A Teaser

I can't leave you with just a couple of words on this place, it is a real London gem.  So I am going to leave a promise that I will take you inside very soon and tell you all about it.

7 years and 007

Seven today.  Yup it's the 7th anniversary of aglimpseoflondon today.

So how to celebrate.....how about a trip in this classic rolls driven by agent 007 in Goldfinger.

The real agent 007 was John Dee (1527-1608), English mathematician, philosopher, astrologer,  advisor and spy to Queen Elizabeth.  He used the code 00 when corresponding with the Queen to indicate "for her eyes only".  The two circles were protected by a sign that was somewhere between the square root sign and an elongated numeral seven.  For Dee the number seven was lucky and he believed it had magical properties.  Thus 007 would let the Queen know this was a secret message from Dee that only she should read.

Now this is the real car used in the Bond movie, no copies on this blog, especially on such an auspicious day.    To take a glimpse of this and many other original vehicles from the Bond movies over the decades take a trip to the London Film Museum in Covent Garden.

Secret Location

A charming little book store in Bloomsbury.  Even more so when you know that this was where the series Black Books  was filmed.  The series stars Dylan Moran who plays an eccentric store owner Bernard who hates his customers and doesn't like selling books.  Also starring are Bill Bailey who plays the long time suffering assistant Manny and Tasman Greig who plays Bernard's only friend and drinking buddy, Fran, who runs the Nifty Gifty store next door.

Bond Fans

A line up of cars, yes but not just any cars.  Every one of these cars was in A Bond movie! And there were more around the corner.  All the modes of transport The slick spy took, be it helicopter , two wheels or four, battered or sexy you can now see it and the new exhibition at the Film Museum in Covent Garden.  

The Strand

In London this is an A road, not what you'd expect in America I'll bet. However the Strand has been an  important route since Roman times and the main road between the City of London and the Palace of Westminster since medievial times.  It has inspired, songs, books and films.  Think Jethro Tull in requiem, Virginia Woolf in Mrs Dalloway and C S Lewis in Chronicles of Narnia for starters.

Which Movie?

It's driving me crazy which movie is this from? Not sure how they got to be floating under the water lilies but maybe a good start for the sequel.

Waltzing

The abandoned Heygate Estate where the annual elefest annual creative festival took place over the weekend. Waltzing in the old playground while a zombie film being shot in the background seemed rather fitting for this controversial estate.

Last Tuesdays

Discover one of London's hidden gems and enjoy an evening with a difference on the last Tuesday of every month.
In the magnificent art deco building of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) a variety of special events are offered to the public, exhibitions, film screenings, book signings and building tours. Always with a different theme. June was play. July will be celebration and spectacle.
When you are finished, browse the bookshop, have a coffee in the cafe or better still stop for dinner in the magnificent dining room with it's superb art deco features.

Stars in Town

A wet and cold evening on Southbank did not dampen the spirits of fans who were there to cheer the stars of RED at its premiere as part of the BFI film festival.
Bruce Willis and Helen Mirren were charming and funny spending time signing autographs and shaking hands.

Celebrity Tour

What recording studio is this? Where did Pink Floyd perform their first gig? Where did Jimi Hendrix OD? Want to see film locations from Notting Hill, Alfie, Help?
Where does Robbie Williams Live? Or maybe you'd like to see Elle McPherson's pad.
That Banksy that cost £250,000. Where did Johnny Depp and Kate Moss bathe in Mumm?

Jamie from Celebrity Tours is a walking encyclopedia of pop culture history, film locations, celebrity hangouts and trivia.
What has replaced the hippodrome? You're just going to have to ask Jamie.

Mary and William

So here we are at the Royal Naval College in Greenwich. On the left is the Queen Mary Court where you'll find the chapel. The Painted Hall can be found in King Williams Court on the right.
You knew that right?
Ha - but did you know that Laura Croft Tomb Raider was filmed here in 2001. Or that Wolf Man was filmed here. How about The Mummy Returns or Spooks. Well now you do. Drop that bit of trivia into your next conversation about the place.

Hogwarts Express

The other day I boarded Hogwarts Express, squeezed by the night bus, visited the third hand book shop, dodged the death eaters and more.
Who said 'it was the food'. What was the context and where was he?

Harry Potter fans, Dr Who fans, maybe 007 is more your style. So many movies are made right here in London filmed on location that you can visit and get the inside story.

My voyage with Britmovie Tours was fabulous. Val was incredibly knowledgeable and enthusiastic. The small groups make the tours more intimate and give you a chance to ask loads of questions.

Rain Hail and Thunder

Last night hundreds of Harry Potter fans braved the rain, hail and thunder to catch a glimpse of the stars at the premiere of the half-Blood Prince in Leicester Square.