hand) is outside the Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Rossglass.
In the series, it seems as though he's on the other side of the bay in Knockdara, which was filmed in Ardglass.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
After landing at Dublin Airport, the St Patrick's parade was filmed on the streets around Parnell Square in Dublin.
The bridge is Grattan Bridge in central Dublin, located about a mile and a half from the square.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Maps: Dublin Airport / Parnell Square / Bridge
This shot shows Jordan's Castle, a 15th-century tower house located in Ardglass, one of several medieval tower houses in the village.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
Founded around 1030, Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin is one of the city’s oldest and most historic buildings, featuring a mix of medieval and Victorian architecture following extensive 19th-century restorations.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
RTÉ Studios in Dublin where The Late Late Show is recorded was filmed at Titanic Belfast, a museum dedicated to the ill-fated ship.
Opened in 2012, it stands on the site of the former Harland & Wolff shipyard, where the RMS Titanic was built between 1909 and 1912.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
In the seventh episode, "Outlaws, Liars and Fallen Angels", the girls are at Commercial Court, a narrow cobblestone alley in the Cathedral Quarter of Belfast.
Renowned for its colourful overhead neon umbrellas, it is one of the city’s most photographed and Instagrammed spots.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
The nursing home in the series finale, "Anagnorisis", is the Lorne Estate, a 21-acre property overlooking Belfast Lough in Holywood, County Antrim.
Situated about 8 miles north of Belfast, it features expansive gardens, woodland, and the elegant semi-circular glasshouse featured in a scene.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
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Ra Moon
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