London is no stranger to the silver screen, having shown up in countless films from blockbusters like Sherlock Holmes movies to cult classics like A Clockwork Orange.
Ask a cinephile which flick showed London’s best side and they’ll list everything from The King’s Speech to About A Boy. With so many to check out, here are a few of our favorite filming locations around London and their closest subway station so you can visit on your next trip across the pond.
Hollywood Across the Pond: Famous Film Locations in London
Action movies set in London
London has seen its fair share of fictional destruction as well in films like London Has Fallen, but V for Vendetta takes the cake by blowing three of our iconic buildings to kingdom come:
- The Central Criminal Court (aka The Old Bailey): St. Paul’s Underground Station
- The Houses of Parliament: Westminster Underground Station
- Big Ben: Westminster Underground Station
Thor: The Dark World left a bit of damage too, but did turn us on to a lunch spot with excellent city views, as well as other scenic London sites:
- OXO Tower’s Brasserie: Southwark Underground Station
- Old Royal Naval College: Cutty Sark Light Rail Station
- King William Walk: Cutty Sark Light Rail Station
If you’d like to geek out with us about the time Spider-Man nearly destroyed Tower Bridge, check out these UK filming locations for comic book movies.
Jason Bourne paid a visit to our corner of the world a few times: once at Charing Cross Underground station during The Bourne Ultimatum and Paddington Plaza (near Paddington Underground station) in Jason Bourne.
Of course, the OG hero saving the day throughout the UK and the world is none other than James Bond. The M16 agent’s movies have given love to London numerous times, including:
- MI6 Headquarters: Vauxhall Underground Stop
- The Langham Hotel (“Grand Hotel” in Goldeneye): Goodge Street Underground Station
- The O2 Rooftop (in The World Is Not Enough): North Greenwich Underground Station
As we wait for the first time in history that James Bond works for His Majesty’s Secret Service, hop a train and discover all of the stunning James Bond filming locations in Switzerland.
Horror movie filming locations in London
The action in Britain gets a little bloodier when we delve into the horror movies filmed in the city, including the OG werewolf movie, Werewolf of London. Other include:
- An American Werewolf in London making us fearful of beasts in the tube: Tottenham Court Road
- The British Museum in The Mummy Returns: Goodge Street Underground Station
- The hauntingly empty streets of London from Westminster Bridge in 28 Days Later: Westminster Underground Station
- Pinhead’s very own London abode, the Hellraiser House: Dollis Hill Underground Station
Romantic movies filmed in London
I’m just a writer, sitting in front of a screen, asking you to use the train to relive your favorite British romcom. Here are a few films featuring London that you can access via the Underground:
- Love Actually’s St. Luke’s Mews: Ladbroke Grove Underground Station
- Notting Hill, unsurprisingly, was filmed in the eponymous West London neighborhood: Notting Hill Gate Underground Station
Not to be outdone by Bourne or Bond, Bridget Jones has loads of London filming locations (and she only needed three movies, boys) including:
- Her apartment above Globe Tavern: London Bridge Underground Station
- A lover’s tiff at Hyde Park: Hyde Park Corner Underground Station
- Her first kiss with Daniel under Shad Thames Wharf Bridge: Bermondsey Underground Station
Family flicks
Make a family vacation to London even more unforgettable by stopping off at these filming locations from your favorite children’s movies. Mary Poppins Returns featured:
- Tower Bridge: Tower Hill Station
- St. Paul’s Cathedral: St. Paul’s Station
- Buckingham Palace: St. James’ Park Station
- Bank of England: Bank Station Underground Station
As you’re hopping around the Tube, make sure you visit Paddington Station. Not only is it the best connection to Heathrow Airport, but it’s named after our favorite bear from the deepest, darkest Peru.
Take photos with the Paddington statue as a sweet family souvenir. As a bonus family-friendly film activity, stop by the Natural History Museum (South Kensington Underground Station) or Primrose Hill (Chalk Farm Underground Station) where Paddington was filmed.
And, no, we haven’t been hit with an obliviate charm. From Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross train station to the Gringotts Wizarding Bank within the Strand’s Australia House, a list of Harry Potter filming locations in London needs its own Room (or Article) of Requirement.
Accio everything Harry Potter.
Want to film your own mini-movie on a vacation in London? Download the Trainline app to start scouting your set locations.