There are certain homes in London that you don’t need to know the name of to be able to identify them instantly. That’s because you will most definitely recognise them on sight. The reason being because the properties are famous in their own right, having appeared in a number of blockbuster movies.
Ok, maybe the interiors aren’t the same as they were when our favourite movie characters played out their lives in them, but – in many cases – the exteriors haven’t changed much and, ahem, they certainly haven’t moved location.
So, without further ado, what are those houses and which well-loved movies have they appeared in? Here is a list of some of the more famous abodes right here. You may even recognise some of them without needing to know the name of the film in which they played a starring role:
Mary Poppins – 50 Smith Street, Chelsea
The beautiful townhouse in which the classic movie Mary Poppins was set was actually modelled on the author’s own home in Smith Street, Chelsea. Author P L Travers lived amongst beautiful tree-shaded avenues and impressive architecture – and so did her nanny hero, played by none other than Julie Andrews.
The movie was filmed in 1964 though was supposed to be set around 150 years earlier. Today you’ll find a blue plaque on the Smith Street home, telling all who pass about its famous roots. To buy this beautiful home today you’re looking at forking out around £4.3 million.
Smith Street, Chelsea
Bridget Jones Diary – Bedale Street
The famous singleton just about every young professional woman in 90s Britain could relate to lived right beside Borough Market. The film’s main character and diary keeper, Bridget Jones – played by Renee Zellweger – lived at 8 Bedale Street, above the Globe Tavern pub. To move into the three-bedroom property yourself, you will have to fork out around £700,000 today.
Bedale Street, at Borough Market
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels – Park Street
Director Guy Ritchie’s gangster movie featured Jason Statham and Vinnie Jones – both of whom lived at rather down market 13 Park Street in the East End. Today the former residential property is a Paul Smith clothing shop. Were it still a house though, you could expect to have to pay around £670,00 to acquire it.
Park Street in the East End
About a Boy – Clerkenwell
The main character in About a Boy, Will (played by Hugh Grant) had a bachelor pad in Clerkenwell which was actually a london office with a porch added on to make it more residential looking. The movie’s other star, a 12-year-old boy called Marcus, would regularly visit. Today buying a flat in the Clerkenwell will set you back around £746,867. Terraced properties in the area are selling for an average of £1.9 million.
Clerkenwell
Hellraiser – Dollis Hill Lane
Horror movie Hellraiser used an Edwardian built house at 187 Dollis Hill Lane for the fictional home of the family there. In the 80’s movie the three-storey house was set in Lodovico Street but locals, of course, know better.
Today the former family home has been converted into five flats. But to buy it back as a detached family home you would be looking at paying out around £800,000.
Dollis Hill Lane in Brent
Notting Hill – Westbourne Park Road
The blue door featured so prominently in the film Notting Hill (again with Hugh Grant as a main character and the lead role played by none other than famous Hollywood actress Julia Roberts). That’s because behind it was the home of bookseller and divorcee William Thacker in the 90s romantic movie.
The house, at 280 Westbourne Park Road London, actually belonged to the film’s scriptwriter Richard Curtis at the time.
Westbourne Park Road in Notting Hill
Get in touch
Do you have a home in London – or anywhere in the UK for that matter – that has been the location of a movie? If so, we would love to hear about it at Name My House. We could even feature it in our blog.
Meanwhile, if you happen to be considering naming – or renaming – your own house and are keen to know the legalities of going about it, then we would be happy to help out. Just give our team a call here at Name My House on: 0208 017 2216 or you can write to us via info@namemyhouse.co.uk. We look forward to hearing from you.