Where Is Peaky Blinders Set
The series is set primarily in Birmingham, England, during the years following World War I. The show's creators used real Birmingham locations to build the fictional Small Heath neighborhood where the Shelby family operates. Many of the exterior shots were filmed in the city and surrounding areas to capture the industrial atmosphere of early 20th-century Birmingham according to Forbes.
Birmingham's industrial landscape, including its factories, canals, and back-to-back housing, forms the visual backbone of the series. The Shelby family's base of operations is rooted in the real historical context of Birmingham's gang culture and economic struggles in the 1920s. The city's role as a center of manufacturing and political tension is central to the show's narrative as detailed on Wikipedia.
Real-World Locations and Filming Sites
While Birmingham is the primary setting, several other real locations were used for filming. Many interior scenes were shot at studios in the United Kingdom, and some exterior scenes were filmed in Scotland and other parts of England to stand in for different periods and settings as reported by Time Out.
The production team chose locations that could convincingly portray the gritty, industrial world of the Shelby family. This included historic buildings, urban streets, and rural areas that could be adapted to represent early 20th-century Britain. The use of real locations helps ground the fictional story in a recognizable historical and geographical context.
Historical Context and Companies Behind Peaky Blinders
The show draws on the real history of Birmingham's criminal gangs in the early 1900s. The name Peaky Blinders refers to a real gang that operated in the city during that era. The series fictionalizes many aspects of their story but retains the core elements of their rise in a rapidly changing industrial environment.
The production companies behind Peaky Blinders include Caryn Mandabach Productions and Tiger Aspect Productions, both well-known UK-based production firms. The series was broadcast by BBC and later became available on Netflix, which helped it reach a global audience as listed on the BBC website. The show's blend of historical detail and dramatic storytelling has made it one of the most-watched period dramas worldwide.