Outlander was mainly shot in Scotland but also England and South Africa. Scotland hosted many stunning locations in Scotland, including Falkland, Doune Castle, Blackness Castle, Culross, Linlithgow Palace, Glencoe, Kinloch Rannoch, Midhope Castle, Drummond Castle Gardens, and Deanston Distillery.

The Story of Outlander

Outlander is based on the best-selling novels by Diana Gabaldon. The story follows Claire Randall, a World War II nurse who, during her second honeymoon in Scotland, touches mystical stones and is transported back to the 18th century. To survive in this new world, she marries Jamie Fraser, a Scottish Highlander, and finds herself torn between two vastly different men and two conflicting lives.

Notable Filming Sites – Outlander Filming Locations in Scotland

The Standing Stones: Fact or Fiction?

One of the most frequently asked questions is where the standing stones or ‘stone circle‘ from the first episode are located. Unfortunately, they are fictional, imagined by Gabaldon and created for the series using materials like polystyrene. However, the stunning landscape surrounding the stones is very real. These scenes were filmed in Rannoch Moor, a boggy moorland to the west of Loch Rannoch in Scotland. The mountains of Rannoch Moor provide the beautiful backdrop for Claire and Frank’s drive through the countryside.

Though the stones are fictional, Scotland is home to many real standing stones and stone circles. Orkney, Shetland, and Dumfries and Galloway are particularly known for their ancient monuments, each steeped in history.

Doune Castle: Castle Leoch

Doune Castle in Perthshire serves as Castle Leoch, the home of the MacKenzie Clan. The exterior shots were filmed at the actual castle, while the interior scenes were created in a studio. After Claire’s time-traveling encounter with the stones, Doune Castle becomes central to the story. It’s located near Stirling, along the River Teith, and also featured in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Culross: The Village of Cranesmuir

The quaint village of Culross in Fife represents Cranesmuir, where Claire befriends Geillis Duncan. Walking through Culross feels like a step back in time. The herb garden from Castle Leoch was filmed at Culross Palace, a 17th-century merchant’s house with a recreated Jacobite garden. This charming village also provided the setting for the scene where a boy’s ear is nailed to a post, as well as for Black Kirk, which was actually filmed at West Kirk.

Lallybroch: Jamie Fraser’s Home

Jamie Fraser’s ancestral home, Lallybroch (Broch Tuarach), was filmed at Midhope Castle in South Queensferry. Although the castle is now derelict, visitors can still walk around the grounds. While it’s not safe to enter the interior, standing at the archway where Jamie was whipped by Black Jack Randall is a fan-favorite spot.

Aberdour Castle: Sainte Anne de Beaupré’s Monastery

The monastery where Jamie recovers in France, Sainte Anne de Beaupré, was filmed at Aberdour Castle in Fife. Visitors can explore the old kitchen and long gallery, both of which were used for filming.

Linlithgow Palace: Wentworth Prison

This location was used to film the entrance, corridors and the cell of Wentworth Prison. The cell where Jamie was held and abused by Black Jack Randall including the torture scenes.

Blackness Castle: Fort William

Blackness Castle is a 15th-century fortress, near the village of Blackness, Scotland. It was where Jamie had received lashes from Captain Randall. It is also where Jamie’s father died, having to endure watching his son being punished.

Falkland: City of Inverness

The Covenanter Hotel in Falkland served as the stand-in for the Inverness bed and breakfast where Claire and Frank stay during their second honeymoon. Additionally, various streets in Falkland were featured in Season 2, appearing in scenes from “The Hail Mary.”  In Season two Falkland Palace was used.

Frequently Asked Questions About Outlander

How Many Seasons of Outlander?

Outlander currently has 7 seasons, with an 8th and final season confirmed:

• Season 1 (2014): 16 episodes, covering Outlander.
• Season 2 (2016): 13 episodes, based on Dragonfly in Amber.
• Season 3 (2017): 13 episodes, based on Voyager.
• Season 4 (2018): 13 episodes, based on Drums of Autumn.
• Season 5 (2020): 12 episodes, based on The Fiery Cross.
• Season 6 (2022): 8 episodes, based on A Breath of Snow and Ashes (shortened due to COVID-19).
• Season 7 (2023-2024): 16 episodes, based on An Echo in the Bone (split into two parts).

The final Season 8 will have 10 episodes, concluding the series.

Who Plays Jamie Fraser on Outlander?

Sam Heughan portrays Jamie Fraser, the charismatic 18th-century Highlander. Since the show’s debut in 2014, his performance has garnered critical acclaim and a devoted fan base. Heughan’s Jamie is a central figure in the story, with Claire Randall, played by Caitriona Balfe, as his love interest.

What Channel Is Outlander On?

Outlander is available on different platforms depending on your region:

• United States: Outlander airs on the Starz network and can be streamed on the Starz app.
• United Kingdom: Available on Amazon Prime Video.
• Canada: Airs on W Network and streams on StackTV via Amazon Prime.
• Australia: Available on Binge and Foxtel.

Does Jamie Fraser Die in Outlander?

As of the latest season and books, Jamie Fraser does not die. He survives many life-threatening situations throughout both the TV series and Diana Gabaldon’s books. In the most recent book, Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone, Jamie is still alive. However, since the final book in the series is yet to be published, future developments are still unknown.

Outlander Season 8: What We Know So Far

The highly anticipated final season of Outlander is slated for release in late 2025 or early 2026. Filming has officially wrapped, with beloved stars Sam Heughan and Caitríona Balfe reprising their roles as Claire and Jamie.

Season 8 Highlights:

• The concluding chapter will feature 10 episodes, bringing Jamie and Claire’s epic journey to a close.
• New faces joining the cast include Kieran Bu, Francis Tomli, and Carla Woodcock.
• There’s speculation that the season may follow a staggered release schedule, much like Season 7.

Beyond Season 8:

• The Outlander universe expands with the upcoming prequel series, Blood of My Blood, expected to premiere in summer 2025.
• The show’s enduring popularity has sparked a surge in French tourism to iconic Outlander locations, including castles and scenic lochs featured throughout the series.

Planning Your Visit to Outlander Locations

If you plan to visit these iconic outlander filming locations in Scotland, keep in mind that some buildings were painted grey for authenticity during filming and restored to their original colors afterward.

Join us on our Outlander day tour. Book with us to experience the magic of Outlander alongside fellow fans!

The post Where was Outlander Filmed? appeared first on Brit Movie Tours.

Popular Superheros

Batman

It’s difficult to think of any superhero who is loved more than Bruce Wayne’s alter-ego. He remains one of the most popular superheroes around over 70 years since his first incarnation in 1939, arriving not long after the creation of the first Marvel superhero, the Sub-Mariner.  The character has come a long way from the ‘Boom!’ ‘Pow’ slapstick style of the 60’s and a new trilogy of Batman films are currently in production with Twilight star Robert Pattinson starring as the man in the winged latex suit.

Superman

One of the most popular superheros today is still Superman.  If anyone can challenge the popularity of Batman then it would have to be Superman. He has been around one year longer and has proven to be just as enduring. We even got to see the two clash in the Batman vs Superman film made in 2016. Christopher Reeves 1970s incarnation remains the version of Superman most people still refer to today. Superman is also probably the strongest superhero around (although Captain Marvel DC may have something to say about that).

Spider-Man

As far as Marvel superheroes go, there is no one more popular than Spider-Man. He first appeared in 1969 and easily made the jump from comic book hero to TV star and is now taking centre stage in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Since 2002 alone there have been 7 Spider-Man films (played by three different actors) with another planned to arrive in July of 2021.

Iron Man

While he wasn’t the favourite superhero in comic book terms, thanks to Robert Downey Jr.’s performances he has become one of the standout Avengers superheroes. It’s hard not to be won over by the handsome and over-confident Tony Stark, who always manages to live up to his ego – not matter how large it may become.

Wolverine

While Wolverine isn’t as old as some of those listed above, he quickly gained a reputation as part of the X-Men. His grumpy, no nonsense demeanour was captured perfectly by Hugh Jackman who played the character in countless X-Men and solo films for almost 20 years. Those sharp claws and wolf-like senses are loved by millions of fans across the world and we shouldn’t be surprised if someone else takes over the mantle within the next few years.

Iron Man

Iron Man was produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Paramount Pictures.  It was the first film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film was directed by Jon Favreau from a screenplay by Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby, and Art Marcum and Matt Holloway.  It starts Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man.  He is an industrialist and master engineer who builds a mechanized suit of armor and becomes the superhero Iron Man.

Captain America

As America answered the call to enter the Second World War, Marvel created what would go on to become one of their most iconic characters. Captain America was a supersoldier who fought against the Nazis and their supporters during the wartime period. During the ‘40s and ‘50s he grew to become an all-American hero for kids to look up to as the country’s’ economic wealth continued to grow, and decades later Chris Evans was perfectly cast as the square-jawed, blue-eyed hunk in the Marvel Universe.

The Hulk

Everyone has a green monster lurking inside that comes out when they get angry and The Hulk represents that perfectly. Although, we’re probably not as insanely strong or destructive as this green giant.  He first came to life in comic books in 1962 and has been played by countless actors over the years on both TV and film. The Hulk and The Incredible Hulk were released in 2003 and 2008 respectively, although are not remembered too fondly by fans.

Thor

The God of Thunder arrived at around the same time as the Hulk in 1962. Norse mythology is used as the basis of a character who can wield lightening and smash almost anything with his trusty hammer (which also allows him to fly). Marvel have perfectly cast the right actors for all of the roles in their superhero universe and it’s hard to imagine another actor other than Chris Hemsworth playing the character.

The Flash

The Flash is one of the oldest on this list, with his origins dating back to 1940 (when he was simply called Flash). While he’s always been very popular in the comic books, it has taken decades for him to transfer to the big screen. There have been plenty of cartoons over the years and The Flash TV series on Netflix ran for 5 seasons which pleased his many fans.

Green Lantern

Another golden oldie, Green Lantern first popped up in 1940 as Alan Scott. Over the years the character has been taken over by a number of new characters, with a whole legion now present in the comic books. The 2011 film starring Ryan Reynolds did not go down well with fans, although a new film, Green Lantern Corps, is due to arrive in cinemas in the summer of 2020.

Female Superheroes

This article wouldn’t be complete without mentioning female superheroes.

Wonder Woman

Top has to be the one and only Wonder Woman.  Those born in the early 70’s will remember the iconic imprint left on them thanks to Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman.  She proved the world would be a better place if run by women.  She was created in the early 1940s at a time when comics were dominated by superpower-endowed male characters. Wonder Woman was invented by William Moulton Marston, an American Psychologist/ Inventor / Writer.  He invented the first prototype of the lie detector interestingly. It is thought it was his wife who gave him the idea of a woman superhero. William pitched the idea to Max Gaines, co-founder with Jack Liebowitz of All-American Publications and Wonder Woman was born.  All American Publications went on to become DC Comics.

Storm

Storm is a fictional superhero who again first appeared appearing in the American comic books published by Marvel Comics.  The character Storm was created by writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cockrum and she first appeared in  Giant-Size X-Men in May 1975.  She is one of the more prominent characters in the X-Men series.  The first actress to portray Storm was Alexandra Shipp in the 2016 film X-Men: Apocalypse.  In the 2000 film Halle Berry played the character.  She also went on to play that role in films X2, X-Men: The Last Stand, and X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Jean Grey

The first Marvel Girl or now X-Woman Jean Grey pretty much represents the whole X-Men franchise.  She has been known under the aliases Marvel Girl, Phoenix, and Dark Phoenix.  Jean Grey is a mutant with powerful telekinetic and telepathic abilities. She studied at Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters and trained as a second-generation member of the X-Men under the tutelage of Professor X. She first appeared in The X-Men Comic Books in March 1964. Most recently the popular actress Sophie Turner (star from Game of Thrones) portrayed Jean Grey in the film X-Men: Apocalypse and X-Men: Dark Phoenix in 2019.  You can never keep Jean down as like a phoenix she always rises from the ashes.

Scarlet Witch

Scarlet Witch is another fictional female superhero who first appeared in the American Marvel Comic books.  This diva woman superhero is one of the most dangerous heroes in the Marvel world.  The character was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby.  She first appeared in The X-Men Comic Books in March 1964. The character has appeared in a number of animated films and  television series. Elizabeth Olsen will reprise the role in the upcoming Disney series WandaVision (2020) and the film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2021).

London Film Locations Tour

Here are Brit Movie Tours we can offer you a 2 hour guided walk around London which showcases the London film locations featured in many Superhero movies.  On tour you will learn how London has been used by movie makers from all over the world to represent both the British capital and other locations such as Gotham City for Batman.

Some of the films and locations which feature in this tour include: Transformers, Fantastic Four, Justice League, Doctor Strange, London has Fallen, Spooks, The Avengers, The Dark Knight, The Edge of Tomorrow; V for Vendetta, Jack Ryan, Doctor Strange, Thunderbirds, X-Men: First Class, Agent Cody Banks 2, Wonder Woman and more.

This Movie Location Tour is also a great way to see some of London’s famous landmarks including Trafalgar Square, the British Museum, Somerset House and the London Eye as well as some of London’s lesser known green spaces and squares.

Below is a video of our old superhero film walk.  This has now been replaced with the London film walk which can be found here.

The post Who are the Most Popular Superheroes Today? appeared first on Brit Movie Tours.

The films came about after the late Paul Walker told director Rob Cohen and producer Neal H. Moritz that his dream project would be a mash-up of Days of Thunder and Donnie Brasco. After seeing an article about undercover street racing in New York City, the idea blossomed. Paul Walkers character was to be a cop who infiltrates the underground street racing in Los Angeles. The first film exceeded box office expectations so the sequels began.

Below we take a look at each film and including their filming locations.

‘The Fast and the Furious’ – Released in 2001

The first film was a box office hit and was shot almost exclusively in and around Los Angeles, California in the United States. It was directed by Rob Cohen and written by Gary Scott Thompson and David Ayer.

The opening scene was filmed on the Port of Long Beach in Long Beach California. It is the second-busiest container port in the United States. The night hijacking was also in Long Beach at the Terminal Island freeway.

Dominic Toretto’s Market & Cafe is actually ‘Bob’s Market’ on 580 East Kensington Road, Los Angeles. His white wood framed house can be found at 720 East Kensington Road, Los Angeles.

The racers edge was on 1050 North Orange Drive, Los Angeles. The scene where they get together before the race was filmed in Clock Street. The start of the race was at Prairie Avenue & West 120th Street, Hawthorne.

The Asian motorcycle gang scenes were filmed in an area of the Orange County known as “Little Saigon” in the city of Westminster, California.

The statues from the temple like area can be found at the Vietnamese Cultural Court at 9221 Bolsa Avenue in Westminster.

For the location of Tran’s house and many more locations with maps head over to this page: http://www.themoviedistrict.com/the-fast-and-the-furious/

‘2 Fast 2 Furious’ – Released in 2003

The second film was directed by John Singleton and written by Michael Brandt and Derek Haas. The film was based on a story by screenwriter and producer Gary Scott Thompson.

Most of the filming for the second film was in and around South Florida such as Miami Beach, Seven Mile Bridge, Biscayne Blvd, and Homestead Air Reserve Base. Hauser’s character’s mansion was shot in Coral Gables, which was a property owned by Sylvester Stallone.

‘The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift’ – Released in 2006

The third installment was directed by Justin Lin and written by Chris Morgan. Out of all of the films this is the only one that doesn’t star Vin Diesel or Paul Walker as the lead.

The filming was mainly done in California with some Locations in Japan. The exterior of Sean’s dad’s house can be found on a narrow street on the eastern fringe of the Azabu-Jūban district in the Minato area of Tokyo. The rooftop soccer field is in Futsal Court, overlooking Shibuya Square in Tokyo, Japan

Many of the scenes were filmed in California but with digitally added ‘Tokyo’ night-time views. Such as the scene where Sean gets to meet all the kids. This garage is Hawthorne Plaza Mall, at 120th Street, Hawthorne, South of Los Angeles.

Han performing donuts around two women at a Downtown ‘Tokyo’ intersection which is actually Wilshire Boulevard between Grand Avenue and Flower Street in Downtown LA. It is also the same spot where Han gets killed at the end of the movie.

‘Fast & Furious’ – Released in 2009

The fourth film was directed by Justin Lin and written by Chris Morgan and sees the return of Vin Diesel and Paul Walker.  The filming locations were Los Angeles, California and Mexico and some studio work in Sylmar and Culver Studios. The post-heist celebration beach party was filmed on the coast near San Pedro, south of Los Angeles.

The impressive gas tanker heist was filmed along Templin Highway to the North of Los Angeles.
The FBI HQ can be found at Hall of Administration at 310 West Green Street, in Pasadena.

To learn more of the locations for this film, head over to this page which have lots of other locations http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/f/Fast-And-Furious.php

‘Fast Five’ – Released in 2011

‘Fast Five’ which is also aknown as Fast & Furious 5 or Fast & Furious 5: Rio Heist was directed again by Justin Lin and written by Chris Morgan. Starring Vin Diesel and Paul Walker again they filmed in Brazil and Puerto Rico, California and Georgia in the United States.

Once Brian and Mia rescue Dominic Toretto from the prison bus they head to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. You can see Sugarloaf Mountain, the view of the bay from the Dona Marta lookout point, the Statue of Christ the Redeemer.

Many of the action scenes including the finale chase sequence were filmed on the streets of Puerto Rico’s capital, San Juan.

The warehouse in which the old team gathers is actually in Atlanta, Georgia. The location is the old disused Pratt-Pullman Yard on Rogers Street at DeKalb Avenue NE on Atlanta’s near-Eastside.

‘Fast & Furious 6’ – Released in 2013

The sixth film again starred Vin Diesel and Paul Walker and was directed by Justin Lin and written by Chris Morgan. The filming was shot mainly in the UK and the Spanish Canary Islands. Locations include London, Scotland, Suffolk and Hertfordshire. Some shots were also filmed in California

It starts with Brian and his partner happily settled with Jordana about to give birth. The race scene was filmed on the road between Buenavista del Norte and Punta de Teno in Tenerife, Spain.

The attack on the convoy in the ‘Moscow’ scenes were actually filmed in London’s Lambeth Bridge at Millbank, SW1. The ‘Russian’ Interpol HQ was actually the University of London Union, on Malet Street at Montague Place in Bloomsbury, WC1 London.

The arms dealers pawn shop can be found behind the railway arch at the end of Hare Row, off Cambridge Heath Road in London.

One of the main chase sequences was filmed around Broomielaw, Cadogan Street and Wellington Street in Glasgow, Scotland. The car showroom into which they crash was a set built on a vacant lot at the corner of McAlpine Street.

Shaw’s hideout is actually  Empress Coaches on Corbridge Crescent, alongside the canal in Cambridge Heath, East London.

The green-and-white tiled subway in which Letty and Hicks slug it out is actually the abandoned Aldwych Station on The Strand which closed in 1994.  Today the station is used for filming and we offer a Aldwych Station tour where you can learn all about the history of this abandoned station.

You can visit many all of the London locations by going on our London Film Locations Tour here.

‘Furious 7’ – Released in 2015

The seventh Fast & Furious film was directed by James Wan and written by Chris Morgan. Starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson.  This was one of the films which Paul Walker was filming when he died. Paul, alongside his friend and driver Roger Rodas, both died in a car crash on November 30, 2013.   The car was said to be doing over 100 miles per hour in Valencia, Santa Clarita, California when it crashed and burst into flames.  The film was completed by using his brothers Caleb and Cody as his body doubles and CGI

The Race Wars meeting was filmed in the southern California desert at Lancaster, on Route 138.

The home of Toretto is still 722 East Kensington Road in Echo Park, which was shown in previous films.   The parcel that explodes and destroys he house was all CGI so the home can still be visited.

Han’s funeral scene was filmed at Oakland Cemetery at 248 Oakland Avenue SE, Atlanta. As the funeral ends a car chase ensues, this was filmed back in LA on 6th Street Bridge and through the  industrial area southeast of downtown LA.

For move movie location from this film head over to this page:

http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/f/Fast-And-Furious-7.php

‘The Fate of the Furious’ – Released in 2017

The final film to date was directed by F. Gary Gray and written by Chris Morgan. Filming took place in Ohio, Cuba, Iceland, New York City and Georgia.

Most of the action took place in Cleveland which was made to look like New York City. The cars falling out of the parking structure took place at Halle Bros Parking Garage, where CGI was used to alter the nearby roads.

The race starts in the street nearby El Curita Park, Cuba. Lake Mývatn in Iceland is where the large submarine chase took place.  The harbour in Akranes, Iceland was the location for the large explosions at the prison scene.

The scene where cars are seen flying out and exploding from a warehouse was filmed beside the Hudson River in New York City.

Some of the locations are real locations such as when the cars drive past Times Square on Broadway and 5th Avenue in New York.

The Berlin scene where the team is seen fleeing took place at the Guardian Centers, which is a natural disaster training site in

Guardian Centers in Perry, Georgia was used in the Berlin scene where the team is seen fleeing.

The post Fast And Furious Filming Locations appeared first on Brit Movie Tours.

Mary Poppins Returns was the success critics predicted as its top of the UK box office for the third consecutive week.  It is already in the top ten of biggest movie releases of 2018.  The film had a lot to live up to as the first film is arguably one of the best films ever made.  Many people have watched the first film hundreds of times as a child.   It is true when that say that what you love in your childhood stays in your heart forever.  So living up to such a big movie was always going to be a risk, but it seems to have paid off, so well done Disney.   It was never going to be practically perfect like the first, but it is good in a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious sort of way!

The film is a sequel to the original, but set a couple of decades later in the 1930s depression-era London.  Michael and Jane Banks are now grown up, with Michael struggling with a personal loss and is suffering some financial hardship.  Just in time Mary Poppins re-enters their lives to help them see the joy and wonder life still has to offer.   Number 17 Cherry Tree Lane has hardly changed at all and the Admiral still lives in the house next door and still likes to fire his cannon. With a whole host of great new characters and catchy songs it is sure to pull on many a kids and adults heart strings.

The director of the film Rob Marshall has confirmed the team is talking about a sequel to the latest movie.  As the films are based on P.L. Travers’ books and there were eight books in total means there is plenty of material to work from.  Lets hope the wait is not too long.

Where was Mary Poppins Returned filmed?

A lot of the filming was done at Shepperton Studios in Surrey, England.  When we first get a glimpse of Mary Poppins we see her floating to the ground which was all done in the studios.  They filmed the external shots around London in March 2017.  Some of the bike riding was filmed outside Buckingham Palace.  The external shots of Michael’s bank were the actual real Bank of England which is on Threadneedle Street in the centre of London.  The streets around the Bank of England were transformed back to the 1930s for filming and also Blossom Street and Fleur de Lis Street in East London were also used.

Mary Poppins Returns Cast

There is a great cast line up including Emily Blunt as the fabulous flying nanny. Dick Van Dyke is back to play Mr. Dawes Jr, but prosthetics were not needed this time!  Apparently, Julie Andrews didn’t want to take away any attention from Emily so declined a cameo.  Some top names in the film industry have parts including Meryl Streep, Angela Lansbury, Julie Walters, and Colin Firth.

Mary’s sidekick this time is a lamplighter named Jack played by American actor Lin-Manuel Miranda. Grown up Michael Banks is played by English actor Ben Whishaw, with his sister Jane Banks played by English actress Emily Mortimer.

Any Mary Poppins film wouldn’t be complete without some adorable children. This time around as Michael and Jane are grown up its Michael Banks’ children that take that role. His three children are Annabel played by Pixie Davies, John played by Pixie Davies, and Georgie Banks played by Joel Dawson.

Where was the original Mary Poppins filmed?

The first original Mary Poppins musical-fantasy film was released on August 27, 1964.  The film was based on P. L. Travers’s book series Mary Poppins.  The film was set in In Edwardian London in 1910 but was entirely filmed at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California.  They using painted London background scenes to mock up London but they were based on actual places.

When the banks children wanted to ‘Feed the Birds’ this was supposed to be St. Paul’s Cathedral which sits on Ludgate Hill in the City of London

The Bank of England in Threadneedle St central London will remind you of Mr Banks’ bank.  The gates of Regent’s Park look like the place where Burt painted his pavement pictures.  Cherry Tree Lane could be a number of streets if you take a walk around and Kensington Square and Regent’s Park.

Original Mary Poppins Cast

The original Mary Poppins cast included Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins and Dick Van Dyke as the chimney sweep Bert. George Banks was played by David Tomlinson and Winifred was Glynis Johns. Jane Banks was played by Karen Doctrice, and Michael Banks was played by Mathew Garber.

Mary Poppins gave Julie Andrews worldwide fame as before Poppins she only had a vew TV and movies to her name. Dick Van Dyke was the most famous cast member, but Poppins brought him a number of accolades including a Grammy and a Golden Globe nomination.

Mary Poppins London Location Tour

New for 2019 we have a two-hour walking tour to see the locations used in the new film.  It is a practically perfect way to take in the sites of London including locations used in the new film and also locations from the original film.  The original classic Walt Disney film was filmed completely in studios in California, but the mock up locations such as St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Bank of Enlgand are all worth a visit.  On our tour you will learn lots of behind the scenes stories of the making of film and lots of interesting facts about the original Mary Poppins books and film, including the meaning of supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

Follow the link below to book the one and only practically perfect Mary Poppins tour:

https://britmovietours.com/bookings/mary-poppins-tour-of-london/

The post Where was Mary Poppins filmed? appeared first on Brit Movie Tours.

The 1965 James Bond film Thunderball was filmed in a number of locations including Bahamas, France, Florida and England. Many scenes were filmed in Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire England.  The opening scenes were filmed in France at the Château d’Anet castle near Dreux to the west of Paris.

The Scrublands clinic where Bond met Count Lippe was filmed at Chalfont Park House in Buckinghamshire England. A number of luxury cars including Bond’s Aston MartinDB5 can be seen at the front of the building in the scenes:

Photograph: Wikipedia

After leaving the clinic Bond gets into a car chase with Lippe and this chase scene was filmed at Silverstone Circuit.

An English 18th century coaching inn (The Royal Saracens Head) located in Chilterns Buckinghamshire was used for the hotel where Major Derval stays.  This location can be visited on our James Bond Film Location Tour.  Another location on that tour is Scrublands and Bond’s London home.

The Junkanoo parade was filmed on Bay Street in Nassau, Bahamas including the scene where he first meets Largo and Domino at Cafe Martinique. Some of the underwater scenes, such as the love scene, was shot at Clifton Pier. Other scenes were shot in the Exumas, West Providence Island, and Paradise Island.

Where was goldeneye filmed?

The 1995 Bond film Goldeneye was directed by Martin Campbell.  It was filmed in a number of locations including Switzerland, France, Puerto Rico, Russia and England.  Leavesden Studios in Hertfordshire, England was used for the studio work as Pinewood studios (the usual studio used) was not available.

The opening scene where we see Bond jumping off a dam was filmed at the Contra Dam, an arch dam on the Verzasca River in the Val Verzasca of Ticino, Switzerland:

Monte Carlo in France was used for all the casino scenes and the Tiger helicopter’s demonstration.The climatic satellite filming scenes were shot at Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.

Some of the England locations include Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Surrey.  Some of the scenes in St. Petersburg were actually filmed in London.

The armoured train scenes were filmed on the Nene Valley Railway in Cambridgeshire

St Petersburg in Russia was used for some of the filming but London and surrounding areas doubled up for many Russian locations. The Grand Hotel Europe is actually Langham Hotel in London. St Petersburg square was actually Somerset House on the Strand. The airport where Bond meets Jake Wade is the Queen’s Stand at Epsom Downs Racecourse, Epsom, Surrey.

The tank chase was filmed in the Leavesden studio.

Where was Spectre filmed?

The spectre filming locations include England, Italy, Austria, Mexico and Morocco.  The 2015 film staring Daniel Craig as Bond was the 24th James Bond film and was directed by Sam Mendes

The opening scenes were shot in Mexico city in Zocalo Square.  They were filming in Mexico for a couple of weeks and the Square was closed during this time.  You can see the beautiful Cathedral in the background of the  festival scenes:

A lot of filming happened in London.  Spectre London scenes include boat scenes on the River Thames,  the staircase of the City Hall, Westminster Bridge, Covent Garden, Camden, Notting Hill, Millenium Bridge and Southbank. Fictional Rome location Palazzo Cadenza was actually Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire. Her Majesty’s Treasury served as the location when Bond meets M (Ralph Fiennes) in his office.  The courtyard scenes with Miss Moneypenny were actually in the parking lot of the the Treasury.The Austria Spectre locations include the Solden ski-resort in the Ötztal valley of Tirol where the luxurious  ICE Q Restaurant doubled up as the private medical clinic.  The action shots where bond crashes the plane were filmed in the village of Obertilliach.  They dismantled  a barn in Styria and reconstructed it on the ski slope of East Tirolean.  The Ötztal Glacier Road was used for scenery in an action chase sequence.  The lake he crosses by boat is Lake Altaussee in  Liezen which is also where Mr Whites log cabin is located.  (on the north-east shore of Lake Altaussee).

A lot of the Italy filming locations was near the Colosseum, the banks of Tiber River and around the streets of Vatican City, Rome.   The funeral scene was shot at the Museo della Civiltà Romana (Museum of Roman Civilization) in Piazza Giovanni Agnelli, Rome.   The scene where Bond goes back to the house of Monica Bellucci  after the funeral was filmed at Villa Fiorano which is just outside of Rome. The car chase scene went past the Vatican, in Via della Conciliazione.  The beautiful old Roman bridges we see on the car chase scenes were located around Ponte Sisto, Ponte Sant’Angelo and Ponte Mazzini. 

Where was Skyfall filmed?

Skyfall filming locations include Turkey, Japan, China, England and Scotland.

At the beginning of Skyfall we see Bond chasing an agent through Eminonu Square in Istanbul Turkey.  The chase continues through the city of Adana which is close to the border with Syria. The location where Bond falls from the railway viaduct is the Varda Bridge in Kiralan, Turkey.  The scenes of him at a beachfront shack were on Koca Calis Beach, at Fethiye, a coastal town in the southwest of Turkey.

M’s house is London is 82 Cadogan Square. In many car scenes M passes Parliament Square in London.  Mi6 headquarters can be seen near Vauxhall Bridge.  The Mi6 training ground shots were filmed in the Old Vic tunners under Waterloo Station.   Bond’s hotel pool in Shanghai was actually filmed in The Virgin Active pool in London’s Canary Wharf.  Another location which was supposed to look like Shanghai was Broadgate Tower which is in London’s main financial district.  A couple of tube stations featured when seen running after Silva, Temple Station and Westminster tube station. The scene where Bond meets Q was filmed at the National Gallery  in Trafalgar Square.

The beautiful scenes of route to Bonds childhood home were filmed in Glen Etive, Scotland:

We are also asked where is the skyfall house, however the Skyfall House was custom built for the film on Hankley Common near Elstead in Surrey, England. Other scenes were shot in Glen Coe. Other scenes of Bond driving the Aston martin were filmed in the Highlands on the A82 near mountaina  Buachaille Etive Mor and Buachaille Etive Beag.

Where was Casino Royale filmed?

Casino Royale was the first Bond movie to feature Daniel Craig back in 2006.  It was directed by Martin Campbell.  Casino royale locations include Italy, Czech Replublic, Bahamas and England.  The studio work was again done at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire England but some in Barrandov Studios in Prague.

Nassau in the Bahamas was used for a number of sunny locations.  Where Bond chases bomb-maker Mollaka to the ‘Nambutu Embassy’ was Naasau.

Where you see M at the the ‘House of Commons Committee Room’, this was not London but the : Philosophical Hall, Strahov Monastery Library in Prague.  You can visit the library as its open daily to the public.  There is also a 3D tour on the website here: https://www.strahovskyklaster.cz/en/

Bond and Vesper visit Hotel Splendide.  The actual exterior of the hotel was the Grandhotel Pupp in Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic.

The film gets more real when Bond stays in the Bahamas as this was actually Nassau, Bahamas.  He stayed at the ‘One and Only Ocean Club’ Nassau.  A number of scenes were filmed in and around the club.   After Bond causes some damage in the parking lot, he goes to the lobby where he finds out that it is Alex Dimitrios who received the sms sent by Mollaka.   The short poker game against Dimitrios in the Library can be found just off the lobby.  Bond takes Solange to his sea view villa at the resort before making a hasty exit. The actual villa is available for rent and more information about the whole resort can be found here: https://www.fourseasons.com/oceanclub/

The beautiful gardens of Villa del Balbianello in Italy is where Bond rests up after being tortured by Le Chiffre.  The villa and gardens belong to the national Trust of Italy and the public can visit:

Photograph: Wikipedia

Another Italy location was in Palazzo Michael in Venice.  Towards the end of the film Bond tracks Vesper to a building in Venice.  The building is undergoing renovations and after the gunfight, the whole building collapses into the water.   Hoever it was all CGI as the collapsing building scene was filmed in Pinewood Studios.  So the Palazzo Michael is entirely intact for those that would like to see it.

Where was Goldfinger filmed?

The 1964 film Goldfinger starring Sean Connery and directed by Guy Hamilton was filmed in Florida,  Kentucky, England and Switzerland.

A lot of the Goldfinger filming locations was done not far from Pinewood  Studios in Buckinghamshire, England. The so called ‘South American holdings’ were actually a storage tank complex at Stanwell, west of London. Where the Merc falls over the cliff is actually Harefield Quarry.  The ‘Blue Grass Airfield, Kentucky’ was actually RAF Northolt Aerodrome in west London.  This aerodrome  was also seen in Thunderball and Octopussy.  The golf match between Goldfinger and Bond was Stoke Poges Golf Club in Buckinghamshire not ‘Royal St George’s, Sandwich’ in Kent.

You briefly see a shot of the real Fort Knox in Kentuckym however the fort was recreated at Black Park Woodland behind Pinewood studios.

The golf match between Goldfinger and Bond was Stoke Poges Golf Club in Buckinghamshire not ‘Royal St George’s, Sandwich’ in Kent.

You briefly see a shot of the real Fort Knox in Kentuckym however the fort was recreated at Black Park Woodland behind Pinewood studios.

The beautiful scenery where you see Bond being chased by an impatient lady in a white Mustang is Furka Pass in Switzerland:

Photograph: Wikipedia

The shots of ‘Auric Enterprises’ are the Pilatus Aircraft Factory in Switzerland.

James Bond Location Tours England

For those visiting the UK we have a number of James Bond Tours and Events.  All of our tours can be found on the page below:

https://britmovietours.com/bookings/james-bond-tours/

We also have a number of ‘an audience with’ events where you can meet a James bond star.  Follow the link below to see all the upcoming private meetings with an actors/actresses or production members from the James Bond franchise.

https://britmovietours.com/bookings/james-bond-private-vip-tour/

James Bond Location Tours Italy

https://www.uniquetoursfactory.com/private-tours/en/tour/rome-james-bond-tour-spectre

James Bond Tours Switzerland

https://switzerlandtravelcentre.co.uk/tours/the-bond-experience-switzerland

https://www.onthetracksof007.com/switzerland

James Bond Tours Bahamas

https://www.onthetracksof007.com/bahamas

https://exumawatersports.com/tours-rates

James Bond Fan Sites

Universal Exports: The Home of James Bond, 007

The post Where is James bond Filmed? appeared first on Brit Movie Tours.

Apparently the upcoming seventh season will only run for seven episodes, however, it appears episodes could be the longest ever. According to HBO, the first episode will run for 59 minutes. A few of the actors and actresses have said they were actually filming longer and working harder on this season. A lot of things that normally would take a season now take up one episode.  So it sounds like they have packed lots into each episode! Excited is an understatement.

Take a look at the official trailer for Game of Thrones Season 7:

Here at BMT we are all about location location location. So where exactly are all those stunning locations that they use in the series? Here we take a look at ten of them.

Stunning Film Locations Of Game Of Thrones

The Long Bridge of Volantis is actually the splendid Roman Bridge in Cordoba, Andalusia. It sports 16 arches and is a thumping 247 metres long. It was built by imperial soldiers in the 1^st century BC and replaced an existing wooden bridge.

Yunkai in Slavers Bay, and Pentos, the largest of the Free Cities, are a fortified city (or ksar) named Ait-Ben-Haddou about 70 miles south east of Marrakech. Mounted on a hill overlooking the desert, it has been used by film makers for 50 years or more, and has appeared in Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, Prince of Persia, Jesus of Nazareth, and The Mummy, to name just five. The world’s largest film studios are at Ouarzazate in the Moroccan desert and are a major tourist attraction because many of the film sets still remain, as well as some of the Game of Thrones series being filmed here. You can combine a visit to the studios with a day trip from Marrakech to Ait-Ben-Haddou.

Astapor is south of Yunkai, but is actually Essaouira which is about 70 miles west of Marrakech on the Moroccan coast. This is another fortified city, with a red wall, and during the 1960’s was a favourite place of hippies, being visited by Jimi Hendrix and Cat Stevens among others. It is noted for its’ seafood and its’ surfing.

Wildling Camp is set in Dimmuborgir which is in Iceland near to the town of Grjotagja, and is a lava field with strangely shaped rocks. In Icelandic folklore it is supposed to be connected to hell, and is the spiritual home of murderous trolls whose descendants are known as the Yule Lads and are a scary alternative to Santa Claus. Dimmuborgir was the place where Mance Rayder set up his camp in Westeros. It is a beautiful place and well worth a visit.

Frostfang Mountains is Hofoabrekka which is close to the southernmost city in Iceland, Vik. It was used in season two of Game of Thrones when Jon Snow went into the Frostfangs beyond the Wall.

North of the Wall is the largest glacier in Europe located in south-east Iceland which also happens to be in the largest national park in Europe at 13,600 square km. The glacier is called Vatnajokull and in Westeros was the land of mythical creatures.

Middle Westeros is in Thingvellir National Park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Established in 930 AD, the national parliament of Iceland was based here until 1798 when it was transferred to Reykjavik. Here you will find obsidian, which is cooled lava rock, and was referred to in Game of Thrones as “Dragonglass”.

Leaving Iceland, we go on to Dubrovnik in Croatia. Just outside the city is The Red Keep which is the heart of King’s Landing. It is actually Lovrijenac Fortress which is set on a 120’ – high rock on a bay which was used for the final scenes in the Battle of Blackwater. Also here is the island of Lokrum, which in the series was Qarth – the Queen of Cities – which was where much of the story of Daenerys took place in the second season.

Also in Croatia is Split which was used as King’s Landing in the fifth season. This is another UNESCO World Heritage Site and was where the Roman emperor Diocletian built his huge palace complex. Parts of his 3^rd century buildings were used in the Middle Ages to build the cathedral, cafes, and many other buildings within the city walls. While you are in Split take a climb up to Klis Fortress which overlooks the nearby village of Klis and is one of the places where Daenerys plots returning to power.

Game of Thrones Tours

The post Stunning Film Locations Of Game Of Thrones appeared first on Brit Movie Tours.

For big fans who want to visit the external locations below is a list of the main locations and links to their google maps listing.

Where was platform 9 3/4 filmed?

Platform 9 3/4 was filmed at King’s Cross station in London on platforms 4 and 5.  The beautiful exterior shots were of  St Pancras Station and the bridge which Harry and Hagrid walk over at Kings Cross was actually shot in York train station.

Google Maps Link – King’s Cross Station

Google Maps Link – St Pancras Station.

Where was Number 4 Privet Drive filmed?

The Dursley family home was really 12 Picket Post Close, Winkfiled Row in Bracknell.

Google Maps Link

Where was Hogwarts Filmed?

Alnwick Castle is the location used for Hogwarts Castle in ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ and ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.’  This is where you see Harry having broomstick lessons.  The exterior scenes were filmed at Gloucester Cathedral in Gloucestershire, England and where you can look for Moaning Myrtle. Hogwarts Great Hall was actually modelled after the Great Hall at Christ Church in Oxford England.

Google Maps Link – Alnwick Castle

Google Maps Link – Gloucester Cathedral

Google Maps Link – Christ Church

Where was The Hogwarts infirmary filmed?

The Hogwards infrimary was filmed at the Bodleian Library Divinity School in Oxford

Google Maps Link

Where is the famous bridge that Hogwarts Express travels over?

The bridge that Hogwards Express travels across which can be seen in a number of the Harry Potter films is actually the  Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland. It is located on the West Highland Line in Glenfinnan, Inverness-shire and overlooks the Glenfinnan Monument and the waters of Loch Shiel.

Google Maps Link

Where was the The Leaky Cauldron filmed?

In the first film the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron was filmed in Leandenhall Market in London. Leandenhall Market was built in the late 19th century and is a beautiful example of a Victorian market.  Also this was the location for some exterior Diagon Alley scenes.  In the Prisoner of Azkaban film they used Borough Market and the interior shots were done in the Leavesden Film Studios.

Google Maps Link – Leandenhall Market

Google Maps Link – Borough Market

Where was Hagrid’s Hut filmed?

Hagrids Hut and the beautiful surroundings were filmed at Clachaig Gully in Glencoe, Argyl, Scotland.  The hut is no longer there but you can see the beautiful scenery.

Google Maps Link

Where was Snape’s potions classroom filmed?

The Hogwarts corridors and Snape’s potions classroom were filmed in Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire.

Google Maps Link

Harry Potter Tours – Brit Movie Tours

If your looking for a guided Harry Potter tour, we run a number of tours which can be found here.  We have a number of tours to suit everyone.  If you are just in London for the day and fancy a walking tour then our Harry Potter Walk London tour is the one.  If you want to see the Warner Bros Studio as well as locations around London and oxford we offer a couple of tours.  All of our Harry Potter Tours are operated by us and are not official ‘Harry Potter’ events and are not endorsed, sanctioned or in any other way supported, directly or indirectly by Warner Bros Entertainment Inc, the Harry Potter book publishers or J.K.Rowling.

Not sure whether to book with us?  Read our reviews on Trip Advisor here before making your decision. We look forward to welcoming all muggles, wizards and witches on our magical tours.

The post Where was Harry Potter Filmed? appeared first on Brit Movie Tours.