007 is back…as Daniel Craig returns to the big screen to play the world’s favourite spy for the fourth time in the upcoming blockbuster Spectre. As MI6 recovers from the attacks staged by Skyfall villain Raoul Silva, Bond investigates the operatives of the shady Spectre organisation, confronting a mysterious figure from his past (played by actor Christoph Waltz).
UK movie fans who tune into Bond 24, as the twenty-fourth instalment that comes out on Monday (26 October) is affectionately known, won’t be let down as prominent London landmarks once more feature throughout the film as Bond battles the baddies across continental Europe, Africa and Central America.
First adapted from the novels by Ian Fleming, the James Bond film franchise has gone from strength to strength in its 53 year history to become a household favourite in homes around the globe. But it was Craig who rebooted the fortunes of the much-loved movie series when he crashed into our lives in 2006 with a refreshing change of pace in Casino Royale, thrilling fans all over again with the ongoing saga of espionage, action and romance.
Following up with Quantum of Solace and Skyfall – the latter being the first billion-grossing Bond film – Craig reunites with director Sam Mendes to ensure Spectre packs another powerful box office punch.
Ahead of its release we’ve done our homework to uncover some of the best Bond film locations around the UK for you to visit and relive your favourite movie moments. Whether substituting for a more exotic location – as we saw when the sands of Penbryn Beach in west Wales doubled for North Korean coastline – or providing jaw-dropping views, Britain has played a proud part in cinematic history not least as home to Bond. James Bond.
Bond Film Location Map: Click on each marker to discover some of the UK film locations visited by 007 over the decades. Red markers indicate locations used in upcoming Spectre.
Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire
Almost all of the Bond films have involved much screen time at Britain's biggest film studio.
MI6 Headquarters, Vauxhall, London
The country’s centre of Secret Service activities featured in several modern day Bond movies - including its destruction in Skyfall.
Saint Sophia's Church, Bayswater, London (Goldeneye)
The interior of this scenic place of worship doubles as a Russian church where Bond Girl Natalya secretly meets with computer geek Boris Grishenko.
St Pancras Station, Camden, London (Goldeneye)
The busy London destination doubles as St Petersburg Station, where Bond Girl Natalya attempts to evade the authorities.
Eden Project, Cornwall (Die Another Day)
The exterior of this ambitious preservation project doubled as diamond mines owned by the villainous billionaire Gustav Graves (actor Toby Stephens).
Les Ambassadeurs Club, Mayfair, London (Dr No)
'Bond. James Bond.' The iconic first appearance of Sean Connery's Bond was filmed at the card table of Les Ambassadeurs Club in West London.
Nene Valley Railway, Peterborough (Octopussy and Goldeneye)
This piece of Peterborough posterity stood in for Soviet Russian railways in both Octopussy and Goldeneye.
Brent Cross Shopping Centre, Brent Cross, London (Tomorrow Never Dies)
Here in the shopping mall’s multi-story car park Bond makes his daring escape from assassins after being framed following the murder of his ex-lover Paris Carver (actor Teri Hatcher).
Stoke Park Golf Club, Buckinghamshire (Goldfinger)
Here Bond takes on red-haired baddie Auric Goldfinger - at golf – in one of the franchise's most memorable scenes.
Ascot Racecourse, Windsor & Maidenhead (A View To A Kill)
On a routine fact-finding mission, Roger Moore’s Bond suavely checks out the competition during a day at the races.
Eilean Donan Castle, Scottish Highlands (The World Is Not Enough)
This iconic castle features as the Scottish MI6 headquarters, where the service’s head inventor Q demonstrates a bagpipe machine gun with his trademark deadpan humour.
Glen Etive, Scottish Highlands (Skyfall)
Bond heads for scenic Scotland with Head of the Secret Intelligence Service M (Judi Dench) in tow to protect her from further attacks by rogue agent Raoul Silva (actor Javier Bardem).
Penbryn Beach, Ceredigion, Wales (Die Another Day)
Don’t be fooled those attractive North Korean shores, featured in Die Another Day, were that far flung, as many of the battle scenes were shot for Pierce Brosnan's final outing as Bond on Penbryn Beach in Wales.