London is the star of a number of recent blockbuster films — The King’s Speech naturally enough has the city as a major character, as does Black Swan. And so it’s no surprise that people want to see the film locations in real life.
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As Danny Bearham, Head Concierge of the Park Plaza Victoria Hotel, told me: “Over the last few months the film industry has had a notable effect on visitors’ interests.” He’s apparently even been asked how to get to Brighton thanks to the recent release of Brighton Rock — as well as umpteen requests to see a performance of Swan Lake.
The King's Speech on Location in Portland Place, London © David Barrie
So it’s clear that blockbuster movies inspire people to visit parts of the city they might not otherwise see. Here I present my personal favourite top 10 London film references (you’ll notice that I’ve deliberately not bothered with “obvious” sights like Big Ben or Tower Bridge).
#1: Platform 9 3/4, King’s Cross Station
The site of the platform sign isn’t quite where the actual filming for the Harry Potter films took place, but you can still see it. Definitely one for anyone with kids who are Harry Potter fans. Also worth a look is the site of Gringotts Bank — the interior of Australia House on the Strand (open for daily tours).
#2: The Linley-Sambourne House
A super Victorian house in West Kensington, which appears as the home of Cecil Vyse in the Merchant-Ivory film A Room with a View, based on the novel by E.M.Forster. Amazingly, it has been preserved practically unchanged since Victorian times — it’s an authentic interior that is well worth seeing. It’s now managed by the Victorian Society, which organises regular tours.
#3: All Saints’ Church in Fulham
This is the site where Father Brennan gets spiked by the lightning conductor in The Omen. I always thought it looked rather sinister — and that was before I saw the film!
#4: Cooke’s Pie and Mash Shop in Shepherd’s Bush
Straight from The Who’s Quadrophenia – and the narrow, cramped alley that’s occupied by Shepherd’s Bush Market is where Kevin gets beaten up by Mods. But my favourite location from this film is the S&M Café in Islington, which used to be Alfredo’s in the days when I enjoyed a cup of milky coffee and a bacon sarnie there on Saturday mornings. Its Art Deco shopfront has fortunately survived the change of name.
#5: Globe Pub, Borough Market
For fans of chicklit and romcom, Bridget Jones lived above this pub in Borough Market — a favourite film location also seen in numerous other movies, such as Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels. Though sticklers for details will know that in the book she lived in Holland Park on the other side of the river and a good deal further west (and more upmarket, for what it’s worth). The cad Daniel Cleaver’s smart flat is at Clink Wharf Apartments, Clink Street which is not far away.
#6: The Hackney Empire
Appearing in Richard Attenborough’s Chaplin, it’s the theatre where Charlie Chaplin does his drunk act. And yes, the real Charlie Chaplin did perform here, though the stage-side box that appears in the film was specially built for the act. Nowadays you can see English Touring Opera and other companies perform in this well preserved former music-hall. It’s all very much an East End tradition that is worth supporting.
#7: Albert Bridge
Although it looks terribly innocent and unassuming, this is in fact the setting for the tramps’ revenge on Alex in A Clockwork Orange.
#8: St Bartholomew’s Church
Its popularity is not surprising, as this is one of London’s most atmospheric churches. It appears in Four Weddings and a Funeral (it’s the ”˜non-wedding’ church), in Shakespeare in Love (where Shakespeare prays for forgiveness after hearing of Marlowe’s murder), in Sherlock Holmes, in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, standing in for Nottingham Cathedral (um, Nottingham doesn’t have a cathedral; should someone have pointed that out to the scriptwriter?), and as the site for Mary Queen of Scot’s execution in Elizabeth: The Golden Age (standing in for Fotheringay Castle). Travel tip: it’s near Smithfield Market so after you’ve visited it, you could enjoy lunch at The Fox & Anchor, a beautiful traditional pub — or even stay in one of its six rooms.
#9: Near the Canada Gates of Crystal Palace Park
I had to include this one for the quote. The little patch of greensward by the Canada Gates of Crystal Palace Park is where the white van in The Italian Job gets blown to bits: “You’re only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!”
#10: Painted Hall, Royal Naval College
And from The Madness of King George, there is the Painted Hall in the Royal Naval College, Greenwich where ”˜Greensleeves’ is played on handbells in front of the royal family. The Painted Hall is, in my view, one of London’s best kept secrets – an amazing space, decorated with baroque paintings that dazzle the eye and suggest vast perspectives (I’m ridiculously jealous of my father, who was invited to a feast there by one of his marine historian friends.)
London is sometimes just a setting but very often also a real character, whether the atmosphere is joyous, punk, Victorian Gothic, or realistic. It’s ironic and curious then that London isn’t London-like enough for some directors! Or perhaps it’s just too darned expensive to film there. For the Victorian-era films From Hell, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and Oliver Twist, location scouts headed for Prague instead!
One last tip: where would be a good London base for exploring the above locations? Luxury boutique hotel the Egerton House is currently number 1 on TripAdvisor and well-connected via public transport to explore several of the above movie settings.