London is an iconic, vibrant city which, unsurprisingly, offers film makers some great filming locations. Whether you are looking for a location that is inspired by the historic buildings of the city, its more recently constructed attractions or its natural scenery like its parks, lakes and the River Thames there is bound to be a location to suit you. In this article we look at just five of the most inspirational of settings, each of which offer unrivalled filming locations. Certain locations in and around London do require permits to allow filming which is a great reason to contact Tallboy first as we can help arrange the necessary paperwork.
- The View From the Shard
One of the capital’s most popular tourist attractions, the view from the Shard, the tallest Western European building, is almost double the height of all other viewing galleries in the city. It offers the opportunity to film the city and beyond with stunning 360 degree shots. At its peak there is an open air gallery, where the sights and sounds of the bustling London Bridge below can be recorded. The view from the Shard – a fantastic filming location!
- Kew Gardens
These magnificent botanical gardens, with their inspirational walks, lakes and fountains, offer the perfect natural setting for filming outdoors. Its three hundred acres contain gardens inspired by Japan, forests from Canada, Greek temples, Mediterranean landscapes and tropical rain forests. Kew Gardens featured in the production of the popular movie, The End of the Affair and the television science fiction drama, Humans.
- The London Eye
The London Eye, also known as the Millennium Wheel, is located on the south bank of the Thames and was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world when it was first constructed. It remains the tallest such structure in Europe. It is also the busiest paid attraction in the city and has been featured in several films including Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and the Harry Potter series.
- Thames River
Weaving its way through the centre of the city, the river Thames represents a great filming location and a Thames river trip offers the chance to record many of the capital’s historic and modern constructions and, of course, London’s famous bridges. The river has featured in many productions, including Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, The World is not Enough, Fantastic Four and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
- The Southbank Centre
Another location on the south bank of the River Thames, the Southbank centre, London’s world renowned arts centre, is home to many iconic buildings, including the Royal Festival Hall, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Hayward Gallery. A stroll along the Queen’s Walk also provides magnificent views of the City of Westminster and the London Eye. The centre was featured in the production of The Boat that Rocked and The World is Not Enough.
This is only a small selection of great filming locations that can be found in the city of London. Others include Alexandra Palace, the Imperial War Museum, Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, Trafalgar Square, the Natural History Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum. The list of stunning filming opportunities is almost endless and there is truly something for everybody in the nation’s vibrant and historic capital city.
