If you're anything like us, you’ve already devoured the first episode of Code of Silence, ITV’s tense new six-part thriller starring Rose Ayling-Ellis as Alison. And now you're wondering where Code of Silence was filmed.
The show has been hotly anticipated and is ITV’s big offering of the summer. Rose plays Alison Brooks, a deaf catering worker (who works at a police canteen), who is pulled into an undercover police operation to lip-read conversations with criminals.
But while the drama may be set in Canterbury, fans have been quick to notice that the show’s backdrop doesn’t always match its official setting. So where was Code of Silence filmed?
In fact, the show wasn't filmed in Kent at all, with the series instead being shot almost entirely in Hertfordshire, with real streets, pubs and high streets in towns like St Albans and Hemel Hempstead stepping in for the historic cathedral city.
Filming began in autumn 2024 and wrapped earlier this year, with the production team transforming corners of Hertfordshire into believable stand-ins for Canterbury’s cobbled charm.
Code of Silence filming locations
The Old Town of Hemel Hempstead was a central Code of Silence filming location: The Old Town Hall was reimagined as a local gallery, while surrounding streets were dressed with police tape and market stalls to create the illusion of a bustling cathedral city on edge.
Another key filming location is the historic market town of St Albans itself, which features heavily throughout the series. With its winding streets, independent shops, and centuries-old architecture, it offers a quintessentially British backdrop that feels both charming and quietly tense — mirroring Alison’s increasingly complex double life. The show makes full use of the town’s visual contrasts, from leafy residential streets to stark, utilitarian police offices, drawing out the tension between Alison’s private world and her public responsibilities.
And yes, that café scene from episode one — where Alison is juggling her covert lip-reading duties with a shift at her day job, only to be sacked after a single mistake — was filmed in a real working restaurant. The location? The Hub on Verulam Road in St Albans.
More than just a brunch spot, The Hub is a versatile, popular venue with a packed calendar and a cosy cinema space tucked inside. Meanwhile, a well-known neighbourhood pub, The Garibaldi on Albert Street (St Albans), became the fictional ‘Canterbury Tap’, a recurring haunt for Alison and her police handler Liam, played by Joe Absolom.
In the second episode, viewers follow Liam and Alison as they venture into London for a tense meeting with one of Liam’s mysterious contacts — a scene that unfolds inside a buzzing nightclub.
The club's interior was filmed at one75, a stylish bar located in West Hampstead. While the inside scenes were shot at one75, the club’s exterior was captured elsewhere. Those panoramic shots of London’s skyline and riverfront were filmed along the South Bank, right by the iconic Oxo Tower.
Following their night out in London, Liam and Alison make a pitstop at a traditional pie and mash shop — a scene filmed on location at Tony’s Pie & Mash in Waltham Abbey. A staple since 1995, the family-run shop has a loyal following and even counts David Beckham among its past visitors. Later, in episode three, the action shifts to an ice rink, referred to in the show as Denstroude Ice Centre. In reality, these scenes were filmed at Planet Ice in Milton Keynes, one of the UK’s largest indoor rinks.
Beyond the scenery, Code of Silence is being praised for its commitment to authentic representation. The show is the first major UK drama to cast a deaf actress in a lead role where her deafness is both central to the plot and explored with nuance. The series also made a point to involve deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent crew throughout the production process.
So, if you're already plotting your next UK getaway, consider trading big-name cities for the subtly cinematic corners of Hertfordshire.
Code of Silence is streaming now on ITVX.
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