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| Where Was It Gets Worse Filmed? All the London Locations in the 2026 Series. |
The 2026 comedy series It Gets Worse was filmed across London, England, using neighbourhood streets, residential areas and urban environments to capture the pressures of growing up in one of the world's most expensive cities. Rather than relying on postcard views of Big Ben or Buckingham Palace, the production focuses on the less glamorous side of the capital, where finding somewhere affordable to live can feel like a full-time job in itself.
The London Boroughs of Lewisham and Tower Hamlets are among the named filming areas, with the series drawing on the city's residential streets, industrial spaces and commercial districts to establish its setting. For viewers curious about the real-world locations behind the six-part comedy, these areas offer a starting point for exploring the London atmosphere that shapes the story.
London, England
London provides the overall setting for It Gets Worse, giving the series a recognisable urban backdrop for its three university friends as they attempt to navigate adulthood. The capital's mix of crowded rental properties, busy streets, nightlife and modern workplaces suits a story about young people whose ambitions have not quite caught up with their circumstances. It is a city of expensive flats, packed public transport and career opportunities that sometimes seem to demand considerably more enthusiasm than the salary justifies.
For visitors, London's varied neighbourhoods provide plenty to explore, from independent cafés and markets to historic streets and cultural venues. Areas such as South Bank offer riverside walks and views of the city, while Shoreditch is known for its street art, creative businesses and nightlife. These destinations help illustrate the contrast between London's polished tourist image and the everyday urban life that gives It Gets Worse its character. However, the specific filming addresses have not all been publicly identified, so the wider city is a more reliable starting point than searching for individual scenes.
London Borough of Lewisham, South London
Lewisham is one of the principal boroughs associated with the series' production. Located in South London, it combines established residential neighbourhoods, busy shopping streets, local businesses and quieter pockets of green space. Its everyday urban character makes it a fitting backdrop for a comedy concerned with housing pressures and the struggle to establish a stable life.
The borough's streets and residential surroundings provide the kind of lived-in atmosphere that helps ground the characters' experiences. Instead of making London look like one enormous luxury property advert, this setting reflects the ordinary places where people actually live, work and try to make ends meet. That is particularly relevant to a story involving an unexpected eviction and three friends forced to reconsider their living arrangements.
Visitors exploring Lewisham can also discover Lewisham Market, an established local shopping destination, and Hilly Fields, a green space offering walking routes and views across the surrounding area. These locations provide a broader introduction to the borough's community life and landscape. They should not automatically be treated as individual filming spots, but they are worthwhile places to include when exploring the area associated with the production.
London Borough of Tower Hamlets, East London
Tower Hamlets is another named filming area for It Gets Worse. Situated in East London, the borough contains a varied mix of historic streets, residential neighbourhoods, commercial centres and redeveloped waterfront districts. This changing urban landscape fits the series' interest in the gap between the lives its characters imagine for themselves and the reality they encounter.
The borough's contrasting environments are particularly suitable for a story that moves between less glamorous accommodation and the more polished workplaces of modern London. New developments stand alongside older buildings, creating a visual reminder that the capital's different worlds can exist within a relatively short distance of one another. For the characters, however, changing their surroundings does not necessarily mean solving their problems. A new postcode is not a personality transplant, unfortunately.
Visitors can explore Brick Lane, known for its food, independent shops and street art, or head towards Canary Wharf, where modern office towers, waterfront paths and shopping destinations dominate the landscape. Both offer a sense of East London's variety, from its long-established cultural character to its corporate skyline. They are useful additions to a Tower Hamlets itinerary, although their inclusion here as visitor destinations does not establish that individual scenes from the series were shot at either location.
Residential Streets and Shared Rental Properties
Shared housing is central to the world of It Gets Worse. The story begins with three friends facing the loss of their home after their landlord decides to sell, turning an already uncertain living situation into a problem that cannot be postponed with another night out. Residential environments therefore play an important role in establishing the characters' circumstances and the pressures behind their decisions.
The production's London setting lends itself to scenes involving cramped living arrangements, everyday neighbourhood streets and the familiar surroundings of rented accommodation. Such places make the housing crisis feel personal rather than abstract. For young adults trying to balance work, relationships and financial independence, the difference between having a home and merely having somewhere to sleep can be considerable.
Deptford, within the London Borough of Lewisham, is another area worth exploring for its mix of residential streets, independent businesses and creative spaces. Its market and local food scene give the neighbourhood a distinctive character, while its urban surroundings reflect the diversity of South London. Visitors interested in the series' broader setting may find this part of the capital particularly relevant, even though individual residential addresses used during filming have not all been publicly disclosed.
Industrial and Warehouse Districts
Industrial buildings and converted warehouses are another important part of the series' urban landscape. Sam's move into an anarchist commune introduces a different way of living from the conventional domestic arrangements associated with the other characters. The contrast gives the story room to explore questions of independence, personal ideals and whether unconventional living arrangements are genuinely liberating or simply another source of chaos.
London's former industrial districts have undergone substantial changes over the years, with some warehouses transformed into creative workspaces, studios and cultural venues. Their combination of exposed brickwork, large interiors and industrial architecture makes them visually distinctive, while their history connects them to the city's changing relationship with work, housing and redevelopment.
Hackney Wick, in East London, is a useful destination for visitors interested in this architectural character. The area is known for its creative studios, converted industrial buildings and canalside surroundings. It offers a different perspective on the capital from its traditional tourist centre, with a mixture of working spaces, cultural venues and places to eat. Although it suits the kind of atmosphere associated with the series' warehouse setting, it should be approached as an additional place to explore rather than an individually identified filming address.
Corporate Offices and Commercial Spaces
The corporate environments in It Gets Worse provide a sharp contrast to the characters' uncertain domestic lives. Abi attempts to build a more conventional adult existence through her relationship and career, including a promotion that places her in the orbit of a demanding startup boss. The professional world promises structure and progress, but the series' satirical outlook suggests that a job title alone will not make anyone feel as though they have finally worked everything out.
London's commercial districts offer a natural setting for this side of the story. Glass office buildings, busy streets and modern workplaces represent the career ambitions that many young adults are encouraged to pursue, even when the reality of office life proves rather less glamorous than expected.
Canary Wharf is one of the capital's most recognisable business districts, with high-rise offices, shopping facilities and landscaped waterfront areas. It provides a useful destination for visitors interested in seeing the modern corporate side of London. The area also demonstrates the contrast between the city's financial centre and the residential neighbourhoods that sustain its workforce.
Old Street, around the boundary of Islington and Hackney, is another well-known centre for technology businesses and startup culture. Its surrounding streets contain offices, cafés and other businesses associated with London's creative and technology sectors. Both destinations complement the professional themes explored in It Gets Worse, without establishing that every office scene was filmed in either district.
Nightlife Venues and Party Settings
Nightlife is an important part of the characters' attempts to escape their problems. When their shared home comes under threat, the friends turn to clubbing, only for existing tensions to follow them onto the dance floor. The party scenes reflect the familiar temptation to ignore difficult decisions until the next morning, when the rent is still due and nobody has magically become more emotionally mature.
London's nightlife offers a wide range of settings, from small independent venues to large clubs and late-night bars. East and South London have particularly varied nightlife scenes, making them suitable areas to explore for visitors interested in the city's contemporary music and social culture.
Shoreditch, in East London, is known for its bars, restaurants, street art and nightlife. Its busy streets and mix of creative businesses make it an appealing destination for anyone looking to experience a different side of the capital after dark. In South London, Peckham offers another lively combination of food venues, bars and cultural spaces, with a character shaped by its independent businesses and diverse community.
These areas provide a broader sense of the social environments reflected in the series. However, the exact club and party venues used during production have not all been identified publicly, so visitors should avoid assuming that a particular establishment featured on screen without reliable confirmation.
Additional London Locations Worth Exploring
London's appeal extends well beyond the individual boroughs and types of settings associated with It Gets Worse. Visitors can use the series as inspiration for a wider trip through the capital, combining residential neighbourhoods with cultural attractions, riverside walks and historic districts.
Greenwich offers a different atmosphere from the dense streets of central London, with its historic buildings, parkland and views across the River Thames. The area is home to the Royal Observatory and the National Maritime Museum, making it a worthwhile destination for visitors interested in London's history and architecture.
Bermondsey, in South London, provides another mix of urban streets, food destinations and converted industrial buildings. Its markets, independent businesses and riverside surroundings offer an alternative to the capital's best-known tourist routes.
Neither destination should be confused with a confirmed individual filming address simply because it shares the broader London setting. They are additional places to explore while discovering the city that provides the backdrop for the series.
When Was It Gets Worse Filmed?
Production on the six-part series reportedly began in October 2025 and continued into the early months of 2026. That schedule places filming before its 2026 release, allowing the production to capture the London environments that shape the characters' experiences.
The reported filming period also helps explain why the series reflects contemporary London rather than presenting the city as a timeless backdrop. Housing costs, changing workplaces and the pressure to appear successful are central to its setting, and the production's urban environments support those themes.
However, not every filming address has been made public. Productions may keep some location details private during filming to protect cast and crew, reduce disruption and allow work to continue without unwanted attention. As a result, it is important to distinguish between the boroughs associated with production and the exact buildings or businesses used for particular scenes.
What Is It Gets Worse About?
It Gets Worse is a six-part comedy created by Leo Reich, who also writes and stars in the series. The story follows three university friends attempting to navigate their mid-twenties in contemporary London, where their plans for adulthood begin to unravel after they face eviction from their shared home.
Leo Reich plays Ethan, a neurotic and self-absorbed young man who struggles to take responsibility for his future. Emily Fairn plays Abi, who attempts to maintain a conventional image of success through her career and relationship, while Olive Gray portrays Sam, an aspiring writer whose alternative living arrangements test their own ideals.
Sean Delaney appears as Tom, Abi's boyfriend, while Zadie Smith provides narration. Lena Dunham and Andrew Scott also appear in guest roles.
The series uses dark comedy and social satire to explore the gap between the lives young adults expect to have and the reality they experience. Its London settings reinforce those themes, from the struggle to find somewhere affordable to live to the pressure of maintaining friendships while everyone seems to be heading in a different direction.
My Opinion on It Gets Worse and Its Filming Locations
What makes the London setting of It Gets Worse interesting is that it does not need to turn the capital into a glossy travel advert. Its appeal comes from the everyday places where people try to build a life, even when their finances, careers and relationships appear to be working against them. Lewisham and Tower Hamlets provide a useful foundation for that atmosphere, while the city's residential streets, industrial buildings and commercial districts reflect the different directions taken by the central characters.
For viewers, exploring these areas could be more rewarding than simply hunting for a famous landmark that appears for three seconds on screen. The sensible approach is to enjoy the neighbourhoods themselves, support local businesses and respect residents who have absolutely no obligation to explain their street to every visiting fan. London has enough character without turning somebody's front door into a tourist attraction.
Can You Visit the It Gets Worse Filming Locations?
Yes, visitors can explore publicly accessible parts of London, including Lewisham, Tower Hamlets, Deptford, Shoreditch and Canary Wharf. These destinations offer a mixture of local culture, architecture, food and nightlife that reflects the wider urban environment associated with the series.
However, the exact addresses of every filming location have not been publicly identified, and some scenes may have been filmed in private buildings or controlled production spaces. Visitors should respect residents, businesses and any access restrictions rather than attempting to enter private properties for photographs.
Ultimately, It Gets Worse offers another reason to look beyond London's most famous tourist attractions and discover the neighbourhoods that give the city its everyday character. Would you add Lewisham, Tower Hamlets or Shoreditch to your travel bucket list, or would you rather explore the locations connected to the characters' homes and nightlife? Share which part of London you would most like to visit.