FILM LOCATIONS: THE PENGUIN

Colin Farrell: The Union

From New York to Gotham: Exploring The Penguin's Gritty Filming Locations Through a London Lens

Though Gotham City is often associated with New York, its moody, crime-ridden streets share a close cinematic connection with another metropolis—London. While The Penguin primarily filmed in New York, this eight-part crime drama, starring Colin Farrell as Oswald "Oz" Cobblepot, carries forward the shadowy atmosphere established in The Batman, much of which was shot in London and Liverpool. These two cities shaped the gothic, brooding Gotham we see in The Penguin, even as the production designers scouted New York for real-life inspiration.

Without Bruce Wayne or his vigilante persona appearing in The Penguin, Gotham itself becomes a character in the story, reflecting its descent into chaos. By examining the show’s New York filming locations, we can trace how they continue the gothic tone set by London’s influence in The Batman and explore the cross-Atlantic ties that help create Gotham’s dark, cinematic world.

Here’s how The Penguin used New York locations to evoke the same gritty realism that London has long brought to the screen.

1. La Selva, Long Island – Gotham’s Version of a Great Gatsby Mansion

Much like how The Batman used Liverpool’s imposing St. George’s Hall to set the tone for Gotham, The Penguin tapped into La Selva, a Mediterranean-style villa in Long Island, for a sense of old-money grandeur. This mansion, which dates back to 1918, serves as the home of Sofia Falcone, daughter of the deceased crime lord Carmine Falcone. Ivanov describes it as a perfect match for Gotham's version of a Great Gatsby estate—reflecting the same type of lavish wealth and power often seen in British period dramas.

The opulence of the Falcone estate echoes the kind of settings you’d expect from London’s stately homes, tying Gotham’s elite to the classic grandiosity we often see in films set in the British countryside.

2. Hawksmoor NYC, Manhattan – A Power Lunch, Gotham Style

Hawksmoor NYC may be an iconic steakhouse, but its home within the historic United Charities Building echoes the sophisticated, old-world charm typical of London's grand buildings. Used in The Penguin as a setting for an important meeting between Sofia Falcone and Oswald Cobblepot, this location channels the same gravitas as some of London’s historic institutions—think the Reform Club or Somerset House.

The Renaissance revival architecture of Hawksmoor, with its vaulted ceilings and elegant arches, brings a cinematic weight to the scene, much like the distinguished interiors of London’s iconic buildings. The mix of wealth and power conveyed through this setting is a theme common to both cities’ architectural styles.

Check out this London inspo with a shoot at our Rococo Manor.

3. South Bronx and Yonkers – The Slums of Crown Point

Crown Point, one of Gotham’s most impoverished areas, is a key location in The Penguin. Although filmed in South Bronx and Yonkers, the dilapidated, overcrowded conditions of Crown Point feel reminiscent of Victorian London’s slums. Much like the Dickensian streets of East London depicted in films like Oliver Twist, Crown Point is where the city’s neglect is most visible, and where The Penguin rises through the ranks.

The show’s production designer, Kalina Ivanov, drew on New York’s history—particularly the infamous Five Points and the Lung Block—to depict Crown Point. This mirrors the way London’s own neighbourhoods have shaped its cinematic narratives, whether in crime dramas or period pieces. Both cities have a history of exploring the divide between rich and poor through their streets.

4. Queens – Elevated Subway Action Inspired by The French Connection

Just as London’s underground and railways have been the setting for countless action sequences, New York’s elevated subways play a pivotal role in The Penguin. Filming in Queens, the production team paid homage to the iconic chase scene from The French Connection, with the elevated train tracks adding a sense of danger and movement to the show’s gritty urban setting.

This type of urban chase scene is reminiscent of action thrillers set in London, such as The Bourne Ultimatum or Skyfall, where the city’s sprawling transport networks add a visceral sense of scale and intensity to the action. New York and London’s industrial landscapes both lend themselves to high-stakes moments of suspense, enhancing the drama in The Penguin.

5. West Side Highway – Recreating Gotham’s Iceberg Lounge

Recreating the Iceberg Lounge, Oswald Cobblepot’s infamous nightclub, was a challenge for the team behind The Penguin. Since The Batman had shot the original location in London, Ivanov needed to find a New York location that would match its scale and mood. The solution was the West Side Highway, particularly around 138th Street, whose large, looming structures reflected the brutalist architecture seen in many parts of London.

These imposing structures gave the Iceberg Lounge a raw, industrial feel, not unlike the brutalist buildings of the Barbican Estate or the South Bank, which often appear in British dystopian films and crime dramas. This urban landscape was key in transforming a real New York location into a cinematic extension of Gotham’s underworld.

Skyline, an breath-taking film location located on the 42nd floor of modern brutalist masterpiece in London.

6. Diamond District – Crafting Gotham’s Criminal Hub

While New York’s real-life Diamond District on 47th Street is too contemporary to portray Gotham’s underworld, The Penguin created a more vintage version on 27th Street. Here, Ivanov reimagined the street as the base of operations for Cobblepot’s criminal empire, drawing inspiration from the area’s historical roots.

The transformation of a legitimate business hub into a front for illicit activity mirrors the themes seen in many London-based crime dramas, where legal and illegal worlds often collide. Films like The Long Good Friday or Snatch reflect this type of juxtaposition between the polished exteriors of business and the gritty realities of organised crime.

7. Five Corners in Yonkers – A Nod to Gotham’s Past

The maze-like, winding streets of Gotham, depicted in The Penguin, often reflect the chaotic sprawl of cities like London. While New York's grid layout doesn’t typically allow for five-way intersections, Yonkers provided the perfect stand-in to recreate the look and feel of Manhattan's notorious Five Points slum. These five-pointed intersections became a symbol of the urban neglect and decay that define Gotham.

London’s own maze-like neighbourhoods, particularly the historic alleyways of the East End, have long been used to convey the sense of being lost within the city’s criminal underbelly. This complex city layout heightens the tension and power struggles of The Penguin, much as it has done in London-set films for decades.

Blending Two Iconic Cities to Create Gotham

While The Penguin was filmed in New York, it’s clear that Gotham’s visual style owes much to its previous incarnation in The Batman, where London’s gothic architecture and historic streets played a starring role. The production team blended the gritty, cinematic qualities of both cities to create a Gotham that feels both grounded and larger than life.

From the towering structures of the West Side Highway to the dilapidated streets of Yonkers, New York’s landscape mirrors London’s own cinematic history of urban decay and criminal underworlds. Together, these two cities have helped shape Gotham as a city on the edge—a place where power is always at play, and chaos is never far away.

Are you a filmmaker looking to explore London for your next project? Or a location owner keen to turn your home into a set? Our film location services can help you discover the city’s hidden gems and iconic landmarks, perfect for bringing your vision to life. Reach out today to find out more!