Embark on a thrilling adventure through the streets of London, retracing the steps of James Bond and his creator, Ian Fleming. From iconic landmarks to hidden gems, this city has been a constant backdrop to the world’s most famous spy. Grab your martini and let’s explore!
South of the River: Vauxhall Cross and Ian Fleming’s London
Start your journey south of the Thames in Vauxhall, home to the SIS (Secret Intelligence Service) headquarters, Vauxhall Cross. This imposing building, overlooking Vauxhall Bridge, has served as MI6 HQ in numerous Bond films since its debut in 1995’s GoldenEye. Witness the building come under attack in The World Is Not Enough, Skyfall, and Spectre, or enjoy an establishing shot from Die Another Day.
Venture north across Vauxhall Bridge to 16 Victoria Square, the London residence of Ian Fleming, the mastermind behind 007. Nestled between Buckingham Palace and Victoria Station, this property was Fleming’s London base from 1953, designed by the esteemed Victorian architect Sir Matthew Wyatt.
While GoldenEye in Jamaica holds the title of Fleming’s most famous home, his flat at 22B Ebury Street in Belgravia played a crucial role in his younger years. This former home of the Pimlico Literary Institution now proudly displays an English Heritage blue plaque, commemorating Fleming’s time there from 1936 to 1941.
North of the River: GoldenEye’s St. Petersburg and the Heart of Bond’s London
Walk north-west across Hyde Park to St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral on Moscow Road, a magnificent building that doubles as the St. Petersburg church in GoldenEye. Immerse yourself in the ornate Byzantine mosaics and envision Natalya meeting Boris Grishenko.
Continue east through Marylebone to St. Pancras Station on Euston Road, transformed into St. Petersburg Station in GoldenEye. Watch as Natalya arrives by train and attempts to evade the authorities.
Head south into central London to DUKES bar on St. James’s Place in Mayfair, a favorite haunt of Ian Fleming and often associated with Bond’s famous martini.
A short walk away is Buckingham Palace, a tourist favorite with iconic surroundings featured in Die Another Day. Witness Gustav Graves parachuting in to receive his knighthood from the Queen, or see Madeleine Swann crossing the Mall and St. James’s Park en route to her office in No Time To Die.
Not far from the royal residence is Boodle’s Club on St. James’s Street, said to have inspired Fleming’s Blades Club, prominently featured in his 1955 novel Moonraker.
Bond’s London: Blades, the Reform Club, and the Royal Residences
One of the many tributes to Bond history in Die Another Day is the appropriation of the name Blades for the fencing club where Bond duels with Gustav Graves. Situated at The Reform Club, a private members club in nearby Pall Mall, this is where Madonna makes her cameo appearance. The Reform Club also served as the Foreign Office in Quantum of Solace, where M meets the Foreign Secretary.
Just around the corner, discover the white stucco-faced buildings of Carlton House Terrace, used as the exterior for Madeleine Swann’s office in No Time To Die.
Head just north of Oxford Circus to The Langham on Portland Place, which doubles as Bond’s luxurious Russian hotel in St. Petersburg in GoldenEye.
Continue along Oxford Street towards The Freemasons’ Hall on Great Queen Street, used for the Spectre Foreign Office scene where C is anointed as the Head of Nine Eyes.
London’s Hidden Gems: Rules, The National Gallery, and Malaysia House
Walk through Covent Garden to Rules, one of London’s oldest restaurants, where M, Q, and Moneypenny meet in Spectre. Make a dinner reservation and request “M’s table” for an unforgettable dining experience.
Nearby, The National Gallery memorably features in Skyfall, hosting the first meeting between Bond and his new Q. They meet in Room 34, where a melancholy Bond gazes at The Fighting Temeraire by J.M.W. Turner. Turner’s famous oil painting depicts one of the final great warships from 1805’s Battle of Trafalgar being towed away for scrap, mirroring Bond’s potential future following the closure of the double-O programme.
Just off Trafalgar Square on Cockspur Street, discover Malaysia House, featured in The Living Daylights as Universal Exports, the front for MI6.
And around the corner lies 35 Spring Gardens, the exterior of the safe house where M, Q, and Moneypenny meet in Spectre.
The Heart of MI6: Whitehall and Beyond
Stroll down The Strand for our next two destinations. The real-life London Underground enjoyed a starring role in Skyfall when villain Silva escapes MI6. While much of the action was filmed at Pinewood Studios, filmmakers captured vital scenes on a disused Jubilee Line platform at Charing Cross Station. Further down The Strand, Somerset House doubled as St. Petersburg in GoldenEye, with the production importing 40 Russian cars for the scene where Bond and CIA operative Jack Wade break down in their rusty blue car. Somerset House also features in Tomorrow Never Dies, as Bond arrives for a meeting with M in his iconic Aston Martin DB5.
From Somerset House, head to The Department of Energy and Climate Change in Whitehall, featured in Skyfall. The production shot on the rooftop, capturing Moneypenny giving Bond the ceramic bulldog that M bequeathed to him in her will.
The Ministry of Defence Main Building, also in Whitehall, served as the MI6 offices in No Time To Die. The building previously starred in For Your Eyes Only.
Nearby, the Old War Office Building doubles as MI6 in Octopussy.
Spectre’s final scene, where Bond and Madeleine drive off to a new life together in his DB5, was also filmed in Whitehall, close to the Department for Business and Trade.
The moment in Die Another Day when Bond enters Vauxhall Cross underground station ahead of meeting M was filmed on the south side of Westminster Bridge. Walk to Big Ben and cross Westminster Bridge, which also served as the backdrop to Spectre’s climax. As Blofeld’s helicopter crashes, Bond has the opportunity to kill his nemesis but decides to let him live.
Leaving Westminster Bridge, enjoy a long walk east towards Southwark. Formerly home to the Greater London Assembly and the Mayor of London, City Hall in Southwark appears in Spectre as the home of the Centre for National Security.
Across the Thames: The City, the River, and Greenwich
Enjoy the views from London Bridge as you go back over the river to The City. The Drapers’ Hall on Throgmorton Avenue doubled as the Russian Council Chamber, St. Petersburg, in GoldenEye. Next stop is Blackfriars Pier on White Lion Hill next to the River Thames, where you can embark on the final part of your tour by water.
Take a boat trip along the Thames and take in some familiar sights both west and east. The river plays a prominent role in The World Is Not Enough, which sees Bond pursuing the Cigar Girl assassin in the Q Jet Boat. The chase goes past the Houses of Parliament, through Tower Bridge to Docklands and the O2 Arena (or the Millennium Dome as it was known at the time) where Bond skids down the domed roof. Bond’s mid-air barrel roll in the Q Jet Boat was filmed at nearby Millwall Docks.
Your final destination is in east London. Disembark at Greenwich Pier and walk through the Cutty Sark Gardens to explore the Old Royal Naval College, featured in Skyfall. This location was also used for the scene where M attends the funerals of the MI6 agents killed in the terrorist attack.
A Journey Through Bond’s London
From the sleek buildings of MI6 to the iconic landmarks of central London, this tour offers a glimpse into the world of James Bond and his creator. You’ll discover the hidden gems that inspired Ian Fleming and the locations that brought the world’s most famous spy to life on screen. So, put on your best suit, grab a drink, and prepare for a thrilling adventure through the secret world of 007 in London.
