London is a hotbed for tourists and one of the most visited cities in the world. In 2017, there were over 19 million visitors to the city, up 2.6 percent from the previous year. One of the main reasons why so many people want to go to the English capital is because of the iconic locations scattered across the city. These spots have frequently been used in popular TV shows and films, and viewers want to go and see where their favourite scenes were shot. Here are a few of the best places for film lovers to visit.
The Tower of London
The Tower of London is a hugely impressive and ancient building which has stood strong since 1078 when it was built by William the Conqueror. It has inspired many works of fiction, and has also served as a backdrop for films. In Peter Howitt’s 2003 spy thriller parody Johnny English, Rowan Atkinson’s bumbling secret agent appears at the Tower of London where the Crown Jewels are being displayed. It has also been used in a number of episodes of Doctor Who, including 2005’s Christmas Invasion and 2012’s The Power of Three. More recently, The Tower of London was used to host the premiere of the fifth season of Game of Thrones in 2015 because it fit the theme and style of the show. The series has now sprouted into other media such as an official Game of Thrones board game from Christian T. Petersen, a Risk-like strategy game set in Westeros which is currently in its 2nd edition. There’s also a Game of Thrones slot available on Betway Casino. It’s an online casino title that uses the symbols of all the houses in addition to sound clips and videos from the series, as well as the Telltale Games’ role playing offering for consoles. The console title is set at the same time as the show but follows a completely different storyline. All of these things came about due to George RR.
Martin’s love of old English history. Sites like the Tower of London and the events in history surrounding them inspired A Song of Ice and Fire along with other novels such as The Mad Hatter Mystery by John Dickson Carr.
Tower Bridge
London’s Tower Bridge is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world, which is why it makes such a perfect spot to shoot scenes in films. Construction on the iconic structure began in 1886 and took eight years to complete. Since then it has appeared in numerous blockbuster films. In 2013’s Fast & Furious 6 Dwayne Johnson and Chris Bridges appear in London at an elite car show with the stunning bridge in the background. If you want to get a sense of what Tower Bridge was like when it was still being built, there is a great scene in Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes. In the 2009 film from the British director, Robert Downey Jr.’s great detective battles the villainous Lord Henry Blackwood on an unfinished Tower Bridge. The film was set in 1890 so this was historically accurate, and will interest fans of 19th century architecture. Of course, this film is just one of numerous featuring the detective, who has also influenced video games and inspired other merchandise greatly. Some of the titles featuring the ingenious detective include Sherlock Holmes: The Devil’s Daugther by Bandai Namco, which was first released in 2002 but remade in 2016 and Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of Osborne House for the Nintendo DS.
Trafalgar Square
The well-known landmark of Trafalgar Square commemorates Britain’s victory over France in 1805 and features Nelson’s Column in the centre of the square. Needless to say, the legendary location has been used in numerous films and TV shows. One of the more recent appearances of Trafalgar Square in mass media was in Doug Liman’s 2014 offering Edge of Tomorrow, in which Tom Cruise goes through a Groundhog Day-like time cycle in the midst of an alien invasion. For the film, Trafalgar Square was closed off to the public and a number of tanks were brought in. Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will remember that the London spot was used in Captain America: The First Avenger. In the 2011 film from Joe Johnston, crowds of people are filmed celebrating in the square when it is announced that the war has been won. In addition to these Hollywood smash hits, Trafalgar Square has featured in Wonder Woman, 28 Days Later, Skyfall, and TV series such as Elementary and Doctor Who. Along with these great locations there are a number of other spots for film buffs to check out. Harry Potter lovers may be interested in seeing the Millennium Bridge which was destroyed by Death Eaters in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. The London Eye has also appeared in countless films, with perhaps the most exciting occasion coming in the 2007 film Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.