Bookish is a new British crime drama television series by U&Alibi, PBS, HBO, and Beta Film. It was created by Mark Gatiss and was renewed for a 2nd series prior to the broadcast of the 1st series.
The story follows Gabriel Book, who owns an old bookshop. He uses his special books to help solve tricky mysteries. Gabriel also cares for a group of kind but struggling people, helping to keep them safe and giving them advice when they need it.
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When and Where was Bookish Filmed?
| Series Name | Bookish |
| Genres | Crime, Drama |
| Filming Locations | Belgium and the UK |
| Filming Dates | April 2024 to August 21, 2024 |
| Cinematography by | Anton Mertens |
| Release Date | July 16, 2025 (United Kingdom) |
Filming for Bookish Season 1 began in April 2024, with the majority of production taking place in Belgium across cities like Namur, Ghent, Binche, Brussels, La Louvière, Huizingen, Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Waver, and Londerzeel. A small portion was also filmed in London, specifically outside The Walsingham Hotel.
The series was renewed for Season 2 even before the first season aired. Production on the second season began in summer 2025 and is currently still in progress.
On August 21, 2024, series director Carolina Giametta announced the end of filming on her social media account.
📍Namur, Belgium
Namur served as the primary filming location for the series. The production team recreated Archangel Lane here, the fictional street where Gabriel Book’s bookshop is located. Many key interior and exterior scenes were filmed in this city.
Namur is the capital of Wallonia, a French-speaking region of Belgium, and is picturesquely situated at the confluence of the Meuse and Sambre rivers. It’s known for its impressive citadel, a historic fortress offering panoramic views of the city.
📍Gare de Binche, Binche, Belgium
Scenes requiring a train station setting were filmed at the historic Gare de Binche. Its vintage charm helped capture the post-war 1940s atmosphere needed for the story. Gare de Binche is the railway station serving the town of Binche, Belgium. It is a terminal station, meaning trains arrive and depart from the same direction.
📍Theater De WAANzin, Ghent, Belgium
This unique theatre venue in Ghent was used for stage-related or cultural indoor scenes, offering a visually rich, period-authentic interior. Theater De WAANzin is an independent amateur theater group in Ghent, Belgium, known for its innovative and distinct stage productions. It is one of the few theater companies in Ghent with its own fully equipped theater space.
📍Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Waver, Belgium
This quiet town added to the series’ nostalgic tone with scenes likely set in quieter, rural locations reflecting the backdrop of 1940s Britain. Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Waver is a Belgian village known for the stunning Art Nouveau “wintertuin” (winter garden) of the Ursulines Institute. It’s located about 10 km east of Mechelen and is part of Sint-Katelijne-Waver.
📍La Louvière, Belgium
Filming in La Louvière contributed to various atmospheric street scenes, enhancing the historic tone of the series. La Louvière is a city and municipality in the province of Hainaut, Wallonia, Belgium. It’s known for its industrial heritage, particularly its coal mining history, and is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Strépy-Thieu boat lift and the Bois-du-Luc mining site.
📍Huizingen, Belgium
Huizingen’s natural surroundings and historic look made it ideal for outdoor sequences that needed a countryside or semi-urban feel. Huizingen is a charming village located in the Flemish Brabant province of Belgium, known for its tranquil atmosphere and green surroundings. It’s particularly recognized for Huizingen Park, a popular recreational domain featuring a castle, various gardens, and sports facilities.
📍Brussels, Belgium
Brussels was used for additional cityscape scenes, taking advantage of its period architecture to stand in for 1940s London streets and buildings. Brussels, Belgium, is the capital of Belgium and a major center for international politics, hosting the official seats of the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, and the European Parliament. It’s known for its Grand Place, Manneken Pis, and diverse culinary scene.
📍Ghent, Belgium
Beyond Theater De WAANzin, other outdoor and street scenes were also filmed around the city of Ghent due to its old-world charm and historical buildings. Ghent is a historic city in Belgium, known for its well-preserved medieval architecture and vibrant cultural scene. It’s often praised for its picturesque canals, charming old town, and impressive Gothic cathedrals.
📍Londerzeel, Belgium
This location supported supplemental scenes, likely helping flesh out side streets and community areas in the show’s recreated world. Londerzeel is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant, known for its mix of residential areas and agricultural landscapes. It offers a quiet, semi-rural environment within easy reach of larger cities like Brussels and Mechelen.
📍London, England (The Walsingham Hotel)
A single exterior scene was shot in London, outside The Walsingham Hotel. This real location added a layer of authenticity to the show by placing one moment in the actual British capital. The Walsingham Hotel was a luxurious establishment located at 150-154 Piccadilly, London, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was later demolished in 1904 to make way for the iconic Ritz Hotel.
📍Big Ben / River Thames, London, England
A memorable scene was filmed near Big Ben, along the River Thames. In this part of the story, Mark Gatiss‘s character is seen sitting beside another character who wears an eye patch, adding mystery and emotion to the scene. This is one of the few moments filmed in real London. Big Ben, the iconic clock tower (officially Elizabeth Tower) of the Houses of Parliament, majestically overlooks the River Thames in London. Its famous chimes have resonated across the city for over 160 years, making it a globally recognized symbol of England.
Bookish Behind The Scenes
To make your search for Beta Film’s Bookish filming even more interesting and enjoyable, we shared a behind-the-scenes photo here.
The Series stars and fans also shared some behind-the-scenes glimpses on their social media account, Instagram:-
For more information about other shooting locations, stay tuned to this post. We will add more…
People also ask (FAQs):-
Q: What is the filming location for Bookish?
A: The 2025 Movie Bookish was filmed in the UK and Belgium.
Q: Where was Bookish filmed?
A: The Principal Photography was confirmed to have begun in the UK and Belgium.
Q: When did filming for Bookish take place?
A: Bookish starts filming from April 2024 to August 21, 2024.
Q: When did Bookish start filming?
A: Bookish starts filming in April 2024.
Q: When did Bookish end filming?
A: Bookish ends filming on August 21, 2024.
Is there any trailer available for Justice on Tri
The six-episode series was aired on 16 July 2025 in the UK by U&Alibi and Beta Film.