Films on Foot: Film based walking tours of London
15 Park Street, Borough, SE1, The gang’s hideout from Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
This autumn, the Ramblers, in association with Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival, will be holding an unmissable three week walking festival to celebrate London’s world-class film heritage.
Timed to coincide with the Times BFI London Film Festival, the Ramblers second annual “Films on Foot” Festival (14 October-1 Novembwill er) see 9 walks focusing on different areas of London which have been stars of the big screen. The walks are free and open to everyone (new members are especially welcome). All the walks are led by volunteer members from the Metropolitan Walkers and the South Bank Ramblers Group.
The walks take place every Wednesday at 7pm, and every weekend at 1.30pm throughout the festival. There is no need to book, simply turn up at the meeting place indicated below.
An edit version of the programme is listed below:
Soho and the West End ‘films on foot’ walk – Wednesday 21 October 7pm
Join the Metropolitan Walkers for a 3 mile film stroll through Soho, the heart of the British film industry, and the West End with London’s most famous landmarks captured on the big screen. The walk ends at a pub near Embankment tube station.
Notting Hill, Bayswater & Kensington Gardens – Saturday 24 October 1.30pm
Join the Metropolitan Walkers for a 8 mile film location walk This is a walk of contrasts taking in elegant ‘Notting Hill’ so popular with British romantic comedy film makers, the green space of Kensington Gardens and seedy Bayswater used in films such as ‘Trainspotting’. The walk ends at a pub near Queensway tube station.
Isle of Dogs & Maritime Greenwich – Sunday 25 October 1.30pm
Join the South Bank Ramblers for a 5 mile film location walk through The Isle of Dogs – a frequent star of gangster and action films, and Maritime Greenwich – one of the most popular film locations in London. The walk ends at a pub in Greenwich.
Gangsters in the East End – Wednesday 28 October 7pm
Join the Metropolitan Walkers for a 3 mile stroll through the East End. This part of London was the play ground for real time villains, the Krays, and is a favourite film location for British gangster movies. The walk ends at a pub near Bethnal Green tube station.
Brompton Cemetery, Chelsea & Battersea Park – Saturday 31 October 1.30pm
Join the Metropolitan Walkers for a 6 mile film location walk. Brompton Cemetery and Battersea Park are two of the capital’s most popular film locations, as well as being beautiful places to walk. The walk ends at a pub near Sloane Square tube station.
Westminster & the Royal Parks – Sunday 1 November 1.30pm
Join the Metropolitan Walkers for a 5 mile stroll taking film locations around Westminster and Belgravia, as well as the green spaces of St James’s Park, Green Park and Hyde Park. The walk ends at a pub near Hyde Park Corner tube station.
For the full programme and information click here!
Tickets for Monday's screening of Disney's Crimson Flight & QA available
One lake, a million birds, an incredible storyIn a remote and forgotten wilderness, one of nature’s last great mysteries unfolds: the birth, life and survival of a million crimson-winged flamingos. Against the dramatic backdrop of unforgiving, never-before filmed landscapes, we follow the birth of a tiny flamingo hatchling, and the perils and fortunes of her life in the extraordinary ‘other world’ of Lake Natron in northern Tanzania.
The first title to be released under the new Disneynature label, THE CRIMSON WING will take you on a breathtaking and beautiful journey through a story that only nature itself could tell.
To download tickets simply go to http://www.seefilmfirst.com and enter code: 482610
The film starts at 6.30pm. Seefilmfirst tickets must be changed for cinema tickets at the cinema Box Office by 6.15pm. There will be a Q&A with the films producers and director at the end.
Where
Cineworld Haymarket
63-65 Haymarket, London, SW1Y 4RL
When
6.15 for 6:30pm, 21 September, 2009
Friday Film Location: 28 Days Later, London UK
28 Days Later
Stars: Cillian Murphy – Jim, Naomie Harris – Selena, Brendan Gleeson – Frank, Christopher Eccleston – Major Henry West
It has been twenty-eight days since Jim, a young bicycle courier, was knocked off his bike and injured in a car accident. When he wakes up from his coma, the world has changed. Four weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the UK, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary.
A critical and commercial success, 28 Days Later is widely recognized for images of a deserted London. It spawned the 2007 sequel, 28 Weeks Later, the graphic novel 28 Days Later: The Aftermath, and a possible third film.
28 Days Later features scenes set in normally bustling parts of London such as Westminster Bridge, Piccadilly Circus, Horse Guards Parade and Oxford Street. In order to depict these locations as desolate, police would close the roads at 4am and filming would begin immediately. It would last for one hour, and at that time the police would reopen the roads.
As well as having to deal with traffic, the producers also had to ask clubbers to find alternative routes home. In terms of the traffic, the producers correctly predicted that asking drivers to either wait for up to an hour or find another way might cause some considerable consternation. As such, they employed several extremely attractive young women (one of whom was Danny Boyle’s daughter) to make the necessary requests. This plan had the desired results, as the drivers responded quite amicably to the young girls.
For the London scene where Jim walks by the overturned double-decker bus, the film crew placed the bus on its side and removed it when the shot was finished, all within 20 minutes.
Where:
Westminster Bridge, Westminster and South Bank, London SE1 and SW1
View Larger Map
Trivia:
It’s not explained in the film but the infected are attracted to the tone in human voices.
The decision to film on DV (using Canon XL1 cameras) was both an aesthetic and a logistic choice.
– Danny Boyle felt that the harshness of the DV imagery suited the post-apocalyptic urban landscape and the grittiness of the film in general.
– All the scenes of the Infected in a particular style – using a type of slow motion feature on the Canon XL1 DV cameras with which the film was shot. Shooting at that speed on a film camera gives basic slow motion, but doing so on a DV camera produces the kind of staccato effect seen in scenes involving the Infected.
– “The police and the local authorities were quite happy to assist us because we could set up scenes so quickly. We could literally be ready to shoot with a six-camera set-up within minutes – something we would not realistically have been able to do if shooting under the restrictions of 35mm which takes a good deal more time to set up a single shot.”
Westminster Bridge can also be seen in; Doctor Who (1964 & 2005), Monty Python’s Flying Circus, 102 Dalmatians, Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix
Stephen Fry talks about his travels to America at the V&A, London
A conversation with the celebrated author, wit and comic genius Stephen Fry about his long-held fascination with America and its people, cultures, and landscapes. Questions cover some of the high points of the recent epic journey in which he travelled across 50 states in a black cab and explore a country that is at times magnificent, eccentric, beautiful and strange. The event coincides with the publication of his new book, Stephen Fry in America (HarperCollins 2008) and the television series of the same name.
Our Friday night Lecture Theatre programme features big names from the world of design, art and culture. All talks take place in the Lecture Theatre from 19.00-20.00 unless otherwise stated.
Stephen Fry – In America
Wednesday 26 November 2008
Lecture Theatre
19.00-20.00
Scrambled Eggs James Bond
Scrambled Eggs James Bond
The recipe for Scrambled Eggs James Bond appears in 007 in New York, a short story that was published in the US edition of Ian Fleming’s Thrilling Cities.
For four individualists:
12 fresh eggs
Salt and pepper
5-6 oz. of fresh butter.
Break the eggs into a bowl. Beat thoroughly with a fork and season well. In a small copper (or heavy bottomed saucepan) melt four oz. of the butter. When melted, pour in the eggs and cook over a very low heat, whisking continuously with a small egg whisk.
While the eggs are slightly more moist than you would wish for eating, remove the pan from heat, add rest of butter and continue whisking for half a minute, adding the while finely chopped chives or fines herbs.
Serve on hot buttered toast in individual copper dishes (for appearance only) with pink champagne (Taittinger) and low music.
London Eye, Waterloo, London
The London Eye (Millenium Wheel)
The London Eye (Millenium Wheel) at a height of 135 metres (443 ft) [1], is the biggest Ferris wheel in Europe, and has become the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by over 3 million people a year.[2]
At the time it was erected it was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world, until it was surpassed by the Star of Nanchang (160m) in May 2006, and then the Singapore Flyer (165m) on February 11, 2008. However, it is still described by its operators as “the world’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel” (because the entire structure is supported by an A-frame on one side only).[3]
Honourable Artillery Company, Old Street, London
This historic 18th century mansion, home to Honourable Artillery Company, is set in a six acre garden and close to the heart of the City of London, with Moorgate nearby. Several rooms are available for hire, including the oak-panelled Long Room, Artillery Garden and the Prince Consort Rooms. In addition, the HAC runs a Corporate Diners scheme which allows a limited number of City-based companies the opportunity to use the Long Room restaurant weekday lunch times. Previously it housed a museum open to the public displaying the Company’s collection of uniforms, medals and weapons however this is now closed.
The Honourable Artillery Company has 7 function rooms; the largest can hold a maximum of 350 guests.
Somerset House Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court, London
Somerset House Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court
The Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court is at the heart of Somerset House – a dignified courtyard with a mischievous streak.
The array of jets dance in an orchestrated sequence, with added coloured lighting at night – a refreshing surprise on a warm spring day.
The fountains run from 10.00 to 23.00 daily.
Please note: the fountains will be switched off from Sunday 28 September 2008, while the courtyard plays host to Origin: The London Craft Fair and the Ice Rink. They will return to their normal programme in Spring 2009.
Goldeneye location: The ‘St Petersburg’ square: Somerset House, The Strand (before its renovation), London
Somerset House as a film location
The ‘St Petersburg’ square, where Wade uses a sledgehammer to fix his motor, is the courtyard of the recently restored Somerset House on the Strand – which later became the ‘Ministry of Defence’ in Tomorrow Never Dies. This popular filming location can also be seen in Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow (as turn-of-the-century Manhattan), Billy Wilder’s superb The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (as the ‘Diogenes Club’ where Holmes meets his older brother Mycroft (Christopher Lee) and in Shanghai Knights (where Jackie Chan invents the kung fu movie at the end of the film).
Sunset over The Tate Britain, Millbank, London
Sunset over The Tate Britain, Millbank, London
Tate Britain is a part of the Tate gallery network in Britain, with Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives. It was the first established of these museums, opening in 1897. It houses a substantial collection of the work of J.M.W. Turner
It is housed in the Tate’s original premises on Millbank on the site of Millbank Prison. The front part of the building was designed by Sidney R. J. Smith with a classical portico and dome behind. Construction commenced in 1893. The gallery opened on 21 July 1897 as the National Gallery of British Art, but became commonly known as the Tate Gallery, after its founder Sir Henry Tate. There have been several extensions over the years. The central sculpture gallery was designed by John Russell Pope.
The main display spaces show the permanent collection of historic British art, as well as contemporary work. It has rooms dedicated to works by one artist, such as: Tracey Emin, John Latham, Douglas Gordon, Sam Taylor-Wood, Marcus Gheeraerts II, though these, like the rest of the collection, are subject to rotation.
The gallery also organises career retrospectives of British artists and temporary major exhibitions of British Art. Every three years the gallery stages a Triennial exhibition in which a guest curator provides an overview of contemporary British Art. The 2003 Tate Triennial was called Days Like These.Art Now is a small changing show of a contemporary artist’s work in a dedicated room.
Tate Britain hosts the annual and usually controversial Turner Prize exhibition, featuring four artists under the age of fifty, selected by a jury chaired by the Tate Director, Sir Nicholas Serota. This is spread out over the year with the four nominees announced in May, the show of their work opened in October and the prize itself given in December. Each stage of the prize generates media coverage, and there have also been a number of demonstrations against the prize, notably since 2000 an annual picket by Stuckist artists.
Tate Britain has attempted to reach out to a different and younger audience with Late at Tate Britain on the first Friday of every month, with half-price admission to exhibitions, live music and performance art.Other public involvement has included the display of visitors’, as opposed to curators’, interpretation of certain artworks.
The Edinburgh West end design and craft fair and Edinburgh Castle in the background
The Edinburgh West end design and craft fair and Edinburgh Castle in the background, originally uploaded by Craig Grobler.
Edinburgh’s West End Fair is Scotland’s largest contemporary art, craft and design fair.
Situated in the heart of the historic festival city of Edinburgh and set against the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, the West End Fair brings together some of the finest contemporary arts, crafts and designs from across the UK in one glorious open air venue.
With over 100 makers, the fair is full of unique stalls selling products you won’t find on any high street. Enjoy a few hours browsing: you’ll find stunning jewellery, furniture, tempting fashion, accessories and homewares beautifully crafted in glass, wood, metal, textiles as well as art, photography and much more.
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