The Day Britain Stopped BBC Mockumentery a question

[Galvanize]

Evening everyone.

10 years ago, in 2003 the BBC aired a mockumentary called "The Day Britain Stopped", which was about a fictional transport meltdown across the UK caused by a nationwide railway strike. I'm not going to spoil the plot for those who haven't watched it, I recommend it, makes a very good viewing if you have a spare 90 minutes!

Here's my question that I've been scratching my head for the answer for years.
There's a scene where they supposedly interview somebody from Swanley in Kent, however when they zoom in on "Swanley", they show an aerial view of a completely different location.

It looks quite distinctive as there is a patterned roundabout, a large park/common area with straight paths, the buildings look almost victorian, and in the background, there are several high rise buildings too.

So...does anyone know where it is?

Also, anyone who wants to see the programme, can do so on Youtube!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6BxSbx1Fm0

 

[Leylandlad]

It was a very good view 10 years ago...just like the GTR programmes Weds/Thurs this week.

Basically true, but some poetic licence. The exact locations could not be replicated on film.

Where was the GTR filmed?

 

[Galvanize]

Where was the GTR filmed?

Keighley and Worth Valley Railway was where the GTR was filmed.

The location I'm wondering about, can't be in London surely, I probably would of recognised it if it was in London. Quite a few places are ruled out as the buildings either look too old, or too built up, or too flat!

Hmm...

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Looks like Harrogate to me, in West Yorkshire.
I'd thought of Clifton Downs in Bristol for a moment, but there was too much tweeness in those images (I'm sure Harrogate is a colony of Camden).
The curves in the third picture made me wonder about Nottingham, and the dormer windows seemed to belong in the north, but I couldn't place the park there.
The colours have been distorted, which also confused me for a while - but once we realise that these are mainly lime trees, and can compensate for that, then it becomes clearer. The pale memorial, the church tower (blackened at the time), the curved terrace with dormer windows, and the angles of the paths through the park clinched it.

 

[Bayum]

Looks like Harrogate to me, in West Yorkshire.
I'd thought of Clifton Downs in Bristol for a moment, but there was too much tweeness in those images (I'm sure Harrogate is a colony of Camden).
The curves in the third picture made me wonder about Nottingham, and the dormer windows seemed to belong in the north, but I couldn't place the park there.
The colours have been distorted, which also confused me for a while - but once we realise that these are mainly lime trees, and can compensate for that, then it becomes clearer. The pale memorial, the church tower (blackened at the time), the curved terrace with dormer windows, and the angles of the paths through the park clinched it.

Harrogate is north, not West Yorkshire

 

[Galvanize]

Looks like Harrogate to me, in West Yorkshire.

Harrogate eh? Last place I expected it to be...

Thanks very much for that!!

 

[dosxuk]

Looks like Harrogate to me too - the third image is almost certainly here.

 

[ian1944]

Definitely Harrogate. The first image is the junction of West Park and Otley Road, a bit south of the third one

 

[Galvanize]

The BBC probably chose Harrogate as it looks slightly nicer than Swanley, plus Swanley is not as built up as Harrogate appears to be.

 

[tractakid]

I remember this! 10 years ago! Merits a re-watch I think.