May 27th 2024.
Have you ever dreamed of strolling down those iconic cobbles? For the past 63 years, Coronation Street has been captivating audiences worldwide with its gripping storylines and lovable characters. As the longest running television soap opera in the world, it has aired over 11,200 episodes and continues to serve up plenty of high drama.
Set in the fictional town of Weatherfield, the ITV soap follows the lives and loves of its residents, most of whom reside on the eponymous Coronation Street and its surrounding area. Throughout the years, we've witnessed everything from train and tram crashes to explosions, murders, kidnappings, car crashes, robberies, and shootings - the list goes on. But amidst all the tragedy, one thing that sets Corrie apart is its ability to seamlessly weave in moments of comedy.
It's no surprise that there are countless fans who would jump at the chance to visit Weatherfield themselves, or perhaps even grab a pint at the famous Rovers Return. But the question remains - where exactly is the show filmed, can the public visit, and how does it all come together?
Since 2014, Coronation Street has been filmed near MediaCity, but for the past 10 years, it was filmed at its own production base in Trafford Park, Greater Manchester. This 7.7 acre site consists of six studios for interior scenes, an expanding exterior set, and two production hubs for various purposes. And let's not forget the all-important staff canteen! The site also offers a dedicated visitor experience, allowing fans to get a taste of the behind-the-scenes action.
In its early years, all exterior scenes were filmed inside with the iconic cobbles simply painted on the floor. But in 1968, a whopping 54,000 real cobbles were laid down at the new site, which is located near the MediaCity development - home to both BBC and ITV in the North. Prior to this, for 53 years, the show was filmed at the former Granada Studios in Manchester City Centre. However, as the show grew in popularity, it quickly outgrew the facilities and had to be relocated.
The original set, which was seen when Queen Camilla met Queen Liz McDonald, has long been demolished. The houses were initially just wooden facades, but eventually, they were rebuilt with bricks due to Manchester's not-so-great weather. In 1982, the set was expanded to include Rosamund Street, and since then, it has continued to evolve to include new locations and landmarks.
While Weatherfield may not be a real place, it is based on the Ordsall area of Salford, which Coronation Street creator Tony Warren and designer Denis Parkin visited when planning the show. In recent years, we've seen real Salford locations transformed into fictional ones, such as Salford Quays becoming Weatherfield Quays.
And what about the famous Granada Studios Tour? Well, it was a popular attraction for fans to walk the cobbles and even grab a pint at a licensed replica of the Rovers Return. Visitors could also take part in a variety of other attractions, including a New York themed street and a 3D cinema. However, after a few mishaps and declining visitor numbers, the tour was closed in 1999.
But before the studios were redeveloped, fans were given one last chance to visit and experience the magic behind the scenes. And now, with the soap's relocation in 2014, the doors have been opened once again for a new generation to catch a glimpse of the iconic street and its beloved characters.
Have you ever dreamed of walking on the same cobbled street as your favorite soap opera characters? Coronation Street, the longest running television soap opera in the world, has been on air for over 63 years and has aired more than 11,200 episodes, providing endless drama and entertainment to its viewers. The show, produced by ITV, revolves around the lives and romances of the residents of Weatherfield, a fictional town where the majority of the characters reside on the iconic Coronation Street and its surrounding area. Throughout the years, the show has had its fair share of nail-biting moments, from train and tram crashes to explosions, murders, kidnappings, and even car crashes, robberies, and shootings. But what sets Corrie apart is its ability to incorporate humor into its tragic storylines seamlessly.
It's no surprise that there are countless fans out there who would love nothing more than to visit the town of Weatherfield themselves or perhaps even stop by for a drink at the famous Rovers pub. But is it possible for the public to visit the set of Coronation Street? Where exactly is the show filmed and set?
For the past 10 years, Coronation Street has been filmed at its purpose-built production base located in Trafford Park, Greater Manchester. The 7.7 acre site includes six studios where all interior scenes are filmed, a growing exterior set, and two production hubs for office use, dressing rooms, a mail room, props storage, costume and makeup storage, and most importantly, the staff canteen. There's even a dedicated visitor experience for fans to get a behind-the-scenes look at the show's production.
But it wasn't always filmed at this location. For the first 8 years, all exterior scenes were shot inside the studio with the iconic cobbled street painted on the floor. It wasn't until the show moved to its current site that a total of 54,000 real cobbles were laid down. Prior to that, for 53 years, the show was filmed at the former Granada Studios in Manchester City Centre. However, the show quickly outgrew the facilities at Granada and in its early years, the entire show, including exterior scenes, was filmed inside their second smallest studio. It wasn't until 1982, when the set was rebuilt on a much larger scale, that it included the famous Rosamund Street.
Now, you may be wondering where exactly Weatherfield is supposed to be located. The truth is, it doesn't actually exist in real life. In 1995, the show's creator Tony Warren revealed that the fictional town is located roughly four miles from Manchester in any direction. When planning the show, Warren and designer Denis Parkin visited the Ordsall area of Salford and based the set design on the now-demolished Archie Street. In recent years, real Salford locations have been replaced with fictional ones on the show, such as Salford Quays becoming Weatherfield Quays.
You may have also noticed that Salford City Council bins can be seen on the set, and even the bus stop maps show Weatherfield as part of the wider city. A recent post on Twitter from a Corrie tour guide even shows the fictional tram stop, located on Victoria Street, as being near the main campus of Salford University.
Now, for those long-time fans of the show, you may recall the Granada Studios Tour, which was launched in 1988. This allowed fans to walk on the iconic cobbles and also offered other attractions such as a New York themed street, a replica of Downing Street, and a 3D cinema. The most popular attraction was being able to enjoy a pint of Newton and Ridley best bitter at a licensed replica of the Rovers Return. Visitors could even film their own scene with beloved characters like Betty Turpin and Mike Baldwin using a chroma-key backdrop.
Unfortunately, the tour closed in 1999 due to issues with the installation of Skytrak, the world's first flying roller coaster, and decreasing visitor numbers. But in 2014, with the relocation of the show, the doors were opened one last time for fans to experience the tour before the studios were redeveloped. And now, with the show being filmed at its current location, it's possible to take a selfie outside The Kabin or pose in front of the factory once again.
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