Want to feel like a secret agent while exploring London? Then you need to check out these iconic spots from the James Bond films!
The Real-Life Bond: Ian Fleming’s London
Before James Bond became a global phenomenon, author Ian Fleming lived and worked in London, and his personal life heavily influenced the creation of the iconic spy.
His apartment at 22B Ebury Street in Belgravia was a significant location in his early years. This building, formerly known as the Pimlico Literary Institution, now boasts a blue plaque honoring Fleming’s residence.
From 1953, Fleming resided at 16 Victoria Square, a stylish property located between Buckingham Palace and Victoria Station. Designed by the prominent architect Sir Matthew Wyatt, this home provided a luxurious backdrop to Fleming’s life.
DUKES Bar in Mayfair was one of Fleming’s favorite spots, and many believe it inspired Bond’s famous martini preference. Another of his haunts, Boodle’s Club in St James’s Street, is rumored to have been the inspiration for Blades Club in Fleming’s 1955 novel Moonraker.
Movie Magic: Bond in London
London has played a pivotal role in many James Bond movies, with various locations serving as stand-ins for other cities or doubling as iconic settings.
Die Another Day (2002) featured The Reform Club in Pall Mall, which was transformed into the Blades fencing club where Bond duels with Gustav Graves. This scene also features a cameo appearance from Madonna! The same club doubled as the Foreign Office in Quantum of Solace (2008), where M meets the Foreign Secretary.
The exterior of Buckingham Palace was also prominently featured in Die Another Day, with Gustav Graves parachuting in to receive his knighthood from the Queen.
GoldenEye (1995) saw London stand in for St. Petersburg, with The Langham in Portland Place serving as Bond’s luxurious Russian hotel. Drapers Hall on Throgmorton Ave became the Russian Council Chamber.
GoldenEye also used London’s beloved St. Pancras Station as St. Petersburg Station for the scene where Natalya arrives by train. The stunning interior of St. Sophia Cathedral was used for the St. Petersburg church scene where Natalya meets Boris Grishenko.
Somerset House on the Strand also doubled as St. Petersburg in GoldenEye, with 40 Russian cars imported for the scene where Bond and Jack Wade break down.
Somerset House also featured in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), with Bond pulling up in his iconic Aston Martin DB5 for a meeting with M.
More than Just Iconic: London in Later Bond Films
London’s role in the James Bond films continued in later installments, with various locations adding a sense of authenticity and glamour to the action.
The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square hosted the first meeting between Bond and his new Q in Skyfall (2012). They meet in Room 34 where Bond is gazing at The Fighting Temeraire, reflecting Bond’s potential future.
Skyfall also filmed at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, which served as the setting for the funerals of the MI6 agents killed in a terrorist attack.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change in Whitehall was also featured in Skyfall, with the production filming on the rooftop for the scene where Moneypenny gives Bond the ceramic bulldog bequeathed to him in M’s will.
The River Thames was a key location in The World Is Not Enough (1999), showcasing Bond’s pursuit of Cigar Girl along the river, passing the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge, and Docklands.
City Hall in Southwark, formerly the home of the Mayor of London, appeared in Spectre (2015) as the home of the Centre for National Security.
Freemasons’ Hall on Great Queen Street was also used in Spectre for the scene where C is anointed as the Head of Nine Eyes.
Vauxhall Cross, the home of MI6 in various Bond films, was first introduced in GoldenEye (1995).
The London Underground also got a starring role in Skyfall, with the villain Silva escaping MI6. The chase scene, filmed on a disused Jubilee Line platform at Charing Cross Station, was used to create the sense of urgency and danger.
No Time To Die (2021) used the Ministry of Defence Main Building in Whitehall as MI6, a location that had previously played itself in For Your Eyes Only (1981).
The Old War Office Building was used as MI6 in Octopussy (1983), while Carlton House Terrace served as the exterior for Madeleine Swann’s office in No Time To Die.
Malaysia House, just off Trafalgar Square on Cockspur Street, was used as the front for MI6 in The Living Daylights (1987).
35 Spring Gardens acted as the exterior of the safe house where M, Q and Moneypenny meet in Spectre.
Rules, one of London’s oldest restaurants, was also featured in Spectre, hosting M, Q and Moneypenny. Diners can even request “M’s table” for a special dining experience.
A Bond-Filled Adventure Awaits
London’s vibrant streets and historical landmarks offer an unforgettable adventure for fans of the iconic James Bond franchise. From Fleming’s personal haunts to the glamorous locations used in the films, London is a must-visit destination for any 007 enthusiast.
