With the darker, new year evenings well and truly with us, the A-Team is very much in agreement that there’s nothing better than a cosy night in front of the box, with a little homework thrown into the mix when it comes to location spotting.
And The Night Manager, season two, certainly delivers on that front.
It’s been a long time coming, almost 10 years, in fact. The drama last graced our screens in 2016, following Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) as he was pulled into the shadowy world of international espionage, going undercover to infiltrate the inner circle of arms dealer Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie).
In this new season, Pine once again finds himself jetting around the globe on another high-stakes mission. This time, he heads to Colombia to expose a sprawling conspiracy involving arms dealing, corruption and a powerful guerrilla army. The tone feels noticeably more Bond-esque with beautiful locations, glamorous characters and a generous helping of suspense woven throughout.
Naturally, as travel and accommodation experts for the film, sport and TV industries, we couldn’t help but obsess over the breath-taking filming locations that act as dramatic backdrops for many of the overseas scenes. From Medellín to Mallorca, and from London and Wales to Barcelona, the series moves effortlessly between opulent, sun-drenched settings and grittier urban environments. One standout location is the now disused Aldwych Station in London, a firm favourite with film crews thanks to its beautifully preserved Leslie Green architecture, a striking example of Edwardian design that adds instant atmosphere on screen.
During filming abroad, the production also worked closely with the Colombia Film Commission, ensuring the crew had expert local guidance on where to film, where to avoid, and how best to showcase the country’s landscapes safely and authentically.
“Because our teams work so closely with production crews, shows like this, and many others of course, offer a fascinating insight into how locations shape a story.”
– Lee Gunn
And we couldn’t help but notice the Grand Meliá hotel in Barcelona either, with its light and airy reception and understated luxury making it the perfect setting for the show’s more polished yet tense moments where meetings happen and the main protagonists are seen sitting in the bar area.
“In the series so far, we’ve spotted everything from a cemetery and a college to a luxury villa, tennis court and several hotels. It doesn’t take the magic away, instead, it deepens our appreciation of the creativity and logistics behind the scenes, and highlights just how vital travel, accommodation and location planning is to productions like The Night Manager.”
– James Austin
All in all, we think its return is a masterclass in stylish storytelling, blending intrigue, international travel and unforgettable locations. It’s a reminder that when it’s done well, locations can be just as compelling a character as those on screen. And for us, that makes this comeback even more satisfying to watch.
New episodes of The Night Manager season 2 are available to watch on BBC iPlayer and BBC One every Sunday at 9pm.