Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed
The show is set in the fictional William McKinley High School in Lima, Ohio, a fictionalized version of a small Midwest town. Filming happened almost entirely in Los Angeles, at Paramount Studios and local sites standing in for Ohio, with additional location shooting in New York City for Season 2 and 3 episodes. Nothing of significance was actually shot in Ohio.
The Studio Side
Paramount Studios in Hollywood served as the production's home base. Principal photography took place mainly on Stages 11, 12, 14, and 15, with the McKinley High choir room, cafeteria, classrooms, and the auditorium replica all built inside. Dance rehearsals were held in a space called the Tin Shed. The studio remains active and offers tours, though the Glee sets themselves are not open to the public.
Tours That Visit These Locations
Only one of the Glee filming locations sits in a city with a dedicated screen locations tour worth booking: New York.
Manhattan Screen Locations Walk
New York City: Movie and TV Show Locations Tour
This New York City movie and TV locations tour passes through the Manhattan landmarks used in the Season 2 finale shoot, alongside dozens of other screen spots. Rated 5 stars from 7 reviews, it costs $120 and pairs well with a Times Square visit, where Glee's finale street scenes and performances were filmed.
★ 5.0 out of 5 · 7 reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Glee actually filmed in Ohio?
No. Although the story is set in Lima, Ohio, filming took place primarily in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios and around Southern California, with some location work in New York City for Season 2 and 3 episodes.
Can you visit the Glee sets at Paramount Studios?
Paramount Studios offers public tours, but the specific Glee sets, including the choir room and auditorium replica, are not open to visitors. The tour still covers the historic lot where the show was shot on Stages 11, 12, 14, and 15.
Which school was used for McKinley High exteriors?
Cabrillo High School in Long Beach was used in Season 1, covering the football field, auditorium, and walkways. From Season 2 onward, Helen Bernstein High School in Hollywood became the primary exterior stand-in, appearing as the cafeteria, quad, and gym. Both are working schools with exterior-only access.
Can you go inside any Glee filming locations?
Yes. Moonlight Rollerway is a public roller rink, Eagle Rock Plaza is an open shopping mall, Six Flags Magic Mountain admits visitors with a ticket, and the Alex Theatre hosts events and tours. The schools are restricted to exteriors.
Where were the New York scenes filmed?
The Season 2 finale, titled 'New York', was shot on location over several days and used Times Square, Washington Square Park, and other Manhattan landmarks for street scenes and performances.
Why was the auditorium moved to a soundstage?
The McKinley High auditorium was originally filmed at Cabrillo High School in Long Beach, but a replica was built on Paramount soundstages starting in Season 2 to maintain continuity across episodes.
A Glee location trip is really two trips: a Los Angeles circuit covering Paramount Studios, the Hollywood and Glendale spots, and the outlying schools and mall, and optionally a New York leg for the finale locations. The studio tour comes closest to the show itself, while the roller rink and theme park let fans step directly into the scenes.
