I just returned from my first trip to London and am still reeling from all the sights. I suspect the friend I traveled with is relieved to know that I found a map of film locations in the city after our trip. Not surprisingly, the map is densely dotted with buildings, parks and other places.
Day one brought jetlag and a spectacular view of Hyde Park from our hotel window. And, who knew that when we passed by the park’s Apsley Gate that it was where the world’s first known moving image was filmed? Or, that Glenda Jackson learned to play baseball in the park and won her second Oscar for A Touch of Class filmed there? You could see the evidence (and smell it!) of horses stabled not far from our hotel in a location used in Reds. The famous Speaker’s Corner which I just had to see has been seen in many movies and actually used in among other films, This Happy Breed.
Among our many stops were the National Gallery and The National Portrait Gallery. Trafalgar Square literally made us gasp as we came up the stairs from the underground Charing Cross stop. A child of the sixties, I fully expected to see Mary Poppins. But alas, now there are signs warning of fines for feeding the birds. The stop itself was recently used for The Bourne Ultimatum. And just off Charing Cross road is Cecil Court the real Diagon Alley of Harry Potter fame.
On our way to see the sights, we passed by Royal Albert Hall which certainly has seen its share of movie cameras. You can glimpse it in Hitchcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much, The Seventh Veil starring James Mason and yes, even in Spice World.
Another stop on our whirlwind tour through the city brought us to the British Museum, the actual locations for scenes in The Day of the Jackal among other films as well as recreated scenes.
In case you think basking in British history was not on our itinerary… fear not. Next entry… more highlights of London locations for film with a bow to royalty - both the regal and the literary.
