I love to watch a certain daily Soap Opera called Doctors on BBC 1. It first aired in 2000, while I was still at uni, meaning on afternoon “study leave” I could watch at lunchtime. In 2001 it moved to the 2.10 pm slot meaning my housemates and I would watch it after Neighbours (oh we used to love the Australian soaps!). In the days before digital TV we missed more episodes than we watched but the beauty of Doctors is that each episode (usually) can be watched as a standalone story in addition to the ongoing storylines featuring the regular cast.
*If you are reading this, chances are you are a BBC Doctors fan. The BBC has just announced that they are cancelling “BBC Doctors” in December 2024, despite its consistent performance in ratings. Please sign the Save BBC Doctors Petition if you’d like to give this much-loved, long-running soap a chance to continue.
BBC Doctors
There was a brief hiatus in my viewing when I graduated and began to work but I made up for this while on maternity leave in 2003 (and 2006, 2008 and 2011!). It helped make the constantly breastfeeding years bearable! Conveniently for me, during this time old episodes of BBC Doctors were also aired so I more or less got to catch up with most of the episodes that I missed during my break. Now I work from home so I either watch the soap during my “lunch break” or I record it and watch later while doing mind-numbing chores such as folding clothes/chopping veg (sometimes I even treat myself and sit down and watch it with a cup of tea, it’s all very rock and roll over here!).
After the transfer of Neighbours from BBC1 to Channel 5 (I haven’t watched it since) Doctors took the 1.45 pm slot and you can catch it there every weekday (except during the dreaded Easter and Summer breaks). Classic Doctors is also back again with Series 1 and 2 currently streaming on UKTV Play. You can also very easily visit the BBC Doctors set in Selly Oak, Birmingham as I discovered last weekend:
The Mill Health Centre
Every year we go to the Little Hearts Matter Open Day in Birmingham. Recently I’ve seen fellow Doctors fans share snaps of themselves at the set and discovered this is based in Selly Oak. The place name rang a bell so I had a quick Google and discovered the film set is just 1 mile from the conference centre we visit each year. So I really hoped we’d have time to come and visit it after our conference- and we did!
Since 2004, BBC Doctors has been filmed at BBC Birmingham Drama Village in Selly Oak. (before that it was filmed at Pebble Mill Studios in Edgbaston). The Mill Health Centre is even marked on Google Maps. We followed Sat Nav: B29 6LB to get to The Mill (The Drama Village is B29 6LT) this got us close enough but on the opposite side of the road to where we wanted to be so we used our own navigational skills once we were near. As we visited on a Saturday evening all the car parks were empty but mainly permit spaces. If I visited during the week I would find off-site parking and walk to the set.
First, we explored The Mill Health Centre. I admit I was really excited to see it- it was just like on TV. I didn’t realise that the sets are actually inside the building. So many sets I’ve visited they film the indoors scenes elsewhere in a studio. It was great to peek through the windows and see reception, the doctor’s rooms and offices. I couldn’t take very clear photos through the glass sorry, but definitely take a look if you visit (not while they’re filming though!).
Can you spot Heston’s Bench?
Sadly, Heston’s memorial bench is only put outside while they are filming so we couldn’t see that in its rightful place. I was surprised to see the doctor’s cars all parked up though. I suppose it does make sense to keep them there ready for filming. The car park seems a lot smaller in real life. There’s not a lot of parking left for the patients!
We walked all the way around the Mill Health Centre and then moved on to look for The Campus Surgery. I hadn’t put a lot of planning into this visit so we basically just walked around the campus in the hope we’d find it…and we did!
From the back of The Mill there was a path which we followed, went down some steps and then walked along the buildings.
Along the way, we found some parking spaces reserved for the cast. This is Bharti Patel (Ruhma’s) space.
Ali Bastian’s (Becky- the new practice manager) parking space.
I expect you could find more of the “cast cones” if you looked for them.
The Campus Surgery
After the cast car park spaces, on our left, we came to The Campus Surgery. Originally the show was about “The Riverside Health Centre”. They then set up a secondary location, “The Best Practice”. After the big explosion (and in real life the set relocation to Selly Oak) they reopened as The Mill Health Centre (possibly named in honour of Pebble Mill?) and later on opened up The Campus Surgery for the students.
Letherbridge Police Station
I was really happy just to have seen both surgeries. But we could still see more TV vans parked along the way so we continued our walk forwards and then to the left. This bought us to Letherbridge Police Station.
Down the steps, you will find the staff’s favourite lunchtime haunt, “The Icon Bar”. The hedge hides it well!”
Again (on days when they’re not filming!) you can go up to the windows and have a nose- be careful you don’t end up in the cells though!
The Icon Bar
There’s rarely an episode where “The Icon” doesn’t get a mention. It always makes me fancy eating out when they go there for a “bite to eat” or a “quick drink after work”.
I can’t remember if the exterior gets filmed much anymore- I’m going to look out for it in future episodes!
Again you can peek inside. I could only spot a cash machine and lots of piled chairs.
The University Grounds
We’d been lucky enough to visit The Mill Health Centre, The Campus Surgery, Letherbridge Police Station and The Icon so we decided to head back to the car and our hotel. The grounds were quite scenic and interesting to explore too. I love these archways.
Visiting the BBC Doctors Set
The BBC Doctors Set is located off the A38. As you can see Sat Nav B29 6LT will get you close enough then look out for it. We pulled in the turning closest to “The Mill” and parked in the big car park behind as it was the weekend and not in use. Pay and Display parking is available behind the George Cadbury Hall – charges apply Monday to Friday 08:00 and 18:00 year round (NB: charges are still applicable during non-term time). If you park here you will need to cross the A38 to get to the set.
We had a look around “The Mill” and followed the path behind the building (not shown on the map). This led us to the road shown by Westhill Trust. Along here look out for the cast car park spaces and The Campus Surgery.
Continue forwards and turn left to see Letherbridge Police Station.
Go down the spiral stairs to visit The Icon Bar.
More BBC Doctors Locations
I’m sure there are many more Doctors sets nearby and with the help of Google and fan Facebook pages you could find your favourite places to visit from Al’s pub to the park.
One place that you could walk to nearby is Mrs Tembe’s church. St Bernadette’s is actually St Mary’s Church, Selly Oak.
They reference their link to Doctors on their website so I assume that means they welcome visitors. Please remember that it is a real place of worship.
St Phil’s (Philomena) Hospital is filmed nearby at the ORLC, Orchard Learning Resource Centre.
Apparently Weoley Castle Square and Harbonne High Street are where a lot of the shops are filmed, the parks used are Grove Park and Cannon Hill, the Churchill Estate is filmed at a housing state further up Bristol Road and The Bell Harborne Pub has been shown too. If you know of any more BBC Doctors filming locations please let me know. It would be nice to compile a walking route for fans of the show.
I’m so pleased that I got to see this setting in real life, perhaps one day I’ll visit when they’re filming too!
Are you a Doctor’s fan (if not you’ve got to the end of this post anyway- well done and thank you!)? Have you ever visited the set? What other TV sets have you visited?
Remember: Please sign the Save BBC Doctors Petition if you’d like to give this much-loved, long-running soap a chance to continue.
Lucky you – its the one daytime programme I love to watch !
Author
Glad you enjoy it too. I can’t believe the set is so open to visit! Interesting place xxx
I used to watch this when I lived with my mum 10+ years ago, I havent watched it in my own home, I’m not sure why I enjoyed watching it when I did, probably as my 2 year old daughter always watches Peppa pig all through the day lol (as soon as she plays with her toys I turn over but within 10 minutes if I’m lucky she nags for it back on xx
Author
Oh yes, I remember the days of endless Peppa Pig too lol. With my son it was Thomas the Tank engine over and over. I love how you can just dip into an episode of Doctors now and again without having to “keep up” as with other soaps xxx
Iām near here today would love to see it is there any barriers or anything that could stop me kind regards mandy
Author
Hi, when I visited there were no barriers but it was at the weekend so we could even park in there. I’ve heard that in the week there is no parking (except for uni and tv folks) and there may be security stopping you get to certain sets if they’re currently being used for filming. On the upside you’re more likely to see filming and to meet some cast members- enjoy! xxx
Hi. What a great article. š I’ve had an on and off relationship with Doctors oder the tears. When you’re not working it’s amazing how easy it is to become addicted to some programmes you never thought you’d watch! I have to say your article has tempted me to try and have a look if I’m ever in the area. I can’t believe it’s not more secure at weekends! Thanks for all the info.
Rita
Sorry for typos, should have gone….. You know the rest! Maybe ‘tears’ is a Freudian slip!
This is filmed at was Westhill Teacher Training College (and is now part of BirminghamUniversity). I studied there in the 70s and it was a lovely place, being on Quaker land. There are several beautiful Arts and Crafts houses on the campus, now sadly boarded up.
Author
Thanks for commenting. I was so excited to visit. Would love to go back one day. Thanks for telling me about the Quaker History. I live in a town that was founded by Quakers in 1792. I also went to teacher training college but in Didsbury at MMU. Sadly my old uni is flats now. xxx
Lovely to see your photos. I was a student at Westhill COllege from 1983-85, which of course where Doctors is filmed.
The Surgery is our old Student Union where we enjoyed many a Saturday night disco, bands, end of term shows and general socialising in the bar. The Police Station is where my wife lived on campus in her first year (Barrow Cadbury House) and the student surgery another hall of residence – Archibald House. It was a fabulous college.
Author
Thank you. Oh lovely! That’s very interesting. Thanks for commenting.