Where Was “Hot Fuzz” Filmed?

Love the charming British horror-comedy and are wondering: where was “Hot Fuzz” filmed? If so, then you’ve come to the right place! Today, we’re revisiting this comedy classic and peeling back the curtain of this small town to find its real-life filming locations.

If you ever thought about making your own kind of creative project inspired by “Hot Fuzz,” then stick around until the end of the article, where we’ll share how easy it is to find filming locations on Peerspace. Until then, let’s check out the locations of this “Village of the Year” winner!

What’s “Hot Fuzz”?

Director Edgar Wright made a huge debut with the cult hit “Shaun of the Dead”. He followed it up three years later with what has now become another cult classic, “Hot Fuzz.”

The second and most successful of the director’s “Cornetto Trilogy,” Simon Pegg and Nick Frost star as two very different police officers who must work together to uncover a sinister plot in the small English village they have jurisdiction over.

There are so many memorable moments from the movie that keep you quoting them or wanting to go for a rewatch year after year. The quaint English town of Sandford, Gloucestershire where the movie takes place is so unique, and begs the question: where was “Hot Fuzz” filmed?

Discover more awesome English filming locations by reading: where is “Stay Close” filmed next!

Is Sandford from “Hot Fuzz” a real place?

Part of what makes “Hot Fuzz” such an effective comedy is how easily and deftly it skewers our expectations of life in a small town like Sandford. Still, it’s hard to see this quaintness on display and ask yourself: where was “Hot Fuzz” filmed?

It turns out that Sandford isn’t actually a real village but is based on Edgar Wright’s hometown of Wells, as reported by Conde Nast Traveler. It is also the name of a real police training area in Cheshire, a little nod that lends to the authenticity.

Co-writer Simon Pegg grew up in a nearby town, showing on screen how much the writers know about life in a city like Wells. Edgar Wright reportedly loves his hometown of Wells but also felt the need to trash it. The pair hit gold when they were able to return to the area to shoot for “Hot Fuzz” and really capture the essence of the Somerset city on the big screen.

According to IMDB, Wells is the filming location for quite a few movies, including “The White Princess,” “Jack The Giant Slayer,” and “The Huntsman: Winter’s War.”

“Hot Fuzz” filming locations in Wells

Now you know that Wells is the real-life Sandford. So, you can finally get the answer to the question: where was “Hot Fuzz” filmed?

The Swan Hotel

There are so many memorable and unique locations in the city to see, starting with the Swan Hotel. This is where Simon Pegg’s character Sergeant Angel stays during his initial time in Sandford.

According to the blog Geeky Tourist, the exterior shots of the hotel are the actual Swan Hotel in Wells.

The Crown

Another location they mention that kept its name is The Crown, where the police officers gather for drinks.

When Frost and Pegg wanted ice cream in the movie, they went to a small City News newsstand. This is also another real-life location in Wells that is quite similar to the one seen in the movie.

Somerfield Market

“Hot Fuzz” is brimming with strange and suspicious villagers who turn out to be behind the grisly murders in the town. One of the most memorable is Timothy Dalton’s portrayal of supermarket owner Simon Skinner, known for slashing more than just prices.

Almost Ginger reports that his Somerfield market is now Quality Foods Hounslow, which looks like it didin the film.

Neighborhood watch meet-up

Another crucial location they reveal is the dastardly Neighborhood Watch Association meeting place.

The meetings took place at a massive 13th-century building named Bishop’s Palace, which remains one of Wells’ most popular attractions. The grounds of the property are also where the infamous swan-chasing scene took place.

The Church

Lastly, another beautiful piece of architecture seen in the movie is the old church where reporter Tim Messenger meets an untimely demise. Called St. Vincent’s in the movie, this is actually St. Cuthbert’s Church in Wells.

Love cult comedies with a spooky twist? Then you may also want to check out the filming locations for “Hocus Pocus”!

Other notable “Hot Fuzz” filming locations

As you might remember, a few scenes in the movie took place outside of Sandford. In the beginning of the film, we see how much of a hotshot Angel is during a police training exercise. This scene is in stark contrast to the rest of the film and is sure to make you ask: where was “Hot Fuzz” filmed?

According to Movie-Locations.com, this was shot at the real-life London location for police training, Hendon Police Training College.

Another location they mention that took the production away from Wells was the scenes at the well-equipped farmers’ property. Wards Hurst Farm, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire is a little bit closer to London.

While they were in Hertfordshire, they also found the interior for the doomed production of “Romeo and Juliet” at The Barn Theater.

Find your own “Hot Fuzz”-inspired filming location

“Hot Fuzz” is a perfect example of how important finding the right location for your movie can be. Without a genuine English city like Wells, the fictitious town of Sandford might not have felt as convincing. You don’t have to be Edgar Wright in order to have access to thousands of incredible locations, though.

Peerspace is your number-one digital destination for all of your location-scouting needs. The platform offers you access to properties and production studios all over the world and for any type of movie. If you were trying to capture that “Hot Fuzz” vibe, then look at this unique Georgian country townhouse in a beautiful market town not far from Wells!

Frome is the perfect type of small English town that will feel just like Sandford. It’s just a taste of what you can find when you use Peerspace for your next shooting location. So what are you waiting for? Grab yourself a Cornetto and start making the next great cult comedy!

Find unique filming locations on Peerspace