Last updated: August 2026 · Every location here was checked as real and visitable in 2026 before publishing, with honest notes on which spots are private, paid or simply where the magic was a studio set. Always confirm opening times before a special trip.
The short answer: London is one of the most filmed cities on earth, and many of its screen moments are real places you can visit. Walk through Leadenhall Market and push a trolley at Platform 9 and three quarters for Harry Potter, meet Q at the National Gallery like James Bond, photograph the blue door from Notting Hill, hug the Paddington Bear statue, grab a coffee at Sherlock's Speedy's, or pull a pint at Ted Lasso's real pub in Richmond. This guide maps 23 of the best, film by film.
For a film fan, London is a treasure hunt. Turn a corner and you are on a set from Harry Potter, Bond, Bridget Jones or Paddington. But the internet is full of stale, inaccurate lists, so this guide does two things differently. Every location is verified as real and visitable in 2026, and we are honest about the catches, the spots that are private homes, the interiors that were built on a soundstage, and the famous scene that was never actually filmed in London at all. Where a fan can book a proper tour, we say so. Prices are in US dollars.
London 4 dummies: how to do a film pilgrimage right
- Book the Harry Potter studio tour weeks ahead. The Warner Bros. Studio Tour is out at Leavesden, not central London, and it sells out. You cannot buy on the door, so reserve a timed ticket early.
- Platform 9 and three quarters is free. The trolley photo at King's Cross costs nothing to snap yourself. A pro photographer will sell you a shot, but that is optional. Expect a queue.
- Respect the private homes. The blue door, the Love Actually mews and the Paddington street are real people's houses. Photograph from the pavement and keep the noise down.
- The inside was usually a set. Most famous interiors, from Bond's MI6 to Sherlock's flat, were built in a studio. You are visiting the exterior or the real-world stand-in, which is still a thrill.
- Tap and go. These spots are spread across the city. A contactless card or phone works on every tube and bus with a daily fare cap, so hop between them easily.
All 23 London film locations at a glance
| Location | Film or show | Visit | Nearest station |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warner Bros. Studio Tour | Harry Potter | Paid, pre-book | Watford Junction |
| Leadenhall Market | Harry Potter | Free | Bank, Monument |
| Platform 9 and three quarters, King's Cross | Harry Potter | Free photo | King's Cross St Pancras |
| Millennium Bridge | Harry Potter | Free | St Paul's |
| Stoney Street, Borough Market | Harry Potter | Free | London Bridge |
| SIS Building (MI6), Vauxhall | James Bond | Exterior only | Vauxhall |
| The National Gallery | Skyfall | Free | Charing Cross |
| The Blue Door, Westbourne Park Road | Notting Hill | Exterior only | Westbourne Park |
| The Notting Hill Bookshop | Notting Hill | Free | Ladbroke Grove |
| St Luke's Mews | Love Actually | Exterior only | Westbourne Park |
| The Globe Tavern, Borough Market | Bridget Jones | Free (pub) | London Bridge |
| Paddington Station | Paddington | Free | Paddington |
| Chalcot Crescent, Primrose Hill | Paddington | Exterior only | Chalk Farm |
| 187 North Gower Street and Speedy's | Sherlock (BBC) | Free (cafe) | Euston |
| Sherlock Holmes Museum, Baker Street | Sherlock Holmes | Paid | Baker Street |
| The Prince's Head, Richmond | Ted Lasso | Free (pub) | Richmond |
| Selhurst Park | Ted Lasso | Exterior, tours | Selhurst |
| Huntsman, Savile Row | Kingsman | Free (street) | Piccadilly Circus |
| Liberty London | Cruella | Free (store) | Oxford Circus |
| Temple Church | The Da Vinci Code | Paid | Temple |
| Westminster Bridge | 28 Days Later | Free | Westminster |
| St Paul's Cathedral | Mission: Impossible | Paid | St Paul's |
| Ranger's House, Greenwich | Bridgerton | Paid, seasonal | Greenwich |
Harry Potter locations in London
No film franchise draws fans to London like Harry Potter. Start with the one unmissable, ticketed experience, then string together the free street spots across the city.
1. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
This is the real thing: the actual sets, props and costumes from all eight films, including the Great Hall, Diagon Alley, the Hogwarts Express and the vast castle model. It is where the films were made, at Leavesden just outside London, so budget half a day and take the train to Watford Junction or the official coach from central London. Advance timed tickets are essential, as it sells out weeks ahead in peak season.
Book Warner Bros. Studio Tour with coach transfer2. Leadenhall Market
The beautiful Victorian arcade of Leadenhall Market stood in for the alley leading to the Leaky Cauldron and the entrance to Diagon Alley. The old blue shopfront in Bull's Head Passage was the pub doorway. It is a working market in the City, free to wander, and gorgeously atmospheric when quiet.
3. Platform 9 and three quarters, King's Cross
Inside the real King's Cross station, a luggage trolley vanishes into the wall for the city's most famous film photo, right beside the official Harry Potter Shop. Staff will lend you a scarf and wand, and you can take your own picture for free. A professional photographer offers a paid shot too, but that is optional.
4. Millennium Bridge
The sleek pedestrian bridge between St Paul's and Tate Modern is the one the Death Eaters twist and collapse in the opening of the Half-Blood Prince. In reality it is perfectly intact and free to cross, with one of the best views in London. A common mix-up: it is Half-Blood Prince, not Order of the Phoenix.
5. Stoney Street, Borough Market
The Leaky Cauldron entrance in Prisoner of Azkaban was filmed around Stoney Street by Borough Market. Today it is one of London's best food markets, so you can hunt the doorway and then eat brilliantly. It is a simple street corner rather than an attraction, which is part of the fun.
James Bond locations in London
London is 007's home turf, and two of his most iconic city moments are free to visit.
6. The SIS Building (MI6), Vauxhall
The real headquarters of the Secret Intelligence Service at Vauxhall Cross has appeared in Bond film after Bond film, memorably blown up in Skyfall and shown being decommissioned in Spectre. It is a genuine, active intelligence building, so you can only admire the exterior, with the best view from Vauxhall Bridge or across the river on the Albert Embankment.
7. The National Gallery
In Skyfall, a weary Bond meets his new quartermaster Q on a bench in front of Turner's painting The Fighting Temeraire. You can sit in the same room in the National Gallery, whose permanent collection is free to enter, on Trafalgar Square. It is a quietly perfect spot for a Bond fan.
Notting Hill, Love Actually and Bridget Jones
London is the spiritual home of the British rom-com, and the Working Title trio of Notting Hill, Love Actually and Bridget Jones left a trail of very visitable spots across the west of the city.
8. The Blue Door, 280 Westbourne Park Road
The blue door of William Thacker's flat was the real front door of screenwriter Richard Curtis, and it became the film's most photographed spot. It sits on a private residential street, so admire it from the pavement.
9. The Notting Hill Bookshop
The travel bookshop where Hugh Grant's character worked inspired The Notting Hill Bookshop at 13 Blenheim Crescent, now a charming shop and fan pilgrimage selling film-themed gifts. It is open and welcoming, a lovely stop on a Portobello Road wander.
10. St Luke's Mews
The heart-melting "to me, you are perfect" cue-card confession was filmed at 27 St Luke's Mews, a pretty cobbled lane of pastel houses in Notting Hill. It is a private residential mews, so enjoy the colourful street and photograph gently without disturbing the residents.
11. The Globe Tavern, Borough Market
Bridget's flat sits above The Globe Tavern on Bedale Street, right by Borough Market, and the pub is real, historic and open. You can photograph the famous flat exterior and then have a drink downstairs in a spot that leans happily into its film fame.
Paddington locations in London
The much-loved Paddington films are a joy to trace, and perfect for families.
12. Paddington Station
The station where the little bear from Peru gets his name is the real Paddington, home to a much-loved bronze Paddington Bear statue and a nearby bench for photos. It is free to visit and a delightful, easy stop, especially with children.
13. Chalcot Crescent, Primrose Hill
The Brown family's home on the fictional "Windsor Gardens" is the pastel terrace of Chalcot Crescent in pretty Primrose Hill. These are private houses on a photogenic curved street, so admire from the pavement and keep it respectful.
Sherlock locations in London
The BBC's Sherlock made a modern London icon of a Baker Street that is not actually Baker Street. Here is the honest picture.
14. 187 North Gower Street and Speedy's Cafe
The exterior of Sherlock and Watson's 221B flat is 187 North Gower Street, chosen because the real Baker Street was too busy to film on. Next door, Speedy's Sandwich Bar and Cafe is a genuine, still-open cafe that fans love, where you can grab a coffee on the very doorstep of the show.
15. The Sherlock Holmes Museum, Baker Street
For the classic, book-based Holmes, the Sherlock Holmes Museum sits at the famous 221B Baker Street address, a Victorian townhouse laid out as the detective's study with plenty of deerstalker photo ops. Entry is around 20 dollars, and it is a small, atmospheric, touristy delight.
Ted Lasso locations in London
Apple's feel-good hit sent fans flocking to leafy Richmond, though the football has a twist.
16. The Prince's Head, Richmond
The Crown and Anchor, the team's local, is really The Prince's Head, a genuine pub on Richmond Green. It has embraced its Ted Lasso fame, and it makes a perfect anchor for a day exploring pretty Richmond, whose green and high street feature throughout the show.
17. Selhurst Park
AFC Richmond's Nelson Road ground is really Selhurst Park, the home of Crystal Palace in south London, where the match scenes were shot. It is a fair way from Richmond, so keen fans treat it as a separate trip, and Palace run stadium tours on non-match days.
More iconic London movie spots
From spies to Disney villains, these last spots round out a proper London film crawl.
18. Huntsman, Savile Row
The Kingsman tailor shop is Huntsman at 11 Savile Row, a real bespoke tailor that has dressed London since 1849. Savile Row is a public street you can walk and window-shop, the historic home of British tailoring.
19. Liberty London
The gorgeous mock-Tudor Liberty department store features in Cruella, where Estella works before her transformation. It is a real, open store just off Regent Street, and a beautiful browse in its own right. Cruella also used Regent Street, Portobello Road and Greenwich, all easy to visit.
20. Temple Church
The atmospheric 12th-century Temple Church, built by the Knights Templar, is a key stop in The Da Vinci Code and a genuine, visitable historic gem hidden in the lawyers' quarter. Entry is modest, and there are Da Vinci Code walking tours built around it.
21. Westminster Bridge
The eerie image of a lone survivor walking a completely deserted Westminster Bridge, Big Ben behind him, is one of British cinema's great shots. The bridge is free to walk, and it is the ultimate "recreate the scene" photo, though good luck finding it empty.
22. St Paul's Cathedral and the City riverside
Tom Cruise's rooftop leaps and chases in Mission: Impossible Fallout used the landmarks around St Paul's, Blackfriars and Tate Modern. The cathedral is a paid attraction with a climbable dome, and the Bankside riverside walk beneath it is free and full of film history.
23. Ranger's House, Greenwich
The elegant red-brick Ranger's House on the edge of Greenwich Park is the exterior of Bridgerton House, the family's grand home. Run by English Heritage, it is visitable but opens only on selected days, so check the 2026 calendar before you travel.
Book a London film tour
You can trace many of these spots for free on foot, but a guided film tour adds the stories, the trivia and the exact standing-spot for each shot. The Harry Potter studio tour and the general movie-locations walks are the fan favourites, and they book up fast.
Browse London movie-location tours and ticketsHow we verified these locations
Film-location lists age badly, so we checked every entry against official sites and current listings for 2026, and we flagged the catches most guides get wrong. We are honest that the Notting Hill blue door is a replica, that Sherlock's flat is on North Gower Street rather than Baker Street, that Ted Lasso's stadium is Selhurst Park in south London, that much of Bridgerton is actually shot in Bath, and that the Mary Poppins steps were a Hollywood set.
We also mark clearly which spots are free public places, which are paid attractions, and which are private homes to enjoy only from the pavement. Opening times, ticket prices and room layouts change, so always confirm before a special trip, and please treat the residential locations with respect.
Frequently asked questions
What films were shot in London?
Hundreds, including the Harry Potter and James Bond series, Notting Hill, Love Actually, Bridget Jones, Paddington, Kingsman, Cruella and The Da Vinci Code, plus TV hits like Sherlock, Ted Lasso and Bridgerton. Many of their locations are real places you can visit today.
Where is the Harry Potter platform in London?
The Platform 9 and three quarters trolley photo is inside the real King's Cross station, on the departures concourse next to the Harry Potter Shop. Taking your own photo is free, though there is often a queue, and a paid professional shot is optional.
Can you visit the Notting Hill blue door?
Yes, you can see it from the street at 280 Westbourne Park Road, but it is a private home, so photograph from the pavement only. Be aware the original door was auctioned for charity, so the current blue door is a replica of the film one.
Is the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in central London?
No. It is at Leavesden, about 20 miles outside London, reached by train to Watford Junction plus a shuttle, or by official coach from central London. Timed tickets must be booked in advance, as it regularly sells out.
Where is Sherlock's flat in London?
The BBC Sherlock used 187 North Gower Street as the 221B Baker Street exterior, with the real Speedy's Cafe next door, because the actual Baker Street was too busy. The classic Sherlock Holmes Museum sits separately at 221B Baker Street.
Where was Ted Lasso filmed in London?
Mainly in Richmond, where the team's pub is really The Prince's Head on Richmond Green. The match scenes, however, were shot at Selhurst Park, the home of Crystal Palace in south London, not in Richmond.
Are London film-location tours worth it?
For fans, yes. A guided tour adds the backstory and points out the exact spots, especially for Harry Potter and general movie-location walks. The Warner Bros. Studio Tour is the standout paid experience and should be booked well ahead.
Was Mary Poppins filmed at St Paul's Cathedral?
No. The 1964 film's Feed the Birds scene was inspired by the St Paul's steps but built entirely on a Disney soundstage in California. The cathedral is a wonderful visit, but it did not actually host the scene, unlike the later Mary Poppins Returns, which did film in London.
Clara writes Welcome2London's city guides for visitors, and she is a devoted film fan who has walked these locations herself. She is honest about which spots are the real thing, which are private homes and which famous scenes were pure studio magic, so fans know exactly what to expect.
Sources and verification (August 2026): every location was checked as real and visitable in 2026 against official sites and current listings, including the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, English Heritage for Ranger's House, and current status for Speedy's Cafe, The Prince's Head and The Notting Hill Bookshop. We flag replicas, studio sets and stand-ins honestly. Prices are approximate 2026 guides in US dollars and vary by date.
Disclosure: this guide contains affiliate links to tour and ticket partners. If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our location picks and honest notes are our own.
Clara Whitby is a London travel specialist and local insider at Welcome to London, passionate about uncovering hidden gems, neighbourhood guides, and the city’s best-kept secrets.
