Some films can make certain locations look dreary and unexciting, while others can help them to appear glitzy and fascinating. London has been a popular setting for some of the finest productions ever made, and in many of them the backdrop of this iconic city has been as big a star as the leading actors. Here are five movies that have featured the UK’s capital to great effect.
Notting Hill
Sometimes nothing beats a good rom-com, and this beautifully filmed tale of a burgeoning romance between Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts is undoubtedly one of the best. Most of the action takes place in the London neighbourhood that gives the film its title, and there are times during the movie when you just want to contact the local estate agent to find out whether you can move there that very day.
Sliding Doors
This excellent 1998 movie starred Gwyneth Paltrow and John Hannah, and featured a sometimes complex plot detailing two separate scenarios running side by side throughout the film. It was cleverly written, and the fact that it showcased several London locations – including Albert Bridge, Waterloo tube station and the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital – merely added to its attraction.
An American Werewolf in London
This 1981 comedy-horror tells the tale of an American tourist who gets bitten by a werewolf in Yorkshire before wreaking havoc in the UK’s capital later when a full moon appears in the sky. One of the most memorable scenes sees the central character waking up in the wolf enclosure in London Zoo after a night of violent mayhem. Trafalgar Square and the London Underground also feature.
Alfie
The original Alfie move was made in 1966 (the 2004 Jude Law version is a remake), and told the tale of the lovable but flawed title character, played by the excellent Michael Caine. Alfie gallivants his way through the city from start to finish, and the sight of London in all its contrasting beauty and ugliness provides an insight into just how it looked during the Swinging Sixties.
Love Actually
This excellent feel-good movie featured a whole host of stars, including Laura Linney, Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson and Emma Thompson, and told several intertwined stories that all had love as a central theme. London backdrops included suburban schools, mews houses, business district offices, Heathrow Airport and 10 Downing Street. Directed by Richard Curtis, it was released in 2003.
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’][/author_image] [author_info]
David Showell works for comparecarhire.co.uk and is a big fan of the movies.
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