In the 2024 series, David Mitchell’s puzzle-setter-turned-detective, John ‘Ludwig’ Turner, must stand in for his twin brother, DCI James Taylor, who has gone missing. Persuaded by his sister-in-law, he’s starts investigating.
And of course, the show is brimming with TV favourites like Rose Ayling-Ellis as Freya Chordwell, Dipo Ola as DI Russell Carter, Izuka Hoyle as Ds Alice Finch, Cerran Howell as DC Simon Evans, Ralph Ineson as Chief Constable Ziegler, Karl Pilkington as DI Matt Neville, Felicity Kendal as Lady Camilla Bryce, Derek Jacobi as Mr Todd, and Anna Maxwell Martin as James’ wife, Lucy Betts-Taylor.
Ludwig Filming Locations
Ludwig filming locations in Cambridge include the River Cam, Queens’ Lane, Silver Street Bridge, Queens’ College, St John’s College, West Lane, the Bridge of Sighs and the Mathematical Bridge.
Filming took place in January 2024, covering the colleges, The Backs (backs of the colleges), central Cambridge, Moor Park near Rickmansworth, and local churches, schools and stately homes.
And of course, it’s all drawing on longstanding TV detective traditions – something that appealed to the show’s unlikely investigator.
“I grew up in Oxford and growing up watching Inspector Morse it felt very special to know the city a bit. Oxford or Cambridge is a very good context for a programme like this because, in the picturesque and historical surroundings, you can allude… the attractive, escapist side, but also a sense of darkness and oldness and the fact that humanity is flawed and twisted.”
David Mitchell, John Turner, BBC
Ludwig Locations
Queens’ Lane
Queens' Lane, Cambridge by Andrew Abbott, CC BY-SA 2.0
Look out for shots of Queens’ Lane in Cambridge in Ludwig Episode 1, as Ludwig drives his brother’s car (originally their dad’s) to the police station.
The red brick buildings on the right belong to St Catharine’s College, and you can just see King’s College’s King’s Lane entrance a the back of the shot.
Bryce Manor
Moor Park Mansion. Nigel Cox, CC BY-SA 2.0
The Ludwig Bryce Manor filming location is Moor Park Mansion, a Grade I-listed stately home near Rickmansworth.
Bryce Manor is the scene of the crime in Episode 2, prompting Ludwig and DI Carter to visit the hotel run by Lady Camilla Bryce.
Built in the 17th Century on land that once belonged to Cardinal Wolsey, the real Bryce Manor location has a weird and wonderful history.
Past owners renovated Moor Park with help from major names of their eras - including landscaping by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, and the gallery and tea pavilion which were supervised by Robert Adam.
In fact, some of this remodelling was noted by Thomas Jefferson (who would become the 3rd US President) during his visit in 1786.
Moor Park Mansion is now owned by Moor Park Golf Club, but you can visit the manor house by booking one of Moor Park’s monthly tours.
Cambridge University Library
University Library, West Road, Cambridge by David Hallam-Jones, CC BY-SA 2.0
West Road and Cambridge University Library appear in Ludwig Episode 3, as Lucy poses as a reporter. During the episode, she tries another tack to find out more about why James disappeared and what’s happened to him since.
The library itself dates back to the 14th Century, but the building was constructed between 1931 and 1934. Look out for it just before Lucy conducts her interview.
River Cam
The river scenes in Ludwig were filmed on the River Cam – just as they appear onscreen. The David Mitchell detective series shot the scenes in and on Cambridge’s river in early January 2024.
At the time, the cast and crew were spotting punting – and cosying up under blankets between takes.
St John’s College
St Johns College. Cmglee, CC BY-SA 3.0
Ludwig was filmed at St John’s College, Cambridge, in early 2024 – including the scene-setting shots in the trailer. This is the college with a large courtyard, and for good reason.
Founded in 1511 by Lady Margaret Beaufort (mother of Henry VII), St John’s is one of the largest colleges, with around 1,000 students.
If you want to see it for yourself, you can visit on select dates outside term time, or take a virtual tour.
Bridge of Sighs
Cambridge’s Bridge of Sighs is another Ludwig filming location in the heart of Cambridge. Completed in 1831, this elegant neo-Gothic bridge links St John’s College buildings on either side.
It’s a popular point of interest on Cambridge’s many punting tours. This bridge location is the one that appeared in the background of the show’s publicity shots.
Queens’ College
Queens College. Hadrianus1959, CC BY-SA 4.0
Filming for Ludwig took place at Queens’ College, Cambridge, in January 2024. This college is home to the Mathematical Bridge, or Queens’ Bridge – whose claim to fame is its unusual construction.
It’s built using straight timbers, no curves, that’s rumoured to hold together without bolts (actually, the trick is that they’re cleverly concealed).
Silver Street Bridge
David Mitchell’s Ludwig series was filmed around Silver Street and the Silver Street Bridge, which runs along the southern side of Queens’ College on both banks.
Also known as the Small Bridge, the Grade II-listed bridge was originally designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1932. But it wasn’t actually built until 1958 to 1959.
School
The school location in Ludwig Episode 5 is St James Senior Boys’ School in Ashford, Surrey. In the comedy drama, Mrs Chordwell’s school is the scene of Ludwig’s fifth murder investigation. It’s situated just inside the M25, not far from Heathrow.