Peaky Blinders: A full recap of everything that happened in Season Two
Doing your research?
Last updated 19th Apr 2021
If you're new to Peaky Blinders - and let's face it, where have you been?! - you might be doing a bit of research into what's happened in the previous seasons before you get into it. Still trying to decide if it's your cup of tea? Trust us, it most likely is.
We've gathered up all the info that happens in season one, season three, season four and season five - but find a full recap of what happened in season 2 of Peaky Blinders below...
What happened in Peaky Blinders season 2?
After the cliffhanger at the end of season one, we discover that Grace shot Major Campbell (Sam Neill) on the train station platform and left him to die. Two years later, Tommy gets caught up with the IRA and Campbell returns to Birmingham, having survived but obtained a leg injury.
Polly sees a medium for information about her children, who were taken from her when they were very young. Sabini's (Noah Taylor) thugs beat Tommy up, and Campbell visits him in hospital to threaten him with information he knows about the IRA involvement. He then takes a barge to Camden to meet with Alfie Solomons and strike up a deal.
Tommy finds Polly's son who has been adopted, and says they can contact him when he's 18 - but he turns up on the doorstep and the pair try and get to know each other. Arthur suffers from war flashbacks and accidentally kills a young boy whilst boxing, whose mother later lures Arthur in a murder attempt which goes awry.
The Shelbys take Michael to a horse auction, at which Tommy buys one and meets May Carleton (Charlotte Riley), who takes the horse to train it, and they begin a relationship. Although May appears to want more, they keep it physical as Tommy is still hung up on Grace, who he keeps calling and hanging up on.
They then meet as Grace is back in the UK from America with her husband, as they're seeking fertility treatment - and Grace falls pregnant after sleeping with Tommy.
Campbell has Michael arrested, and forces Polly into having sex with him for Michael's freedom - something that distresses both Polly and Michael. At Derby Day, Polly shoots Campbell dead, and Tommy is kidnapped, almost killed and informed that Winston Churchill will be in touch.
When did season two of Peaky Blinders air?
It began on 2nd October 2014 on BBC Two, and finished on 6th November 2014.
How many episodes were in Peaky Blinders season 2?
There were six episodes, same as the other seasons.
Who was in the Peaky Blinders series 2 cast?
Read all about who plays the Peaky Blinders here.
How can I watch Peaky Blinders series 2?
You can get it on Netflix and BBC iPlayer.
Remembering Helen McCrory
The sad news was announced in April that Helen McCrory, who famously played the role of Polly Gray in the show, had passed away at the age of 52. Many celebrities paid tribute to the late star.
Scroll through to see all the Peaky Blinders filming locations...
The Black Country Living Museum
The Black Country museum is home to many of the filming locations for Peaky Blinders, and if you take a trip around the museum for a day you'll be sure to recognise some past scenes of the show.
Pictured here is Uncle Charlie's dockyard, home to many dodgy dealings between the Shelby brothers as well as allowing safe passage for who or whatever they need to get out of the Midlands. Read up on the museum here.
Powis Street, Liverpool
Much of the filming for Peaky Blinders is done in and around Liverpool, and different companies host many tours in the city so that fans of the show can see where the magic happens. This particular street is used for the Shelby families homes in the first season, named Watery Lane on the show.
Formby Beach, Liverpool
Many heartbroken viewers will spot that Formby Beach in Liverpool was the spot where Alfie Solomons (played by Tom Hardy) admitted his betrayal to Tommy, and basically forced Tommy into shooting him dead after confessing that he had cancer. It was very emotional.
Port Sunlight, Wirral
Port Sunlight is a model village in the Wirral, Merseyside. Although the village and the homes within it were originally built for workers at the Lever Brothers Factory, it's now a tourist attraction. Eagle-eyed Peaky fans will recognise the timbered housing as Aunt Polly's home, which is 'in' Sutton Coldfield in the show.
Arley Hall, Cheshire
Once Tommy became as 'legit' as he could in season three, he and Grace moved themselves into an incredible country house. Sadly, Grace was shot dead at a party they hosted there, but Tommy continued to live there with their son Charlie as well as their staff.
Arley Hall is situated in Northwich, Cheshire, and is often used as a wedding venue. Other shows to be filmed there include Coronation Street, Antiques Roadshow and Cold Feet.
General Manager Steve Hamilton said, "It's been incredible to see the effort and attention to detail that goes into a production such as Peaky Blinders. There was a real buzz around Arley during the filming and it was great to work with the BBC on such a popular and critically acclaimed drama. The great thing now is that people will be able to visit us this summer and walk in the rooms where these amazing stars have filmed their scenes."
Manchester Town Hall
The town hall in Manchester was apparently used as a building front in a scene in one of the first two seasons where Sam Neill's character, Major Campbell, visits Winston Churchill, but Peaky Blinders' Production Designer Grant Montgomery told i News that "the interiors were done in another location." So cryptic!
Victoria Baths, Manchester
The Victoria Baths in Manchester were used for scenes in season two. After Polly's son Michael returned, having been raised in the countryside by adoptive parents, the Shelby brothers took him along to a horse fair where Tommy bought a filly and also met May Carleton. Of course, in true Peaky style, the day ends in a fight, but the filming for the fair took place at the baths.
Montgomery told i, "I remember thinking Victoria Baths could give it a really good look. One of the baths had timber over it, so we put sawdust down on top."
Bolton
The centre of Bolton was used for various scenes in the show, but Le Mans crescent in Bolton was used for shots to capture the Shelby brothers' trip to London, and specifically the exterior of the Eden Club - the jazz den owned by Sabini, who becomes a nemesis to the family.
Montgomery told i, "We were thinking how to do London in the 1920s, and Bolton has that wonderful crescent. So I said, 'Well, this is our London.' And the exterior to the Eden Club was all done in Bolton."
Brooke’s Mill, Huddersfield
Producers used Brooke's Mill in Huddersfield as the location for the gypsy campsite, using traditional caravans and carts, as well as horses.
Leeds Town Hall
Many fans of the show were convinced that the scenes in which Campbell and Grace share information about the Shelby family in the art gallery were filmed at the Town Hall in Birmingham. However, the front was actually shot at the Town Hall in Leeds.
Newby Hall & Gardens, Ripon
However, the scenes on the inside of the art gallery where Campbell and Grace surreptitiously pass notes to each other were filmed at the Newby Hall & Gardens in Ripon, North Yorkshire.
Keighley and Worth Valley Steam Railway
Most of the Peaky moments that take place on a train or at a station happen on the Keighley and Worth Valley railway line. It's a 5-mile long rail line that runs through a small part of West Yorkshire, and many will recognise Keighley as the station where Grace shot Major Campbell in season one.
Undercliffe Cemetery, Bradford
The shots in season one where Polly pays her respects at the cemetery and meets Freddie Thorne laying flowers for his mum is thought to have been shot in Bradford at the Undercliffe Cemetery.
Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, Yorkshire
If it's a scene involving a train station, this historic Yorkshire station is likely to be the filming location, boasting gorgeous old platforms and carriages, picturesque walking paths and eye-catching backdrops.
Chatsworth House, Derbyshire
If you're looking for May Carleton's mansion, featured in season two of Peaky Blinders, then Chatsworth House, in Bakewell, Derbyshire, is the place! The stunning historic building is perfect for aristocratic horse-trainer May Carleton.
Episodes shot at Chatsworth include huge stars of the show, including Cillian Murphy (as Thomas Shelby), Charlotte Riley (as May Carleton) and Annabelle Wallis (as Grace Burgess).
READ MORE:
Peaky Blinders recap: What happened in season one?
Peaky Blinders recap: What happened in season three?
Peaky Blinders recap: What happened in season four?
Peaky Blinders recap: What happened in season five?