
Grey's Anatomy is a popular medical drama series created by Shonda Rhimes that revolves around the lives of surgical interns, residents, and attendings at the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. While the series is set in Seattle, Washington, the majority of its filming takes place in Los Angeles, California. The primary shooting location for the hospital's exterior is the VA Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center in North Hills, Los Angeles. However, most of the interior scenes, including those in operating rooms, hallways, and the iconic intern locker room, are filmed on meticulously designed sets within Prospect Studios in Los Feliz, Los Angeles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Filming locations | Los Angeles, California; Seattle, Washington |
| Exterior shots of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital | Veterans Administration Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center in North Hills, California |
| Interior shots of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital | Prospect Studios in Los Feliz, California |
| Helipad scenes | Downtown Seattle |
| Exterior shots of Meredith's house | Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood |
| B-roll footage | Vancouver, Canada |
| Real hospital used for some interior shots | VA Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center in North Hills, Los Angeles, California |
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What You'll Learn
- Exterior shots of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital are filmed at the VA Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center in North Hills, California
- Interior shots are filmed on a soundstage at Prospect Studios in Los Feliz, California
- The show occasionally films on location in Seattle to capture the city's essence and scenery
- Some scenes were filmed at a VA medical facility in California
- Meredith's house is located in Seattle's Queen Anne neighbourhood

Exterior shots of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital are filmed at the VA Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center in North Hills, California
Grey's Anatomy is a popular medical drama centred around the lives of surgical interns, residents, and attendings at the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. Although the series is set in Seattle, Washington, the majority of its filming takes place in Los Angeles, California.
The exterior shots of the hospital are filmed at the VA Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center in North Hills, Los Angeles, California. This facility provides the perfect backdrop, giving the show its authentic hospital appearance. The building serves as the entrance to Grey Sloan Memorial and has been described as a bustling hospital facade that viewers associate with the fictional hospital. The site is a working VA medical facility supporting veterans.
The interior scenes, including those in the operating rooms, hallways, and the iconic "intern locker room," are filmed on meticulously designed sets within Prospect Studios in Los Feliz, Los Angeles. These purpose-built sets allow for a controlled environment to film the series' complex medical scenarios and ensure total control over acoustics and lighting.
In addition to these primary locations, Grey's Anatomy occasionally films on location in Seattle to capture the city's essence and beautiful scenery. These shoots are carefully planned and executed to mesh seamlessly with the Los Angeles footage, creating the illusion that the series is entirely filmed in Seattle.
The show's creator, Shonda Rhimes, initially considered setting the medical drama in her hometown of Chicago but ultimately decided on Seattle to distinguish Grey's Anatomy from the Chicago-based series ER.
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Interior shots are filmed on a soundstage at Prospect Studios in Los Feliz, California
While the series is set in the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in Seattle, the actual filming locations are primarily based in Los Angeles, California. The interior shots are filmed on a soundstage at Prospect Studios in Los Feliz, California.
The interior scenes, including those in the operating rooms, hallways, and the iconic “intern locker room,” are filmed on a soundstage. This controlled environment allows for the detailed and dynamic storytelling that fans have come to love. The sets are meticulously designed and include replicas of operating rooms, emergency rooms, and the intern locker room. This allows the crew to have total control over the acoustics and lighting.
The exterior shots of the hospital are filmed at the Veterans Administration Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center in North Hills, Los Angeles. This facility provides the perfect backdrop, giving the show its authentic hospital appearance. The cast occasionally travels to Seattle to shoot exterior scenes, capturing the city's essence and beautiful scenery. These shoots are carefully executed to mesh seamlessly with the Los Angeles footage, creating the illusion that the series is entirely filmed in Seattle.
The show was created by Shonda Rhimes and premiered in 2005 on ABC. It has been running for over 17 years, with the most recent season premiering in September 2024. Grey's Anatomy is the longest-running scripted primetime show currently airing on ABC. The series follows the life of Dr. Meredith Grey, whose dream is to become a famous surgeon like her mother.
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The show occasionally films on location in Seattle to capture the city's essence and scenery
Grey's Anatomy is a popular medical drama centred on the lives of surgical interns, residents, and attendings at the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. The show has been well-received by critics and is considered a television "phenomenon" due to its longevity and high ratings. It has also had a significant impact on popular culture, with many viewers citing the show as educational in terms of medical knowledge and even life-saving in certain situations.
While the series is set in Seattle, Washington, the majority of its filming takes place in Los Angeles, California. The primary shooting location for the hospital's exterior is the VA Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center in North Hills, Los Angeles. This facility serves as the entrance to Grey-Sloan Memorial, providing the perfect backdrop for the show's authentic hospital appearance.
The interior scenes, including those in operating rooms, hallways, and the iconic "intern locker room," are meticulously designed and filmed on a soundstage at Prospect Studios in Los Feliz, California. This controlled environment allows for detailed and dynamic storytelling, ensuring total control over acoustics and lighting.
Despite these fixed locations, the show occasionally films on location in Seattle to capture the city's essence and beautiful scenery. These shoots are carefully planned and executed to blend seamlessly with the Los Angeles footage, creating the illusion that the series is entirely filmed in Seattle. The cast travels to Seattle to film exterior shots, including the famous helipad scenes with the Space Needle in the background.
The intricate blend of real and staged locations helps to create the beloved and believable world of Grey's Anatomy, allowing fans to fully immerse themselves in the drama and lives of their favourite characters.
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Some scenes were filmed at a VA medical facility in California
Grey's Anatomy is a popular medical drama series that revolves around the lives of surgical interns, residents, and attendings at the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. While the series is set in Seattle, Washington, the majority of its filming takes place in Los Angeles, California.
The hospital scenes in Grey's Anatomy are primarily filmed on meticulously designed sets within Prospect Studios in Los Feliz, Los Angeles. These sets include replicas of operating rooms, emergency rooms, and the iconic "intern locker room", allowing for a controlled environment to film the series' complex medical scenarios.
However, some scenes were indeed filmed in real hospitals. In particular, a few scenes were shot at a VA medical facility in California. This facility, known as the Veterans Administration Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center, is located in North Hills, Los Angeles. It serves as the entrance to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in the show, providing the perfect backdrop and an authentic hospital appearance that fans have come to know and love.
The VA medical facility in California is featured in many of the show's old-school iconic shots, including those on the catwalk with a view of the mountains in the background. While the mountain range is real, it is not visible from the catwalk, as portrayed in one of the episodes.
In addition to the VA medical facility, Grey's Anatomy also occasionally films on location in Seattle to capture the city's essence and beautiful scenery. These shoots are carefully planned and executed to mesh seamlessly with the Los Angeles footage, creating the illusion that the series is entirely filmed in Seattle.
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Meredith's house is located in Seattle's Queen Anne neighbourhood
Grey's Anatomy is a popular medical drama series that revolves around the life of Dr Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) and her journey from a surgical intern to the hospital's chief of general surgery. The series is set in the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in Seattle, Washington, but the majority of its filming takes place in Los Angeles, California. The show was created by Shonda Rhimes and premiered in 2005.
The exterior of Meredith's house is filmed on location in Seattle, while the interior scenes are filmed on a studio set. The address used in the external shots of the house is 303 Comstock St., Seattle. However, when Alex checks Ellis Grey's patient record in season 11, the address is listed as 22 State St, 98103. In the show, it is mentioned that the address is 613 Harper Lane.
Over the years, there have been changes and renovations made to the set of Meredith's house to reflect the passage of time and the current occupants' styles. For example, when Derek moves into the house during season five, Meredith's white bed sheets are swapped for red ones, signifying their relationship milestone. In later seasons, when a new set of interns moves into the house, the kitchen is updated with bright teal cabinetry and thrifted mismatched furnishings.
Meredith's house is a popular gathering place for the show's characters, with many of the main characters stopping by to catch up or discuss important matters. It is also known for being a place where Meredith brings "strays", reflecting her kind and welcoming nature. Only two of the main characters have never set foot in the house: Erica and Cormac (according to one source, the other character is Addison).
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Frequently asked questions
No, the entire Grey's Anatomy set is filmed on a studio lot. While the series is set in Seattle, Washington, the majority of its filming takes place in Los Angeles, California.
The hospital scenes are primarily filmed at Prospect Studios in Los Feliz, California. The Veterans Administration Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center in North Hills, California, serves as the entrance to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.
Yes, the cast occasionally travels to Seattle to shoot exterior shots, including the famous helipad scenes with the Space Needle in the background.







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