If you want to re-enact the iconic opening credits (without the screaming), head straight to West Bay. The pier you see in the show, with the red-and-white striped lighthouse? That’s the West Bay Pier, and it’s very real. Tourists there spend most of their time trying to take selfies without looking like they’re about to be interviewed by DI Hardy.
The actual cliffs where the tragic death occurred? Those are the East Cliff and West Cliff, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are gorgeous, ancient, and extremely photogenic—just try not to trip over a fossil while looking for clues. Locals have gotten used to visitors walking around with furrowed brows, muttering “Who did it?” into their pasties.
But Wait, There’s More Than One Town
Here’s where it gets fun, like a detective’s wild goose chase. While West Bay is the main hub, the show’s crew used several other Dorset locations to stitch together the fictional Broadchurch. The camera crew basically played pick-and-mix with the coastline. Clevedon in Somerset stands in for some of the coastal walks, while Eype Beach (near Bridport) provides a quieter, more sinister shoreline.
The police station? That’s actually a shop in the real West Bay. The pub where everyone gossips? That’s the Harbour Inn in West Bay. You can go there, order a pint, and pretend you’re a suspicious local. Just don’t stare at anyone too long, or they’ll think you’re hiding a secret. (Spoiler: everyone is.)
Where Broadchurch was filmed and the dark history of its real-life
