A new Netflix drama filmed and set across the north west is the latest big hit on the streaming service.
Following on from the success of Fool Me Once on Netflix last January, Missing You is another edge-of-your-seat thriller with twists and turns in every episode.
And, like Fool Me Once, Missing You also showcases lots of amazing places across Greater Manchester, Cheshire and beyond that feature in key scenes in the thriller.
Manchester city centre itself looms large throughout the drama, as the setting for Detective Kat Donovan’s home, and her workplace at the “Metropolitan Police” headquarters. But her search for answers over her father’s murder leads her to head out all over the north west.
Here, we take a look at some of the locations used for filming that are well worth a visit in real life.
Manchester Art Gallery
Kat meets Calligan in Missing You – filmed at Manchester Art Gallery
(Image: Netflix)
A key scene in Missing You sees Kat meeting up with the dark and mysterious Calligan, played by Cold Feet star James Nesbitt, in her search for answers over her father’s murder. He asks her to meet him inside a spectacular art gallery.
The setting for this was Manchester Art Gallery on Mosley Street in the city centre. Kat is seen walking through the gallery to find Calligan sitting in front of one of the gallery’s most famous paintings – The Chariot Race by Alexander von Wagner.
As Calligan himself tells Kat in the drama, the huge, epic picture was painted in 1898 and portrays all the drama of a Roman stadium. Calligan says in the thriller he owns the painting and has loaned it to the museum.
But of course in real life that’s not true – and the painting is open to visit for members of the public without fear of the menacing Calligan sat there guarding it.
You can visit Manchester Art Gallery Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Entry is free.
Pollen Bakery
Pollen
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
After a visit to the Art Gallery, trust us when we say that Pollen is one place you definitely should pay a visit to next.
Pollen Bakery features in Missing You and clearly city dweller Kat has great taste in cafes. For Pollen has won plenty of fans and awards since opening in the city, and is known for its incredible pastries, sourdough loaves and in-demand “cruffins”.
It now has two sites – the New Islington original, which features in Missing You, is the most popular – and where you can expect to join a queue to get in on most weekends. The second venue is at Kampus near Canal Street and has a large sit-in cafe area as well as a takeaway.
Pollen at New Islington is open Wednesday – Sunday from 8am to 4pm, and at Kampus Tuesday – Sunday 9am to 4pm.
Northern Quarter
Viewers will spot plenty of places in the Northern Quarter in Manchester in key scenes of Missing You. The show opens with the area’s party district looking beautiful, lit by fairy lights along Edge Street towards the old Smithfield Market.
There’s plenty of bars and restaurants to try here, including NQ original Common, fried chicken joint Yard & Coop and The Smithfield Social.
Meanwhile The Freemount pub on Oldham Street doubles as the show’s Askia Inn where many of the flashback scenes from Kat’s life were filmed.
Parkgate – and its “famous” ice cream shop
(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
Crews headed to film at the retro seaside town (that no longer has the sea) in the summer.
One of Parkgate’s most iconic businesses, the Nicholls Famous Ice Cream shop, has a key role to play in the drama too. We see Detective Kat heading in to try and solve part of the puzzle surrounding her dad’s death.
Pictures captured behind the scenes also showed that cast and crew on the drama got to enjoy some of the famous ice cream in between takes.
The town also boasts a popular fish and chip shop and a row of boutiques and cafes on the main Parade.
Nicholls Ice Cream Shop opens daily from 11am to 5pm.
Great Budworth
Great Budworth in Cheshire, known as one of Cheshire’s prettiest villages with period cottages and cobbled walkways.
(Image: MEN)
Known as “Cheshire’s most beautiful village”, the action in the drama heads to Great Budworth in episode one as detective Kat attempts to track down missing man Rishi after tech experts discover he attempted to book a holiday cottage there.
Kat and her police colleagues search one of the pretty black and white cottages in the village in their quest for answers.
The village is well worth a visit, and has been used in a number of films and TV shows over the years thanks to its chocolate box charms. It has an historic pub, The George and Dragon, at its heart.
And you can also get an ice cream here as there’s a popular Ice Cream Farm on the edge of the village loved by One Direction star Harry Styles.
Sefton Park
Sefton Park – with a few skyscraper extras in the Netflix series
(Image: Netflix)
Arguably Liverpool’s best known park, the magnificent 200-acre Sefton Park is also very recognisable in the action of Missing You.
The distinctive Bandstand is used for outdoor yoga scenes in Missing You. In the scenes, Kat and her friends Stacey and Aqua are seen doing outdoor yoga with a wide landscape shot.
However visitors should not expect to see quite the same view as that enjoyed by Kat and her pals. As in the Netflix show it appears some skyscrapers have been added in the distance.
Sadly, this is not a feature of the real-life Sefton Park, but it’s still well worth a visit to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Lake District house
Missing You scenes were shot in Keswick in the Lake District
(Image: Thomas Wood/Netflix)
As the drama reaches its conclusion, Kat is seeen heading to the Lake District as she continues her quest for answers.
Epic scenes were filmed on the shores of Derwentwater at Keswick. Although eagle-eyed viewers will spot the rather fast time sequencing which means one minute Kat is in Parkgate in Cheshire, and minutes later she has made it all the way up to the Lake District.
The good news is if you’re looking for a stunning Lake District retreat, the beautiful house seen in the show is one you can book for a holiday. It boasts breathtaking views of Derwentwater and is found at Brandlehow.
The gorgeous property sleeps 7 in 4 bedrooms and is available to book via Keswick Cottages.