With London being one of the most vibrant and famous cities in the world, it is unsurprising that a large selection of movies chose to have London as their backdrop.
From action movies to rom coms, here are the five best movies that are set in London.
Notting Hill
The 1999 rom-com classic stars Hugh Grant as the owner of a small travel bookshop in Notting Hill whilst Julia Roberts plays a world-famous American actress, Anna Scott. The plot follows the pair as they fall in love despite living in two completely different worlds and they must navigate the difficulties that come with Anna’s fame.
The film perfectly encapsulates the beauty of London with much of the filming taking place on Portobello Road as well as at The Ritz, The Savoy, and Nobu. The bookshop in the film was inspired by a real-life shop called ‘The Travel Bookshop’ which was located near Portobello Road. However, it now runs under new ownership, is named ‘The Notting Hill Bookshop’ and is a popular tourist attraction.
Skyfall
Skyfall is regarded as one of the best James Bond films starring Daniel Craig due to its iconic soundtrack, including ‘Skyfall’ by Adele, and talented cast. The movie was filmed between 2011 and 2012 in locations all over the world from China to Scotland. However, London is arguably the location most associated with the film and much of the franchise. Filming locations in London include Trafalgar Square and some shots include panoramic views of Big Ben and scenes on the London Underground.
Paddington movies
Based on the popular children’s stories of Paddington Bear, there have been two successful movie adaptations starring Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington and there is set to be a third movie released later this year. The film is centred around the lovable bear from Peru who lives with the Brown family in London and the film takes us through Paddington’s troublesome encounters and accidental mischief.
The character has become an emblem of London as the films display many different spots in London. This includes the film’s famous antique shop on Portobello Road, Primrose Hill where the Browns live, the National History Museum, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, and, of course, Paddington Station.
My Fair Lady
This story can be seen on stage, however its most famous film adaptation to date is undoubtedly the 1964 musical classic starring Audrey Hepburn. While the film was shot entirely on film sets in California, it was set in Covent Garden in London. The opening of the film is set outside the Royal Opera House and the central location of the film is set in Marylebone where the Professor’s house is meant to be located.
Bridget Jones’s Diary
Released in 2001, this beloved comedy stars Renée Zellweger with a convincing British accent as the infamous Bridget Jones. Hugh Grant features for a third time on this list as the charismatic Daniel Cleaver whilst Colin Firth completes the love triangle as Mark Darcy.
The film is packed full of memorable moments against the iconic backdrop of London. Some scenes include famous locations such as the Tate Modern, Tower Bridge, and Piccadilly Circus. The location most associated with the film was Bridget’s apartment in Borough above a pub named ‘The Globe’ which you can visit today.
