Why Peaky Blinders chose Rochdale Town Hall as a double for the Houses of Parliament

The grand Victorian Gothic interiors of Rochdale Town Hall, featuring vaulted ceilings, a sweeping staircase and rich wooden panelling were used extensivley in Seasons 4 and 5 as a double for the Houses of Parliament and Thomas Shelby’s Westminster office. The space also served as the backdrop for the memorable scene in which Cillian Murphy’s character celebrates his election victory alongside the entire Shelby famiy. 

Making the most of the similarity to the Houses of Parliament, Cillian Murphy and the cast of Peaky Blinders filmed a number of scenes detailing Shelby’s ascent to Labour MP for Birmingham and his navigation of the government’s power structure. Rochdale Town Hall provided the authentic backdrop the producers were looking for and ‘convincingly captured the high-pressure political environment in which Shelby now found himself.’

Following the success of its earlier appearance on screen, producers recently returned to Rochdale Town Hall to film a contemporary TV drama. The production once again showcased the building’s distinctive character and versatility, highlighting its ability to adapt seamlessly to both period and modern settings. Watch this space for more details about this latest production.