London’s Iconic Filming Locations - near Nine Elms Studio
Nine Elms Studio is in the heart of LondonTake a cinematic trip to the most iconic film locations in London! From historic landmarks to hidden gems, these Oscar-worthy backdrops have starred in some of Hollywood’s biggest films, TV shows and music videos. Discover inspiration for your next film or photography project by visiting these famous London film locations next time you’re in the capital.
Battersea Power Station
Just a short walk from our film studios, Battersea Power Station on the south bank of the River Thames features in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Superman III, The King’s Speech, Monty Python’s Meaning of Life and the 1965 Beatles film, Help!. In 2007, a 200ft fireball created for The Dark Knight saw an influx of calls to emergency services from worried residents.
Buckingham Palace
Walk over Vauxhall Bridge and you’re not far from a scrumdiddlyumptious breakfast with the Queen of England is on the menu at Buckingham Palace in The BFG as Sophie and the Big Friendly Giant warn Her Majesty of the terrifying giants in Giant Country. In Mary Poppins Returns, the magical nanny rides a bicycle with the children and Bert the chimney sweep outside the palace.
Charing Cross Underground Station
Even superheroes need to catch a train, as the Asgardian God of Thunder illustrates in Thor: The Dark World. The Charing Cross Underground Station has also witnessed James Bond sliding down an escalator in Skyfall, and features in Paddington and Luther: The Fallen Sun. Scenes are filmed on the disused Jubilee platform, which closed in 1999 but is open for tours.
Covent Garden
The 160ft marble interior of Australia House in Covent Garden is the set for Gringotts Wizarding Bank in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Fans of My Fair Lady will also recognise Covent Garden Market, where Eliza Doolittle sells her flowers. Other appearances include A Street Cat Named Bob, Mary Poppins Returns and Tomorrow Never Dies.
Houses of Parliament
The Houses of Parliament are at the epicentre of the dystopian political action film, V for Vendetta. In 2014, Suffragette became the first feature film to be shot in the Houses of Parliament, with scenes filmed in the central lobby and a committee room.
King’s Cross Station
Now the most famous Harry Potter location in London, King’s Cross Station is home to the infamous Platform 9¾. This magical platform - visible only to wizards, not muggles - is the portal to Hogwarts via the Hogwarts Express train. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Harry, Ron and Hermione accompany their children there for their first journey to Hogwarts. In real-life, it can be visited at platforms four and five.
National Gallery
Free to visit, the National Gallery in Westminster has one of the most prestigious art collections in the world. In Skyfall, James Bond and Q sit in front of ‘The Fighting Temeraire’ by Joseph Mallord William Turner in Room 34 on the second floor.
Piccadilly Circus
One of the best-known London film locations, Piccadilly Circus in the West End is home to Bruce Wayne’s restaurant in The Dark Knight. Along with international classics like Âme d’artiste and Der Mann mit dem Glasauge, it has been the set of cult classics like An American Werewolf in London and Bend It Like Beckham.
Portobello Road
With over 355,000 Instagram hashtags, Portobello Road is one of the most visited streets in London. In Paddington, Mr Gruber’s antiques shop is housed in the real-life Alice’s Antiques store at 86 Portobello Road. The skateboard chase scene was filmed at Portobello Road Market. In the romantic comedy film Notting Hill, Will’s bookshop is at 142 Portobello Road.
St. Pancras International Station
Romance film buffs will recognise the bustling St. Pancras International Station from the emotional reunion between Bridget Jones and Mark Darcy in Bridget Jones’s Diary. Just a one-minute walk away is the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel, where Batman Begins and the Spice Girls’ Wannabe music video were filmed.
St Paul’s Cathedral
The geometric staircase of the Grade-I listed St Paul’s Cathedral appears in Sherlock Holmes and two Harry Potter films, as Harry, Ron and Hermione attend Professor Trelawney’s Divination lessons. In Mission: Impossible - Fallout, Tom Cruise dramatically leaps from its roof. And in Wonka, it is the secret entrance to the Chocolate Cartel’s base.
Tower Bridge
Crossing the River Thames, Tower Bridge is one of London’s most popular filming locations. Along with cameos in Only Fools and Horses, Doctor Who and Inspector Morse, the 800 ft-long suspension bridge features in Hellboy and the final battle scenes of Spider-Man: Far From Home. Special effects artists used holograms to create the illusion of the bridge being destroyed. Try it out for yourself!
Tower of London
In addition to Doctor Who and Muppets Most Wanted, the historic Tower of London is the setting for classic black-and-white horror films. These include Tower of London (1939) with Boris Karloff, and Tower of London (1962) with Vincent Price. The Neo-Gothic building is a great location for experimenting with traditional horror filming techniques like low-angle shots, negative space and underexposure.
Trafalgar Square
In 2012, Tom Cruise temporarily shut down Trafalgar Square when he arrived via a Royal Air Force helicopter to film a scene for his sci-fi thriller, All You Need Is Kill. It’s the perfect London filming location for action movies, including Captain America: The First Avenger. For Wonder Woman, it was transformed into a First World War scene with Union Jacks and vintage cars.
Wembley Stadium
Home to historic sporting events like the 1948 Olympics and 1966 World Cup, Wembley Stadium has also hosted other action-packed scenes. In Fast & Furious 6, it is at the centre of a high-speed car chase, while its exterior features in the post-apocalyptic horror film 28 Weeks Later.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey famously turned down £100,000 to allow filming for the adaptation of Dan Brown’s best-selling novel, The Da Vinci Code, saying the book is ‘theologically unsound’. However, for the first time in history, it will open its doors to Hollywood for Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part Two. The Tom Cruise film is scheduled for release in May 2025.
Westminster Bridge
Another popular London film location is Westminster Bridge. In 102 Dalmatians, Cruella de Vil hallucinates after hearing the chimes of Big Ben, imagining the Houses of Parliament and New Scotland Yard covered in spotted dalmatian fur. The finale of Spectre happens on the bridge after James Bond’s nemesis, Blofeld (Number 1), crash-lands . In Die Another Day, the bridge is the entrance to a secret MI6 base.
Feeling inspired? Visit our film studios in Nine Elms to get started on your own blockbuster.