Hot Fuzz is the second instalment in The Cornetto Trilogy, after Shaun of the Dead (2004) and before The World’s End (2013). Critics and fans adored the movie and it proved the filmmaking trio behind the series weren’t a one-hit-wonder. Shaun of the Dead filmed in London, but the Hot Fuzz filming locations offer a different English experience outside of city life.
Hot Fuzz (2007) stars Simon Pegg as Sergeant Nicholas Angel, an overachieving police officer from London. He is reassigned to the sleepy village of Sandford in Gloucestershire, consistent winner of the “Village of the Year” award. His new partner is the jovial Danny Butterman (played by Nick Frost). Nicholas struggles to adapt to village life, especially as there is quite clearly something amiss…
Hot Fuzz is my personal favourite of the trilogy by far. I love the English village clichés, the quirky characters and the murder mystery element. But where was Hot Fuzz filmed? In lots of places, including London, but Wells in Somerset was the main location that stood in for Sandford. It’s England’s smallest city and where director Edgar Wright grew up. An idyllic old English town. But that’s just one location! Let’s check out all of the other Hot Fuzz filming locations in England…
Where Was Hot Fuzz Filmed?
Hot Fuzz Filming Locations in London
1. Hendon Police College, Peel Centre, Aerodrome Road
Hot Fuzz begins with a PC Angel training montage of sorts. It details his stunning progress through Police Training College and his glittering track record as a Police Constable with the London Metropolitan Police Service. So, the Hot Fuzz filming locations used for these scenes are pretty authentic! Because Wright shot them at Hendon Police College in North London.
And the Santa Clause that stabs PC Angel in the hand? None other than director Peter Jackson in a big red suit and beard. Yes, The Lord of the Rings Peter Jackson, that one.
2. Quality Foods, 34-62 Staines Road, Hounslow
I’m not going to linger on this Hot Fuzz filming location because, quite frankly, it’s boring. The exterior for Somerfield supermarket in the fictional village of Sandford is located elsewhere, but an old Safeway store in Hounslow acted as the interior. Now, I believe Quality Foods Hounslow is the supermarket in the previously-vacant lot.
3. Finchley Nurseries Garden Centre, Burton Hole Lane, Mill Hill
Leslie Tiller’s impressive nursery/garden centre is located in the heart of Sandford but in real life, it’s the Finchley Nurseries Garden Centre in North London.
Hot Fuzz Filming Locations in Wells, Somerset
4. Swan Hotel, 11 Sadler Street
The first Hot Fuzz film location in Wells is the Swan Hotel on 11 Sadler Street. Unfortunately, Nicholas’ cosy cottage in Sandford isn’t ready yet so he has to shack up in a BnB until it is. Hot Fuzz only used the exterior of the hotel for filming, the interior was shot somewhere else (which we’ll get to later!). The hotel is where most of the crew stayed during the shoot.
5. Market Place
After checking into his temporary accommodation, Nicholas heads out to explore the new neighbourhood. He passes some hoodies sat on Wells Market Cross & Fountain in the middle of Wells’ Market Place which stands in for Sandford’s main square. This Hot Fuzz filming location features throughout the film. You can spot the archway that Nicholas runs through, too!
6. The Crown Pub, Market Place
And where is the first place any sane person would explore when they’ve just moved to a country village? The local pub, of course! Nicholas wanders into The Crown Pub on Market Place which, like the Swan Hotel, has the same name in real life as it does in the film. It’s here Nicholas has his first run-in with his new partner-in-law, PC Danny Butterman.
Now, The Crown Pub in Wells is just the exterior. Keep reading to find out where the interior is located…
7. City News, 2A High Street
While on the beat, PS Nicholas Angel and PC Danny Butterman pop into the local newsagents every now and again. You know, when they’re in the mood for a Cornetto. Classico flavour, of course. The Sandford newsagents they frequent is City News at 2A High Street in Wells.
Fun fact: I’m sure you’re aware that a strawberry Cornetto (with a red wrapper) features in Shaun of the Dead, the Classico flavour (with a blue wrapper) features in Hot Fuzz and a mint Cornetto (with a green wrapper) features briefly in The World’s End. Well, Simon Pegg said The Three Colours Trilogy inspired this colour-coded ice cream appendage. One for my fellow cinephiles out there…
8. Bishop’s Palace
Bishop’s Palace is one of the top things to see in Wells, as well as being a prolific Hot Fuzz set location. This is the location of the NWA meetings (Neighbourhood Watch Alliance, not the hip-hop group). Apparently, Hot Fuzz utilised the interiors as well as the exteriors for various scenes in the film. Bishop’s Palace is a huge, 13th-century palace with an actual moat and pristinely manicured 14-acre gardens with lots of, yes, wells! Hence the city’s name.
You will, of course, remember the scene outside Bishop’s Palace towards the end of the film with everyone wearing hoods holding flashlights… This is most likely where some of the swan-chasing locations are, too!
9. Somerfield, 9-13 High Street
During the time of filming, Somerfield was Wells’ main, central supermarket. It’s also where Edgar Wright used to work stacking shelves in his youth! In Hot Fuzz, it’s the supermarket run by Simon Skinner (played by Timothy Dalton). Exterior only, though! Apparently, the interiors just weren’t big enough for filming.
Today, the Somerfield is no longer and 9-13 High Street in Wells currently sits vacant.
10. Little Theatre, Chamberlain Street
Nicholas and Danny head to the theatre to watch an amateur dramatic production of Romeo & Juliet. The exterior of Sandford’s local theatre is the Little Theatre on Chamberlain Street in Wells. The interior? You should know by now that’s located elsewhere…
11. St Cuthbert’s Church
The church roof needs to be saved! And what better way to raise the funds (and the roof, lol), that holding a church fête complete with fairground attractions and games. Though not one fundraiser that I’ve attended has ever ended in the local newspaper journalist getting their head caved in. But maybe that’s just me.
The church that stands in for Sandford’s St Vincent Church is the imposing St Cuthbert’s Church.
12. Wells Cathedral
I believe the Hot Fuzz crew were denied filming rights at the famous Wells Cathedral, hence why they shot at St Cuthbert’s Church instead. However, the spiral staircase where we see the hooded figure (and Sergeant Angel) clamber upwards is inside Wells Cathedral. So they must have allowed some light filming.
Hot Fuzz Filming Locations Elsewhere
13. The Manor Hotel, Elstree, Hertfordshire
The interior of the Swan Hotel is actually The Manor Elstree in Hertfordshire. It’s a huge, mid-16th century building with recently renovated interiors. Lots of light and beamed ceilings, that sort of hotel. The check-in desk and the dining room of the Sandford hotel are situated in The Manor Hotel, but I’m not 100% about Nicholas’ room. It was quite compact, so that may be an original location.
As is often the case with filming, the Swan Hotel’s interior was just a bit too cramped for the crew. Edgar Wright shot many of the interior Hot Fuzz filming locations in different locations from their exterior to utilise larger premises.
14. The Royal Standard of England, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
This pub (with its rather lofty title) stood in for The Crown Pub in Sandford’s interiors. With the low ceilings and dark wood, The Royal Standard of England in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire provides that medieval pub vibe that films love so much. Chalkboard menus and hundreds of branded coasters stuck on the wall, that kind of pub.
This pub also featured as Stephen Hawking’s local boozer in The Theory of Everything (2014).
15. Barn Theatre, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire
The Barn Theatre in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire stood in as the interior for Sanford’s Theatre.
Welwyn Garden City must’ve made a great impression on director Edgar Wright because he shot some The World’s End locations there a few years later!
16. Wards Hurst Farm (Mark Gent Ltd), Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire
Though the case into the deaths of Martin Bower and Eve Draper is hotting up, duty calls Nicholas and Danny elsewhere.
They head to a farm named Ellroy Farms where the incoherent Arthur Webley has been trimming hedges that aren’t his own (not a euphemism). In reality, this is Wards Hurst Farm in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. Since it’s a private farm, I doubt you’ll be able to visit this one!
17. Waverley Abbey, Farnham, Surrey
After confronting the NWA and learning the truth, Nicholas attempts to give the cult followers the slip. Nicholas runs away through Waverley Abbey in Farnham, Surrey where he finds Sandford’s horrific collection of discarded bodies. It’s an old ruined Cistercian abbey from 1128, now under the protection of English Heritage.
The abbey also appeared in Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later (2002).
18. Copped Hall, Epping, Essex
Apparently, after Waverley Abbey, the chase ends up in the dilapidated Georgian mansion known as Copped Hall in Epping, Essex which was victim to a huge fire so nowadays it’s all boarded up. Though I think there are still guided tours sometimes.
I have absolutely no idea where this filming location is in Hot Fuzz as the chase pretty much ends at the abbey. There are certainly no more stately homes. But, you know, I don’t know everything. Maybe my research is wrong and everyone else is right!
19. Hatfield House, Hatfield, Hertfordshire
This is another “apparently” location. Apparently, the final car chase (with the model village) takes place within the grounds of Hatfield House, a popular filming location in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. I mean, we don’t see any sign of Hatfield House itself and the house is huge so I’m sceptical. But I’m including it here so you have a full list of potential filming locations!
And those are all the top Hot Fuzz filming locations in England! Have you watched the movie or visited a Hot Fuzz shooting location? Let me know in the comments below!
Read next: Shaun of the Dead Filming Locations in London
Great article. I’m actually reading this say in The Crown waiting for breakfast
Thanks, Vikki! Ahh that’s so cool, I hope you are enjoying your trip 🙂