Long before HBO’s Euphoria hit the screens, the Bristol-based UK series Skins hooked adolescent audiences and left their parents riddled with anxiety.
The Skins UK show — not to be confused with the short-lived Skins US remake — touched on everything that angsty youth fantasized about and feared.
Drugs, homelessness, sex, fake friends, real love, death.
The show hit home hard for viewers that faced the same struggles; and the drama that unfolded with each of the three cast generations kept the series going for seven seasons.
Image Credit: Getty Images, VictorHuang. Image Location: Cliftonwood, Bristol, England
Skins UK: filming locations in Bristol
Head to these notable filming locations for the Skins UK show shot in Bristol.
John Cabot Academy
Closest station: Lawrence Hill
Scenes for the fictional Roundview College were shot at the real high school known as John Cabot Academy.
College Green
Closest station: Clifton Down
Outside of Bristol Cathedral and a short walk from the University of Bristol’s campus, College Green is one of the mainstay set pieces featured in Skins.
St Nicholas Market
Closest station: Bristol Temple Meads
St Nicholas Market is right in Old Town, making it a great Bristol UK Skins filming location to visit while sightseeing. It’s not recommended that you drive a car down the adjacent stairs and we wouldn’t recommend recreating most of the Skins scenes on your holiday.
Uncle Keith’s Pub
Closest station: Stapleton Road
Cook’s Uncle Keith’s pub was a real pub called Fishponds Tavern. It’s a bit out of the way from the nearest train station in central Bristol; but regardless, the pub has been closed for years.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Martin Turner. Image Location: Thekla in Bristol Harbourside
Thekla
Closest station: Bristol Temple Meads
Speaking of Cook, the private boat party in Season 3 took place on Thekla. Thekla is a real two-floor night club on an old cargo ship. It’s moored in the harbor near Queen Square.
Pero’s Bridge
Closest station: Bristol Temple Meads
Connecting College Green to Queen Square, Pero’s Bridge showed up a handful of times, with it garnering the most focus during a chat between Jal and Chris.
Brandon Hill
Closest station: Clifton Down
End your Bristol UK Skins film location adventure at Brandon Hill. Sit on a bench and look over the city, as Cassie and Sid did to end Season 1.
Bonus Skins UK filming location: Talacre Beach, Wales
Closest station: Prestatyn
One of the few times Skins filmed outside of England was during its final season when production rolled into Wales. Filming for a beach scene with Cassie, whose fictional family lives in Wales, took place at Talacre Beach near the Talacre Lighthouse.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Pete Rowbottom. Image Location: Talacre Beach, North Wales
Peeling back Skins UK
What to know about the Skins UK show that springboarded many of its cast members to stardom.
Who was in the Skins UK cast?
The Skins UK series starred a lot of faces that are still familiar today, including Kaya Scodelario (Netflix’s The Gentlemen), Nicholas Hoult (Hulu’s The Great), Joe Dempsie and Hannah Murray (Game of Thrones), Dev Patel (Monkey Man), Jack O’Connell (Ferrari), Daniel Kaluuya (Black Mirror), and Lily Loveless (The Royals).
Is Skins UK connected to the Skins MTV show?
No, the Skins UK series is not connected to the Skins series that aired on MTV in North America. The Skins MTV series is a remake of the Skins UK series and it got its plug pulled shortly after its release, despite the UK series getting seven seasons.
Where was Skins filmed in the UK?
Skins was both set and filmed primarily in Bristol, England. London Paddington train station can get you to Bristol Temple Meads or Bristol Parkway in 90 minutes — giving you time to use the free on-board Wifi to stream two episodes of the racy show.
It’s best to leave the sex, drugs, and hooliganism to the Skins UK cast. Keep the series’ shenanigans on your phone, as well as your train ticket to Bristol. Purchase and store e-tickets directly on the Trainline app.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Paul C Stokes. Image Location: Bristol, England
