Top Boy, which delves deep into the intricacies of the city's drug trade, has become synonymous with its primary setting: the Summerhouse Estate. But how much of what we see on screen mirrors reality?
The show has taken the world by storm with its portrayal of life in the urban landscape of London, but is the Summerhouse Estate a genuine location or a product of cinematic magic?
Let's unravel the truth behind Top Boy's iconic backdrop.
Discover: Top Boy: Did Jamie Die?
Is Summerhouse Estate Real?
While the Summerhouse Estate plays a pivotal role in Top Boy, it's essential to note that it's not real. However, its inspiration and the physical locations used for filming are very much real.
The Heygate Estate in central London served as the original location for the Summerhouse Estate exteriors during the first two seasons, from 2011 to 2013.
However, in a twist of reality mirroring fiction, the Heygate Estate was demolished in 2014 to pave the way for new developments.
Where Was Top Boy Filmed?
After the demolition of the Heygate Estate, the show needed a new location to represent the Summerhouse Estate. Since 2019, the Samuda Estate on the Isle of Dogs has taken on this role.
This location provides stunning background views of the City of London, adding to the show's authentic urban feel. Moreover, interiors were often filmed inside local residents' flats and around disused underground garages.
Another notable filming location is the De Beauvoir Estate in Hackney, further grounding the series in real London locales.
Other parts of London were used for some other scenes, including London Fields, Victoria Park, Dalston and more.
So, while the Summerhouse Estate as depicted in Top Boy might be a work of fiction, the locations used to bring it to life are very much rooted in the heart of London.
The series masterfully blends reality with fiction, offering viewers a raw and unfiltered glimpse into urban life in the UK's capital.
Top Boy can be watched on Netflix, where the final season premiered in September 2023.
Note: This experimental article has been produced with the help of AI technology before being fact-checked and edited by a member of the Epicstream editorial team.