Begin your journey at the Barbican, whose striking brutalist architecture serves as backdrop and HQ for the hit espionage series "Slow Horses," perfectly capturing the gritty, off-kilter world of Jackson Lamb and his misfit agents.
A short stroll brings you to historic Charterhouse, a beautifully preserved complex that became a moody atmospheric backdrop in the acclaimed series "Taboo." The courtyards and cloisters feel like stepping into another century, the perfect canvas for television series such as "The Crown". While its genuine Tudor surroundings have appeared extensively as bustling London streets in "Hamnet."
It’s hard to believe that the former lead and glass factory next door, in Clerkenwell, once doubled as the police headquarters in the Batman trilogy. The Farmiloe building, now a luxury office and residential space, was a firm favorite of director Christopher Nolan’s.
Not only did he use its atmospheric interior and industrial space for Gotham City but also for his mind-bending film "Inception." The Farmiloe Building became a firm favorite for Hollywood directors, with many film credits appearing in "Mission Impossible-Rogue Nation," "Sherlock Holmes," "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," and many more.
Whilst "Skyfall" film fans will remember Bond being signed off by Judy (‘M’) having trained at a secret location – proof that not even 007 can resist the cinematic grit of London’s ancient market quarter.
Having left behind the busy streets of Smithfield, enter the medieval tranquillity of St Bartholomew the Great, London’s oldest surviving priory church. The interior has been used in countless films, just a brief look up and around and you know why.
Over nine hundred years of history, why build a set when you already have it? From period films such as "Shakespeare in Love," "Elizabeth – The Golden Age," and "Robin Hood Prince of Thieves" to blockbusters such as "Avengers- Age of Ultron" and "Transformers" to family favorites like "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "Sherlock Holmes." A truly beloved film spot.
Next up, explore "Postman’s Park," a highlight for many London Walk regulars, a peaceful corner of the city known for its memorial to heroic self-sacrifice. Its quiet poignancy forms the emotional canvas for key scenes in the film "Closer." The iconic Cathedral of St Pauls looms over the City and is a filmic mainstay, but nothing beats seeing the real thing, instantly recognizable from countless productions from Harry Potter to "Dr Who" – The Cyborgs in 1968 (and again in 2014).
Visit a more less secret vantage point, high up above the City, by way of glass elevator – the piece de resistance of the walk – a tell friends about (it’s free you don’t even have to book) breathtaking panoramic view of St Paul’s and the City that would inspire any filmmaker.
This walk isn’t just about spotting locations. Talk actors, gossip, budgets, directors, feuds, and stunts and as always the London Walks signature, throw in a bit of history.
