Where Was Manchester By The Sea Filmed?

The Short Answer

Manchester by the Sea was filmed entirely on location in the Cape Ann region of Massachusetts. Principal photography took place in Manchester-by-the-Sea itself, plus Gloucester, Beverly, Essex, Rockport, Salem and nearby towns during March and April 2015, with no studio sets used at all. The production shot in real homes, marinas, businesses and even the town cemetery.

Kenneth Lonergan's 2016 drama committed to authenticity from the start. Rather than building sets, the production shot entirely on location across Cape Ann, Massachusetts, during late winter and early spring 2015, deliberately enduring cold weather to capture genuine New England conditions. Principal photography ran roughly five weeks and wrapped on April 30, 2015.

That choice shows on screen. The frozen harbor, icy streets and grey coastline are not production design tricks but the real towns of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Gloucester, Beverly, Essex, Rockport and Salem in their least flattering season, which is exactly what the story required. Most locations remain publicly visible today, and several businesses used in the film still operate.

Every Location At A Glance

Location	Where	What was filmed	Access
Manchester-by-the-Sea	Manchester-by-the-Sea	Main town setting, streets and harbor scenes	Free to see
Rosedale Cemetery	Manchester-by-the-Sea	Cemetery and burial scenes including delayed burial due to frozen ground	Free to see
Manchester Essex Regional Middle High School	Manchester-by-the-Sea	Exterior school scenes	Outside only
Grondin Funeral Home	Beverly	Funeral home scenes	Private property
Fibber McGee's Bar and Grill	Beverly	Bar fight scene	Free to see
Bakers Island Lighthouse	Manchester-by-the-Sea	Lighthouse and island scenes viewed from boat	Outside only
Beacon Marine Basin	Gloucester	Marina and dockyard scenes	Free to see
Beverly Hospital	Beverly	Hospital scenes	Outside only
Dorothy Talbot Skating Rink	Gloucester	Hockey arena scenes	Ticketed
Pratty's CAV	Gloucester	Bar scenes	Free to see
Essex	Essex	Driving scenes along Essex River	Free to see
Rockport	Rockport	Coastal town scenes	Free to see
Salem	Salem	Additional town and street scenes	Free to see

Filming Locations Map

13 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Location By Location

The real town plays itself. Streets and harbor scenes were shot here, and visitors can walk the town center and waterfront exactly as they appear in the film. Singing Beach is the standout stop, a short walk from downtown and one of the most photographed beaches on the North Shore. Everything is publicly accessible, making this the natural base for any location trip.

The cemetery scenes, including the delayed burial caused by frozen ground, were filmed here. The detail reflected real local practice: burials genuinely had to wait for the ground to thaw. The cemetery sits on School Street and is open to the public, a quiet historic spot that visitors can walk through freely. It remains one of the film's most affecting real-world settings.

Exterior school scenes were shot at this functioning middle and high school. As with any active school, access is limited to what can be seen from public areas, so visitors should view the grounds from the street rather than entering. It is a quick stop close to the town center and the cemetery, easy to fold into a walking tour of Manchester-by-the-Sea.

The funeral home scenes were filmed at this Beverly property. Reports indicate it has since closed, and it is private property, so there is nothing to tour. Fans passing through Beverly can view the exterior from the street, but this is a minor stop compared with the public locations nearby, such as the bar used for the fight scene a short drive away.

The bar fight scene was shot here at 102 Talbot Street in Beverly. Unlike many filming locations, this one is fully open for business, serving burgers and drinks as a genuine local hangout rather than a themed attraction. Visitors can sit where the scene played out, making it one of the most satisfying stops for fans who want to experience a location rather than just photograph it.

The lighthouse and island scenes were viewed from the water, and the island itself remains difficult to access. The best approach is from a boat or a harbor tour, from which the lighthouse is clearly visible. Its coordinates place it just off the Manchester-by-the-Sea coast, so it pairs naturally with time spent on the town's waterfront and beach.

The marina and dockyard scenes were shot at this working marina in Gloucester, around the 211 E Main St area. It is a public marina, so visitors can wander the docks and watch the fishing fleet that defines Gloucester. As America's oldest seaport, Gloucester rewards the trip well beyond the film connection, with restaurants and harbor walks close by.

Hospital scenes were filmed at Beverly Hospital, an active medical facility. Access is naturally exterior only, and visitors should be mindful that this is a working hospital serving real patients. The building is easily viewed from the street, and it sits close to other Beverly locations including Fibber McGee's, so film fans can cover the town's sites in one short loop.

The hockey arena scenes were shot at this public rink in Gloucester. Access depends on the schedule: it operates as a working skating facility, so checking session times before visiting is the practical move. During public skate hours visitors can get onto the ice themselves, which is more than most film locations offer. Otherwise the interior can be glimpsed during scheduled events.

Bar scenes were filmed at this local Gloucester bar at 10 Parker Street. Like Fibber McGee's in Beverly, it is an operating business rather than a preserved set, so visitors can drink where the crew shot. Gloucester holds several of the film's locations within a compact area, and this stop fits easily between the marina and the skating rink.

Driving scenes along the Essex River were filmed on the public roads around this small town. There is no single landmark to seek out; the appeal is the route itself, with river views and marshland that read instantly to anyone who has seen the film. The drive between Manchester-by-the-Sea and Gloucester can be routed through Essex, turning the location into a natural part of a day's circuit.

Coastal town scenes were shot in Rockport, one of the prettiest harbors on Cape Ann. Public streets and the harbor front are freely explorable, and the town draws day trippers regardless of any film connection. For Manchester by the Sea fans it adds variety, showing a different face of the same coastline that defines the movie's visual mood.

Additional town and street scenes were filmed in Salem, better known for its witch trial history. The historic public areas used by the production sit among streets that most visitors already wander. Combining the film locations with Salem's museums and architecture makes the stop efficient, especially since Salem sits just south of Beverly on the route in from Boston.

Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed

The story is set in Manchester-by-the-Sea and Quincy, Massachusetts, and the production largely filmed where the story takes place. The real Manchester-by-the-Sea stands in for itself, while surrounding Cape Ann towns including Gloucester, Beverly, Essex, Rockport and Salem provided additional settings. This is a rare case where the set-in and filmed-in locations almost fully overlap, which is part of why the film feels so grounded in place.

Tours That Visit These Locations

Most of these locations sit within a short drive of one another, but a guided tour saves the route planning and adds context travelers would otherwise miss.

From Boston, Guided Trip

Boston: Film and TV Tour of Gloucester and Manchester

This guided day trip from Boston covers film and television locations in Gloucester and Manchester-by-the-Sea for $82, rated 4.6 by past guests, with no need to rent a car.

4.6 out of 5

From$82Check availability

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Manchester by the Sea actually filmed in Manchester-by-the-Sea?

Yes. Unlike many productions that substitute one town for another, the film shot in the real Manchester-by-the-Sea, along with neighboring Cape Ann towns including Gloucester, Beverly, Essex, Rockport and Salem.

When was the film shot?

Principal photography ran from late February or early March through April, wrapping on April 30, 2015 after roughly five weeks. The schedule was chosen to capture cold, authentic New England conditions.

Were any studio sets used?

No. The film was shot entirely on location with no studio sets, using real homes, marinas and businesses throughout Cape Ann.

Can visitors go inside the locations?

Several remain open businesses, including Fibber McGee's Bar and Grill in Beverly and Pratty's CAV in Gloucester, both operating bars. The cemetery and marina are public, while the school, hospital and funeral home are viewable from outside only.

How far are the locations from Boston?

The Cape Ann towns cluster together roughly an hour north of Boston by car. Salem sits closest to the city, with Beverly, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Gloucester, Rockport and Essex all within a short drive of one another.

Is there a guided tour of the filming locations?

Yes. A guided film and television tour from Boston covers Gloucester and Manchester for $82, rated 4.6, which suits travelers who prefer not to drive between towns themselves.

Cape Ann makes an unusually rewarding film location trip because nearly everything on screen is real and still standing. A single day can cover Manchester-by-the-Sea's harbor and cemetery, Gloucester's marina and bars, and a drink at Fibber McGee's in Beverly, ideally with the Essex river drive in between. Travelers based in Boston can manage the whole circuit without a car by joining a guided tour.

Sources

The Short Answer

Every Location At A Glance

Filming Locations Map

Location By Location

Manchester-by-the-Sea

Rosedale Cemetery

Manchester Essex Regional Middle High School

Grondin Funeral Home

Fibber McGee's Bar and Grill

Bakers Island Lighthouse

Beacon Marine Basin

Beverly Hospital

Dorothy Talbot Skating Rink

Pratty's CAV

Essex

Rockport

Salem

Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed

Tours That Visit These Locations

From Boston, Guided Trip

Frequently Asked Questions

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