September 9, 2021
Over 25 Years of 007 Filming Locations in England
James Bond (Daniel Craig) and Dr. Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux) drive through Matera, Italy in NO TIME TO DIE, a DANJAQ and Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Nicola Dove © 2019 DANJAQ, LLC AND MGM. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
To celebrate the upcoming release of the 25th James Bond film at the end of this month, we are looking back at the top secret 007 filming locations in the English Regions. The versatility of England’s landscapes and locations has provided the backdrop to every single James Bond film over the last 25 years. With the incredible talent behind-the-scenes and some movie magic, England has doubled for Russia, Germany, US, Turkey, North Korea, Montenegro, Austria and Rome.
GoldenEye, 1995
Epsom Downs Racecourse (Surrey) doubled for St Petersburg Airport, where James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) is met by Jack Wade (Joe Don Baker).
Much of the tank chase was filmed on a massive set based at former Rolls Royce factory in Leavesden, Hertfordshire. This was the first ever film to shoot here and set the scene for the sites transformation in years to come to the world-famous Leavesden Studios. The end of the tank chase is shot outside the British Sugar Factory (Cambridgeshire).
Nene Valley Railway (Cambridgeshire) was used for Alex Trevelyan’s (Sean Bean) train depot where huge action scene was shot.
Tomorrow Never Dies, 1997
Stoke Park Hotel’s (Buckinghamshire) ballroom doubled for the interior of the Hamburg hotel, where Bond (Pierce Brosnan) drinks his vodka, renews his past relationship with Carver’s wife Paris (Teri Hatcher) and struggles with Dr. Kaufman (Götz Otto).
James Bond visited Professor Inga Bergstorm (Cecilie Thomsen) at Oxford University’s New College (Oxfordshire). While they were together Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 was parked in the courtyard at the entrance to New College.
Scenes for US airbase in South China Sea where filmed off the North Sea at RAF Lakenheath (Suffolk).
The World is Not Enough, 1999
Stowe House (Buckinghamshire), specifically the beautiful gothic temple, was the location for the funeral of Sir Robert King (David Calder).
The former Motorola building in Swindon (Wiltshire) took on the role of the Turkish oil refinery control centre.
Chatham Docks (Kent) was the key location for the speedboat chase scene.
Luton Hoo Hotel (Bedfordshire) provide interiors for Zukovsky’s (Robbie Coltrane) casino office and Elektra’s (Sophie Marceau) villa entrance hall.
Hankley Common (Surrey) was used for many key special effects sequences including the pipeline explosion.
Die Another Day, 2002
Deepdale Farm (Norfolk) in North Norfolk provided the suitable backdrop to double for Korean paddy fields where Bond (Pierce Brosnan) and Jinx (Halle Berry) fly by in military helicopter.
Casino Royale, 2006
On Daniel Craig’s first outing as James Bond, Montenegro scenes were filmed at Millbrook Proving Ground (Bedfordshire) where the complex car crash involving Bond’s Aston Martin flipping was executed on location. The stunt which saw the Aston Martin flip mid-air and roll over seven times earned its place in the Guinness World Records for the most cannon rolls in a car.
Quantum of Solace, 2008
Farnborough Airport (Hampshire) was transformed into an Ocean Sky airport in Bregenz, Austria to stage scenes including the meeting between CIA and Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric) on the runway and within the terminal building, the credit card of Bond (Daniel Craig) is denied when disqualified by M (Judi Dench) and added to the list of those to be ‘captured or killed’ by MI6.
Skyfall, 2021
An hour away from Pinewood Studios, Hankley Common (Surrey) with its heathland landscape doubled for the Scottish Highlands. Bond’s (Daniel Craig) ancestral home Skyfall Lodge was constructed on MOD land and was destroyed in the film’s explosive finale.
Spectre, 2015
Palazzo Cardenza in Rome was doubled by Blenheim Palace (Oxfordshire). Exterior scenes for the Spectre meeting were filmed in the main courtyard and marks the start of car chase where Bond (Daniel Craig) is pursued by Hinx (Dave Bautista).
