IT: Welcome To Derry may be focused on terrified children and some killer clowns, but the town of Derry, Maine itself is where the heart truly lies.

This quaint 60s-era neighbourhood looks postcard-perfect to anyone outside its walls, but given the secrets it hides, including an age-old monster that thrives on fear, we wouldn’t suggest it to be the newest holiday spot.

Fortunately for us, Derry, Maine, is not a real place – though there are plenty of locations that were used to bring it to life. Most of these can be found in Canada, rather than the US State where the show is set.

So if you’re fancying an adventure (hopefully with a little less blood involved) here’s where you can find some of the key locations for season one’s scenes.

Location: Walton Street, Port Hope, Ontario

In Derry, Main Street has everything for your day-to-day needs – the butchers, the grocery store, the police station… and plenty of sewer grates for certain people to navigate.

The most central part of the town, it’s the most emblematic of Derry’s picturesque image - with the gang’s lookout point looking directly over it, giving Rich the dream of getting a paper plane to travel that far.

In reality, Port Hope’s Walton Street was completely transformed for the scenes, including redressing the store fronts, putting up signs, and turning it into the 1950s world we see on screen.

The town is perfect for the scenes, as it prides itself on maintaining the 19th century architecture used when the street was first built.

Location: Capitol Theatre, Port Hope, Ontario

One of the places that is real is the Capitol Theatre – a small cinema located in Port Hope, Ontario and Matty’s last known location before his disappearance.

The theatre was built in 1930 and is now a listed National Historic Site as one of the last remaining atmospheric movie theatres in the country.

A perfect place to catch a showing of The Music Man, wouldn’t you say…?

Location: Westdale Theatre, Hamilton, Ontario

While the outside of the Capitol was used for the series, the actual screen room is just down the road at the Westdale Theatre.

This is due to filming ability – but both sport similar looks, including art deco designs, which allows them to merge into one place.

For some characters though, this screen is where they meet their very violent and bloody end, so maybe check under your seat before you sit down.

Location: Canadian Air Forces Base Borden, Ontario

The Derry Air Force is one of the key locations of the show – and is an active air force base for the Canadian military.

When it’s not being used to shoot the show, it is home to one of the largest training facilities for the country’s Air Force.

Location: Building formerly used for Delta Secondary School, Hamilton, Ontario

When they’re not dealing with the horrors of Pennywise’s antics, the kids still have to go to school – and Derry High can sometimes prove to be just as scary.

In these halls, Lilly, Margie, Will, Rich and Ronnie stick together as they dodge the judgy stares of the school bullies and popular mean girls, the Pattycakes.

Delta Secondary School officially closed in 2019 but was first opened in 1925 – making it the perfect location for a 50s-style high school.

Location: Loretto Academy, Ontario

For Lilly in particular, Juniper Hill posed a consistent, domineering threat – and with its tall stature, it’s easy to see why.

In reality, the unused building, located near Niagra Falls, was a school which first opened in 1861, and has since been used as a convent and an all-girls boarding school.