How I Met Your Mother Filming Locations

!How I Met Your Mother Cast

Discover the real-world locations where the beloved CBS sitcom "How I Met Your Mother" was filmed. While the show was set in New York City, most of the magic happened in Los Angeles, California, where creative filmmaking techniques brought the Big Apple to the West Coast.

About the Show

!Show Overview

"How I Met Your Mother" ran for nine legendary seasons from 2005 to 2014, following Ted Mosby as he tells his children the epic story of how he met their mother. Created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas, the show became a cultural phenomenon with its unique storytelling structure, running gags, and memorable characters including Barney's catchphrases, the slap bet, and the yellow umbrella.

!Series Timeline

The series was praised for its innovative narrative structure, using flashbacks and flash-forwards to weave together a complex story that spanned decades. With 208 episodes total, it became one of the most beloved sitcoms of the 2000s and 2010s.

Meet the Cast

!Cast Photo Gallery

The show featured an ensemble cast that became household names:

Josh Radnor as Ted Mosby - The hopeless romantic architect searching for "the one"

Jason Segel as Marshall Eriksen - Ted's best friend and loyal companion

Alyson Hannigan as Lily Aldrin - Marshall's fiancée and kindergarten teacher

Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson - The suit-loving, legendary ladies' man

Cobie Smulders as Robin Scherbatsky - The Canadian news anchor and Ted's on-and-off love interest

Cristin Milioti as The Mother - The mysterious woman Ted eventually marries

!Character Relationships

Filming Locations Overview

!LA vs NYC Comparison

Despite being set in Manhattan, the show was primarily filmed in Los Angeles for practical and budgetary reasons:

Primary Filming Location: 20th Century Fox Studios

!20th Century Fox Studios Aerial

Address: 10201 Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035

Key Sets: MacLaren's Pub, Ted & Marshall's apartment, Barney's office, Robin's apartment

Fun Fact: MacLaren's Pub was a permanent set on Stage 22

Production: Filmed from 2005-2014 with over 200 episodes

!Studio Soundstages

Why Los Angeles Instead of New York?

!Production Decision Chart

The creators chose to film in LA for several practical reasons:

Cost Efficiency: Filming in Los Angeles was significantly more budget-friendly than New York

Studio Infrastructure: Access to established soundstages and production facilities

Weather: Consistent filming conditions year-round for exterior shots

Talent Pool: Proximity to actors and crew based in Los Angeles

Production Support: Established post-production and editing facilities

Iconic Set Pieces

MacLaren's Pub

!MacLaren's Pub Set Overview

The heart of the show, MacLaren's Pub, was meticulously constructed on a Fox Studios soundstage. The set included:

!MacLaren's Construction Montage

The famous corner booth where the gang always sat

A fully functional bar with working beer taps

Multiple camera angles and lighting setups for optimal filming

Authentic Irish pub decorations and atmosphere

Hidden compartments for camera equipment

Memorabilia that told the story of the bar's history

!MacLaren's Details

The Apartment

!Apartment Set Construction

Ted and Marshall's Upper West Side apartment was another permanent set featuring:

!Apartment Layout

Distinctive red brick walls that became iconic

Vintage furniture and eclectic decorations

Multiple rooms including kitchen, bedrooms, and living area

Window views created with green screen technology showing NYC

The famous Stormtrooper and other pop culture collectibles

Functional kitchen for cooking scenes

!Apartment Decorations

Barney's Office

!Goliath National Bank Office

Goliath National Bank's corporate headquarters featured:

!Office Design

Sleek, modern glass and steel design

Conference rooms for important meetings

Barney's personal office with suits and memorabilia

The mysterious "Please" room

Reception areas and cubicles for background action

Creating the New York Illusion

!NYC Illusion Techniques

The production team used several sophisticated techniques to maintain the NYC setting:

Establishing Shots

!NYC Establishing Shots

Real New York City footage for skyline and street scenes

Stock footage of famous NYC landmarks and neighborhoods

Carefully selected LA locations that resembled NYC architecture

Digital enhancement to add NYC-specific elements

Green Screen Technology

!Green Screen Process

Window views showing authentic NYC skylines and neighborhoods

Background replacements for outdoor scenes

Digital compositing for seamless integration of LA and NYC footage

Weather effects to match NYC seasons

!Window Views

Strategic Location Scouting

!Location Scouting

LA buildings and streets that could pass for NYC

University campuses doubling for Columbia University

Restaurants and venues with East Coast aesthetics

Airport terminals that resembled JFK and LaGuardia

Behind the Scenes Facts

!Behind the Scenes Collage

Production Details

!Production Statistics

Studio: 20th Century Fox Television

Filming Duration: 2005-2014 (9 seasons, 208 episodes)

Primary Location: Los Angeles, California

Set Construction: Permanent sets built for main locations

Budget: Approximately $2 million per episode in later seasons

!Production Timeline

Creative Decisions

!Creative Process

The creators originally considered filming in New York but chose LA for practical reasons

Many "New York" exteriors were actually filmed on the Fox backlot

The show's success proved that authentic storytelling could overcome geographical limitations

Writers made multiple trips to NYC to ensure authentic details and references

!Writers Room

Cast and Crew

!Cast and Crew Photo

Most cast members were based in Los Angeles during filming

Writers incorporated real LA locations into storylines when possible

The production team became experts at creating NYC atmosphere in LA

Guest stars often flew in from NYC to maintain the show's authenticity

!Crew at Work

Technical Innovations

!Technical Setup

Use of multi-camera setup for complex scenes

Advanced green screen technology for window views

Detailed continuity to maintain the show's complex timeline

Innovative editing techniques for flashback sequences

!Editing Bay

Memorable Scenes and Locations

!Memorable Scenes Montage

Iconic Moments

The show created countless memorable moments that fans still quote today:

!Slap Bet Scene Recreation

The Slap Bet - Marshall's legendary victory over Barney

Blue French Horn - Ted's romantic gesture for Robin

Yellow Umbrella - The mother's first appearance

Suit Up! - Barney's catchphrase moments

The Playbook - Barney's legendary dating strategies

!Legendary Moments

Set Recreations for Tours

!Set Recreation

While the original sets have been dismantled, various locations offer recreations:

Pop-up MacLaren's Pub experiences

Convention set recreations

Studio tour references

Fan-created tributes

Visiting the Locations Today

!Location Tour Map

20th Century Fox Studios (Now Disney Studios)

!Disney Studios Today

While the original sets have been dismantled, the studio still offers tours where you can see where the magic happened. The studio has been acquired by Disney but maintains its historical significance.

!Studio Tour

CBS Radford Studios

!CBS Radford Tour

Some exterior scenes were filmed here, and the studio continues to be a major production facility. Occasional tours are available to the public.

Los Angeles Locations

!LA Locations Map

Many of the LA locations used in the show can still be visited:

!LAX Airport Today

LAX Airport: Used for various airport scenes throughout the series

Pasadena City Hall: The exterior of Farhampton Inn where Barney and Robin's wedding took place

UCLA and USC Campuses: Doubling for Columbia University where Ted taught

Various restaurants and bars throughout LA: Many real establishments were used for exterior shots

!Pasadena City Hall Wedding

Public Accessibility

!Tourist Information

Most exterior locations are publicly accessible

Studio tours provide behind-the-scenes access

Many restaurants and bars featured in the show still operate

University campuses offer public tours

The Legacy

!Show Legacy

"How I Met Your Mother" proved that a show could successfully represent one city while being filmed in another. The creative team's attention to detail and commitment to the New York setting created an authentic feel that resonated with audiences worldwide.

!Cultural Impact

The show's filming techniques and set design have influenced many subsequent sitcoms, demonstrating that storytelling and character development are more important than geographical accuracy. The series has inspired countless other shows to use similar production techniques and narrative structures.

Cultural Impact

!Pop Culture References

Popularized many phrases and concepts ("Suit up!", "Legendary!", "The Bro Code")

Influenced how TV shows approach complex narrative timelines

Created a template for successful LA-for-NYC filming

Launched careers of its main cast members

!Awards and Recognition

Fun Trivia

!Trivia Collage

Set Details

!Set Details Close-up

The MacLaren's Pub set was so detailed that it included working beer taps and a fully stocked bar

Many of the "New York" snow scenes were created using artificial snow in sunny Los Angeles

The apartment set was built with removable walls for different camera angles

Real beer was never used in filming - it was always iced tea or apple juice

!Props and Memorabilia

Production Secrets

!Production Secrets

The show's creators often wrote episodes specifically around available LA locations

Several real New York establishments were recreated on LA soundstages

The famous "Slap Bet" episodes were filmed entirely on the apartment set

The yellow umbrella appeared in multiple episodes before its significance was revealed

!Easter Eggs

Continuity Magic

!Continuity Timeline

The creators maintained detailed timelines to ensure story consistency

Props and set decorations were carefully tracked across 9 seasons

Background extras were often the same people to maintain consistency

The booth at MacLaren's was always reserved for the main characters, even during crowd scenes

!Final Series Montage

Whether you're a longtime fan or discovering the show for the first time, understanding the filming locations adds another layer of appreciation for the creative team's work in bringing Ted's legendary story to life. The seamless blend of Los Angeles filming and New York storytelling created a unique viewing experience that continues to entertain audiences worldwide.