Sunday, 1 May 2022
Behind only New York, Paris and Los Angeles, London is home to one of the largest movie industries in the world.
The capital has acted as the backdrop for many notable productions including Love Actually, Paddington, and the Harry Potter franchise.
With that in mind, London is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit for those who are a fan of film. Take a look at some of our top picks for those of you visiting the sights and sounds of the big city!
Image © MinaLima
For fans of the wizarding world
Potter fans cannot miss the House of MinaLima™ , situated in the heart of Soho. A gallery and store, MinaLima™ showcases the graphic art of the Harry Potter™ and Fantastic Beasts™ films as well as other works, all exclusively designed by MinaLima™.
After accepting a once in a lifetime job in 2002 to help design the world of Harry Potter, Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima have been nonstop ever since. Explore walls covered in prints and graphics and take a closer look at authentic movie props on loan from Warner Bros. in this free, permanent exhibition.
If you’re after Harry Potter filming locations, fans of the Philosopher’s Stone will remember a certain scene involving Harry and a Burmese python. This was filmed at London Zoo ’s Reptile House in Regent's Park.
Fancy a trip down Diagon Alley? Whilst much of the Diagon Alley scenes were shot in a studio, a number of real-life London locations were also used as Diagon Alley filming locations. Take a stroll through Leadenhall Market and Borough Market and experience the same sense of awe and wonder as Harry did!
For real film buffs
If you love film, then BFI Southbank is the place to visit. With 4 screens open 7 days a week, it isn’t just the new releases you’ll find here. If you’ve got an afternoon to dedicate to the world of film, the BFI Southbank Mediatheque has over 95,000 titles available to watch for free, making it the world’s biggest film and television archive.
The Reuben library is home to a huge collection of books, journals and digitised material about the world of film, television and moving images.
Take a walk down the Thames from BFI Southbank to reach the iconic filming location of Tower Bridge and recreate scenes from the likes of Spider-Man: Far from Home, Paddington 2, and Bridget Jones’ Diary.
Image © Madame Tussauds
For selfie hunters
Ever dreamed of snapping a selfie with one of your film heroes? What if there were a place that you could rub shoulders with the stars of the screen, as you walk down the red carpet with Audrey Hepburn and Kate Winslet, or come face to face with Katniss Everdeen?
Madame Tussauds London is the perfect place to get up close and personal with hyper-realistic wax models of your favourite celebs and characters.
Fan of Marvel superheroes? Feel the power of Madame Tussauds London’s 4D Marvel movie ! Experience wind-chilling, water-soaking and face-flinching special effects with some of the world’s most famous superheroes.
Alternatively, take a wander through Leicester Square and spot all of your favourite characters from some of Britain’s best films immortalised in bronze as part of the Scene in the Square statue trail .
Immerse yourself in the experience and hold up your phone to the black disc on each statue to access the audio tour, narrated by Alex Zane. Receive full movie clips, interviews with the film’s stars, and fun facts from each character’s big-screen hits in your ears as you travel through the history of some of Britain’s best-loved films.
For fans of Bond, James Bond
Find out exactly what it takes to be a secret agent, on a James Bond Walking Tour . Fans of the James Bond films will love seeing many of the filming locations from the likes of Skyfall, A View to Kill, and most recently - No Time to Die.
As well as seeing where some of the movies have been shot, you’ll get to learn all about the British secret service, and where Bond creator, Ian Fleming got some of his inspiration for his books. Sites visited will include London’s oldest restaurant (which featured in SPECTRE), the National Gallery, Whitehall, MI5 and MI6.
If you’re after your own adrenaline-fueled adventure, go ripping down the Thames in a speed boat like a real secret agent with Thames Rockets . Hold on tight as you zip past London’s iconic landmarks at 30 knots!
However you choose to spend your time as a film fan in the capital, you won’t be disappointed. The best bit? London will forever be used as inspiration for upcoming stories and films for years to come, so you’ll always have a reason to return!
Our intercity services run direct to London St Pancras from Sheffield, Derby, Nottingham and Leicester, so you can arrive in the capital in comfort and style.