.png)
BBC's cosy crime drama is making us daydream about visiting every one of its stunning coastal sets. But exactly where is Beyond Paradise filmed?
Ever since the show first aired in 2023, it's proved to be a massive, bingeable hit. A spin-off of BBC's wildly popular Death in Paradise, it follows detective Humphrey (Kris Marshall) and his fiancée Martha Lloyd (Sally Bretton) as they tackle wild crimes in the fictional town of Shipton Abbott. Now in its fourth season, with reports suggesting that filming for season five will begin in July, it's our go-to watch when we're in need of comfort and drama – the kind of show that's perfect for curling up on the sofa with a cup of tea.
But while we love watching Humphrey and Martha solve crimes, we keep getting distracted by the gorgeous Devon countryside in the background. The mystery we really want solving? Whether we actually visit Shipton Abbott for ourselves.
Where is Beyond Paradise filmed?
Although the show may be set in Devon, much of the filming actually takes place in the coastal town of Looe in Cornwall. With its picturesque pier, sandy beaches and quaint coastal village, Looe is something of a real-life paradise, making it the perfect backdrop for the hit show.
If you ever visit Looe for yourself, there are plenty of local sights that may look a little familiar, such as Looe Bridge, the iconic arched bridge that features on the show, Fore Street, which serves as Shipton Abbott's market square, and The Guildhall, which doubles as the police station.
The BBC show also films in other idyllic towns in the south west, including Fowey, Saltash, St Germans and Launceston. The show does occasionally film in Devon, too — for instance, scenes at the boatyard are shot at Bere Alston.
Speaking to Radio Times, the show's executive producer Tim Key explained the thought-process behind Beyond Paradise's filming locations. "We knew it had to be set somewhere beautiful and, in the UK, we are spoilt for choice," he said.
The show's executive writer and producer Tony Jordan also added: "The Caribbean is a tough act to follow. There are lots of beautiful places in the UK, and it was a tough choice." In the end, the filming locations ended up being partly-inspired by his own childhood holidays. “I remember growing up as a kid and my family holidays were in Devon, staying in caravans in Westwood Ho. I love Cornwall and the West Country and lived in Bristol for a while, so it's very familiar to me,” he said. "It is paradise in its own way, so was a perfect fit and gave me everything the show needed. It's not set on the sea front, but the sea is there.
Read on for more details on Beyond Paradise's top filming locations.
Looe, Cornwall
Those stunning beaches that you can't take your eyes off? They're most likely in Looe, the Cornish town that provides the backdrop for much of Beyond Paradise. A quaint fishing port town, one of Looe's most distinct features is the river that splits the town in half, and the stunning Victorian bridge that connects the two halves.
But Looe was chosen as a filming location for more than its beauty. “We travelled around lots of different places and were on the hunt to find somewhere that felt like a real town over a seaside resort,” explains Tim Key. "When we went to Looe, which is actually in Cornwall, it was a beautiful tourist town, but also a thriving community with fishing businesses, so we felt we had found our home." The Guildhall in Looe also turns into Shipton Abbott's police station for the show, where we'll often see Humphrey hard at work.
If you're planning a summer getaway, expect sandy beaches, fresh seafood and cute seaview cottages that line the hills. Can you ask for anything more?
Launceston, Cornwall
With the help of some movie magic, the market town of Launceston becomes Shipton Abbott's high street – bustling enough to feel lived in with buckets of local charm. With its very own castle – aptly named Launceston Castle – and a steam railway line, this is the kind of place that transports you back in time.
Saltash, Cornwall
Another cosy Cornish town, Saltash is often referred to as “the Gateway to Cornwall”, thanks to it being the first entry point after crossing the Tamar Bridge. In Beyond Paradise, however, the town serves two very specific roles in some particularly eye-catching locations.
The first is Pentillie Castle and Estate, which overlooks River Tamar – the very place where Humphrey and Martha's houseboat is docked. In the background, you might spot an idyllic looking riverside cottage, which doubles up as Martha's mum's house. The house's real owners have talked about how wonderful the Beyond Paradise crew were to work with, but they did experience one hiccup during filming. “The only slight drama was when a scene was filmed in our son’s bedroom. The props managers were as careful as they could be with the Lego, even taking photographs before they moved anything to ensure it all went back exactly the same,” they said in an interview with Visit Cornwall. “But the beady eyes of an 8-year-old on his Lego collection are no match for even the most thorough of props managers… there were tears… But soon rectified with a hot chocolate from the catering van!”
Elsewhere in Saltash, the Stables Cafe in Port Eliot House and Gardens was transformed into Martha's cafe, Ten Mile Kitchen, for early seasons of the show. In season three, the cafe's location was swapped to Looe's The Sardine Factory. But that doesn't mean The Stables Cafe isn't still worth a trip for a slice of cake.
BRB, booking a Cornish getaway ASAP so we can visit every one of the Beyond Paradise filming locations for ourselves.
