James Bond London Experience
hb7
Posts: 1MI6 Agent
Gooday All,
I'm a huge James Bond fan and will be visiting London soon (I arrive December 3rd). I have never been to London and was wondering if I could get some advice on how make use of my time in London experiencing all things 007.
I know that the walk tour is not held in the winter which is a shame, I would have definitely done this.
But is there anything else on in regards to Bond...tours? Events?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks All.
I'm a huge James Bond fan and will be visiting London soon (I arrive December 3rd). I have never been to London and was wondering if I could get some advice on how make use of my time in London experiencing all things 007.
I know that the walk tour is not held in the winter which is a shame, I would have definitely done this.
But is there anything else on in regards to Bond...tours? Events?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks All.
Comments
That said, there are no organized tours but if you can get yourself a copy of On the Tracks of 007 or Gary Giblin's James Bond's London either can guide you to various sites and save enormous time hunting or thinking you've found a site only to learn it wasn't.
St Paul's feels Bondian, and would have been in OHMSS but wasn't. All the area around there is great, with landmarks like the Shard, Tate Modern and Tower Bridge on view. Nearby is the lift featuring in DAF, the Amsterdam scene, though I have yet to see it, you'll find info about that on another thread.
It's true that the whole Bond thing is tangential really in London. I mean, there is the College of Arms as seen in OHMSS but who cares really.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Do you have a smartphone?? Last time I was in London I just whacked / bookmarked places on Google Maps etc have a quick look now and you will find yourself near something!!!
Make a list
MI6 Building from across the Thames:
I had no idea you could get this close to it:
The National Gallery. I went in to look at Turner's Fighting Temeraire (from the first meeting between Bond and Q in Skyfall) only to be told that the room was closed due to industrial action, and would reopen the day after I left. Boo!
I'm pretty sure this is the same Underground Station entrance/exit that DC runs out of during M's Tennyson speech:
Sorry it's not the right way round.
Exactly! You don't need a Bond tour to stumble across Bond locations whilst on the tourist trail. There are loads of hidden Bond gems including; OHMSS - The Royal College of Arms near St Pauls Cathedral. The iconic Lazenby press release photo in front of Big Ben. DAD - Boat chase along the Thames, Millenium Dome.The secret entrance to the undeground on Westminster Bridge. All the Skyfall locations... To name just a few!
So much to see and do in London, especially if it's your first visit. You'll have a great time! :007)
In my mind it was the "Q" boat. ) in fact for fans of any espionage films or TV
Series, London is full of locations.
Me too! {[] And the same thought was running through my mind.. :007)
I wanted a photo of " a door" 8-) and it was funny as everyone else was photographing
The house of commons.
+1. My mrs and kids were puzzled )
As I recall it still had the anchor(?) door knocker bought by IF on it which was mentioned in a book or two. If it had been dark I would have prised it off! (only joking!)
As said I can't remember the location but it's central (Kensingston perhaps?)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/3673505/The-Ian-Fleming-map-of-Britain.html
Ooh, if you could get that info... that would be great. Next time I'm in London on a Bond walkabout, I'll add it to my list.
If you start off at Bond's fictional address of 30 Wellington Sq, and walk up the Kings Road, over Sloane Square to Eaton Sq, you can walk through the 9 Eaton Terrace Mews where Muriel Wright (Moo) was killed during WW2 and onto Ebury St, (you'll sadly be walking in Flemings footsteps to 22b then, as he must have done many times when seeing Moo, and on discovering her death too). You can then go to 16 Victoria Sq where disapointingly the new owner has removed Flemings anchor door knocker. It's one of my favourite fleming walks.
He lived at Ebury St, during the war, and when he married Anne and moved to Victoria Sq, that was teh address he lived when writing the novels and till his death.
After Victoria Sq, you can walk past Buck Palace, down the Mall to Whitehall and the Admiralty and home to Room 39 NID (Horseguards Parade) where Fleming worked. You're then in Bond film/literary territory everywhere you walk after that. MI6, MI5, Lazenby's lampost, the DAD forgotten agent door, Craig's run from Whitehall Underground and up etc etc etc.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/brighton/2875339126/?rb=1
You can also drop by here for a drink:
http://www.dukeshotel.com/foodanddrink-dukesbar.php
After looking on the net I've found the address:
22 Ebury Street, Belgravia,
Not as I remember at all, time plays tricks on the memory. I must have gone somewhere else too beacuse I distinctly remember the town house being in a Square. Anyway here's a very interesting link:
http://jamesbondmemes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/blue-plaques-guide-to-ian-fleming-and.html
A trip to London. -{
I still ain't done Dukes and Scotts - always too much to do in London lol
Check my post above.
Scott's isn't worth it anymore. It's lost everything it used to be. The old Scott's was a fantastic place and I really miss it. I could have lived in the bar downstairs.
Nope, the owners wouldn't allow it. You can only find it at Ebury St now