Written on 10 January 2022 by Courtney Manton in London
Whether it’s tourist sites, stunning parks, heritage architecture or riverside views, central London provides some of the most memorable backdrops to films and TV shows, loved the world over. If you’re cosying up and staying in this January, here are some of the London-set films and series which show the capital at its best. All are currently available on Netflix or BBC iPlayer.
Paddington 1 & 2
The misadventures of the hapless Peruvian bear and his adopted family the Browns present London in a stunning light. Wallow in the gorgeous pastel houses of Chalcot Street in Primrose Hill (Paddington’s Windsor Gardens home). The Natural History Museum, Paddington and Marylebone stations and Portobello Road also feature. You can see both films on BBC iPlayer until the end of January.
Enola Holmes
This Sherlock Holmes spin-off follows the Baker Street detective’s younger sister on her search for her mother. Locations in Greenwich and Spitalfields as well as Chancery Lane and King’s College all appear. The original TV series Sherlock starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman also features numerous London sites, including the flat above Speedy’s cafe, North Gower Street, where the pair live. All series are currently available on iPlayer.
The Lady In The Van
The true story of a homeless woman (played by Maggie Smith, who takes up residence in a van outside the house of writer Alan Bennett was filmed in Gloucester Crescent, Camden, where the actual events happened. Catch it on Netflix or iPlayer.
Notting Hill
Richard Curtis’s 1999 film about the romance between Hugh Grant’s bookseller and film star, Julia Roberts was shot around the eponymous West London district. The bookshop is on Blenheim Crescent, off Portobello Road. There are also appearances from the Ritz and Savoy hotels, Kenwood House in Hampstead and the Coronet Theatre (a cinema in the film).
Bridgerton
This cult Regency drama was shot in locations including Greenwich, Hampton Court, Syon House and the Hackney Empire. The Reform Club on Pall Mall features as an unnamed gentleman’s club. However, scenes featuring the show’s Georgian terraces were shot in Bath, rather than Mayfair or Belgravia.
White Teeth
Zadie Smith’s bestselling novel was adapted for the screen by Channel 4 twenty years ago but is now available on Netflix. The four-part series, following three families over two decades, was shot in Willesden and Cricklewood.
Read more on the Londonist website.
