Murdoch Mysteries is a mystery drama television series based on Maureen Jennings’ novel series ‘Detective Murdoch’. The show is set in 1895 and follows William Murdoch, a smart detective who solves a variety of bizarre and serious crimes in Toronto. He employs tactics that are extremely advanced for his period. The show’s historical setting and intriguing settings make it highly engaging. If you enjoy watching the show, you may be curious about where it is filmed. We did some research and found the information for you. Here’s everything we know about the filming sites for Murdoch Mysteries.
Where was “Murdoch Mysteries” Filmed?
The majority of the filming takes place in Toronto, Canada, where the series is primarily situated. Murdoch also solves cases in other parts of Canada, thus some episodes are shot in different locations. The majority of the shooting, however, takes place in the province of Ontario. Filming takes place both on set and on site, depending on the scene.
The first two seasons were filmed at Toronto Film Studios on East Avenue. But the studio closed down in 2008. So, season 3 was partly filmed near the Kipling Subway. For the fourth season, filming took place in various spots around the city.
Most of the show is filmed in Toronto. The city’s Victorian and Gothic architecture made it a perfect choice for the series. The cast and crew film every season in the city. They use a specially built façade of Toronto streets for filming many scenes. This set is located at Sullivan Studios’ backlot at 66 Hymus Rd in Scarborough, Ontario. The studio has some of the best period sets in Canada. The inside of Murdoch and Julia’s house, called Murdoch Home, is filmed on a set in this studio. Since the sixth season, the series also has its own backlot at the CBC Studios in Toronto. They build sets on sound stages at the studio complex to film different indoor scenes.
The cast and crew film at various spots in the city. Some of these locations include the Distillery District, Don Jail, Allan Gardens, Cherry Beach, Polson Pier, Casa Loma, Toronto Islands, and Cabbagetown. Black Creek Pioneer Village is another location. It is a working village in the north end of the city that still looks like it did in the 1860s. The production team often films here.
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, a port city in Ontario, is another favorite filming location for the show. The series is filmed in many places around the city. Some locations include St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church on James Street, Whitehern House Museum at 41 Jackson Street W, and Scottish Rite Club at 4 Queen Street S.
Other locations in Hamilton used for filming are Westfield Heritage Village, Ruthven Park near Cayuga, 270 Sherman, Slainte Irish Pub, The Hamilton Club, Gage Park, Chedoke Estate, McMaster University, The Cotton Factory, and Downtown Dundas. The exterior shots of the 1859 Victorian pump house at the Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology are used as the City Morgue and Station House No. 4 buildings.
Cambridge, Ontario
Cambridge, a city in the Waterloo area of Ontario, is also a common filming location for the show. Some scenes for season 14 were filmed at Brant Road N in the Galt district and Argyle Street N in Preston. The town is known for its old buildings from the 1800s and the beautiful views from the limestone cliffs.
Brantford, Ontario
Brantford, a city in Ontario on the banks of River Grand, is another filming spot for the show. Some places used for filming in Brantford are The Glenhyrst Art Gallery, parts of the S.C. Johnson Trail at Glenhyrst, Carnegie Building, and Victoria Square.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver, a city in British Columbia, is also shown in the series. Filming of one episode in season 11 and the third Christmas special, ‘A Merry Murdoch Christmas,’ took place in Vancouver. Some spots used for filming in Vancouver are Cattle Point, Oak Bay waterfront, and Gowlland Tod Park.
Other Locations in Canada
Other filming locations in Canada include Parkwood Estate, a historical landmark in Oshawa, Ontario, which is periodically utilized for filming. Other Ontario cities where the show is taped include Mississauga, Guelph, Kitchener, and Stratford. Yukon is the setting for the opening episode of season five, which was filmed in Dawson City. Dobbie House is another location where interior sequences from season one were filmed. It is located at 68 Pine St N in Thorold, Ontario. The Walper Terrace Hotel on Queen Street South in Kitchener serves as the Winsdor House Hotel in the show.
Bristol, England
Bristol, a city on the banks of River Avon in England, was used for filming the first episode of season three, titled ‘The Murdoch Identity.’ The episode was shot in many parts of Bristol, such as Clifton Down, College Green, College Square, The Polygon, The Paragon, Christmas Steps, St Nicholas Market, Exchange Avenue, Corn Street, All Saints Lane, Broad Street, Leonard Lane, and St Stephen’s Street.
These are the main filming locations for ‘Murdoch Mysteries.’ The show uses many interesting places to bring the old-time Toronto setting to life.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Murdoch Mysteries
Q: Where was ‘Murdoch Mysteries’ filmed?
A: ‘Murdoch Mysteries’ was primarily filmed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Many scenes were shot on location around the city, including the Distillery District, Don Jail, Allan Gardens, and Casa Loma. The series also utilized sets at Sullivan Studios in Scarborough and CBC Studios in Toronto. Additional filming took place in other Ontario cities like Hamilton, Cambridge, Brantford, and even Vancouver, British Columbia, for specific episodes.
Q: When was ‘Murdoch Mysteries’ filmed?
A: The filming of ‘Murdoch Mysteries’ has been continuous since the series’ inception. Each season normally begins production in the spring and runs through the summer, allowing the show to be released in the fall or winter. The specific filming dates vary each season, but each season’s production typically takes several months.
Q: Where in Toronto was ‘Murdoch Mysteries’ filmed?
A: In Toronto, ‘Murdoch Mysteries’ was filmed at various locations, including the Distillery District, Don Jail, Allan Gardens, Cherry Beach, Polson Pier, Casa Loma, Toronto Islands, and Cabbagetown. The show also used the Black Creek Pioneer Village, a working village in the city’s north end, for its authentic 1860s appearance. Additionally, many indoor scenes were filmed on sets at Sullivan Studios and CBC Studios in Toronto.
Q: When did the filming of ‘Murdoch Mysteries’ start?
A: The filming of ‘Murdoch Mysteries’ began with its first season in 2008. The production has continued yearly, with each new season starting its filming cycle typically in the spring and continuing through the summer. Over the years, the series has maintained a consistent filming schedule to ensure timely releases of each season.
Q: When was ‘Murdoch Mysteries’ released?
A: ‘Murdoch Mysteries’ first premiered on January 24, 2008.
