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Where is Death in Paradise filmed? The Caribbean island behind the BBC show
Here are the real-life settings behind the fictional 'Saint Marie' island, as detailed by Natalie Wilson on Monday 02 February 2026.
With its perpetual sunshine, golden beaches, and free-flowing bottles of "Etensel" beer, Death in Paradise offers a virtual dose of vitamin D to brighten gloomy UK winters, inevitably sparking wanderlust among viewers. Fortunately, the balmy backdrop of Saint Marie island, though fictional in name, is a genuine slice of the Caribbean, open for holidaymakers seeking to top up their tans, don some flippers, and relax with a cocktail on a serious winter sun getaway.
In 2025, Ralf Little passed the detective inspector baton to EastEnders star Don Gilet, who made his debut in the role alongside returning regulars Don Warrington and Shantol Jackson. As series 15 of the crime comedy welcomes back DI Mervin Wilson, here are the filming locations behind over 100 episodes of this deadly British-French series.
Where is Death in Paradise filmed?
Since its first airing in 2011, the six islands of Guadeloupe – a French archipelago in the Lesser Antilles – have served as the paradise filming destination for the hit BBC show. Situated between Dominica and Antigua in the eastern Caribbean Sea, the dreamy scenery featuring terracotta roofs, traditional churches, and a blanket of wafting palms seen on screen is primarily filmed on butterfly-shaped Guadeloupe's Basse-Terre island, specifically along its north west coast.
What filming locations can you visit?
Deshaies, a vibrant fishing village on Basse-Terre island, doubles as the show's fictional seaside setting of St Honoré. Death in Paradise location tours run in peak season for super fans looking to experience more than just sun on Guadeloupe.
Scenes at Catherine Bordey's beachfront bar, the barmaid-turned-mayor mother of original detective Camille Bordey and a frequent haunt for the fictional crime team, were originally shot at Le Kaz restaurant further inland but are now filmed at Le Madras cajun and creole restaurant on Rue de La Vague Bleue promenade. Visitors can enjoy a menu of fresh seafood and frosty daiquiris at this iconic spot.
As for the show's dramatic Honoré Police station, the centre of most episodes, the Presbytery attached to the church of St Peter and St Paul in Deshaies sets the scene. Elsewhere, the show's legendary shack, now home to British detective DI Mervin Wilson, is constructed each season on Anse de la Perle Beach. Additionally, The Langley Fort Royal Hotel, where the cast stays from December to May, has also hosted the cameras for a murder or two over the years.
How can I get there?
From the UK, it takes two flights via Paris, France, to reach Pointe-à-Pitre Airport, the main air hub in Guadeloupe. Air France return flights start from £658. From there, it's just a 50-minute drive to Deshaies, allowing you to live out your Death in Paradise dreams – minus the murder, betrayal, and chaos.
Where is Beyond Paradise filmed?
The BBC spin-off 'Beyond Paradise' follows the investigations of Kris Marshall's DI Humphrey Goodman. Though seaside in location, the series is filmed on far less exotic shores. Beyond Paradise returned to the fictional Devonshire town of Shipton Abbott for season three, with filming taking place in the Cornish fishing port town of Looe. On-screen destinations include the Port Eliot Estate, Werrington Park, and the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Where is Return to Paradise filmed?
Detective Inspector Mackenzie Clarke, an Australian copper who migrates to London, stars in the sun-drenched spin-off Return to Paradise. Set in Australia, Anna Samson plays the leading lady, with cameras rolling in 'Dolphin Cove' – destinations across Sydney and the Illawarra coastal region.
Death in Paradise series 15 airs on BBC One at 9pm on Fridays.
