Russel T Davies, the beloved showrunner of Doctor Who and It’s a Sin, returns to television with a timely story focused on queer rights and the increasingly frequent attempts to deny them: the miniseries, available on HBO Max from August 6, 2026, is set in one of the neighborhoods emblematic for the international LGBTQIAP+ community, among iconic gay venues and a wildly colorful nightlife. Let’s explore together the locations of Tip Toe.
What it’s about
Leo (Alan Cumming), the owner of a bar on Canal Street in Manchester, and the electrician Clive (David Morrissey) are longtime neighbors. The relationship between them, which has always stood as a quiet coexistence, abruptly strains, eventually turning them into bitter enemies.
The whole story unfolds as social tensions, intolerance, and new forms of radicalization erupt in the city. Russel T Davies builds, with the help of director Peter Hoar, a suburban thriller where nothing should be taken for granted.
Where the series was filmed
Set against the real Manchester backdrop, with the genuine dynamics that animate it day by day: the new series by Russel T Davies, save for a few studio-shot sequences, was filmed indeed across the city center, some residential districts, and the suburbs of Greater Manchester.
The Gay Village
One of Tip Toe’s main locations is Canal Street: as noted, this pedestrian street in the heart of Manchester is where Leo’s bar is located. This avenue facing the Rochdale Canal — from which the name derives — is the nerve center of the Gay Village: one of the city’s most colorful and welcoming districts that has long played a pivotal role in recognizing LGBTQIAP+ rights.
Northern Quarter and the residential zones
Scenes are also set in more residential parts of the city such as Saxon Street. Among the places where Tip Toe was filmed, many will likely recognize especially the Northern Quarter with its murals and street art. In this neighborhood, loved by both tourists and locals, Manchester’s famous industrial soul gives way to a more artistic and bohemian vibe. Not to miss are a stroll through the numerous vinyl stores and vintage boutiques and, why not, a stop to eat inside a Victorian-era slaughterhouse (the Mackie Mayor).
Salford
Another key filming location for Tip Toe is Salford: this is where Leo and Clive live side by side. The exterior views of broad, tree-lined avenues and quintessential English homes were chosen to represent one of Greater Manchester’s most populated suburbs, now undergoing a major redevelopment as evidenced by the large number of bridges, towers, and modern buildings that have risen in recent years to host facilities of all kinds. Included among these are cinematic facilities: it is here that MediaCity stands, one of the United Kingdom’s most important base sites for television and film productions.
