MUSEYON GUIDES » UK

Tamara Drewe + Travel

Kellas — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 21:21:19 +0000

The subject of the new film Tamara Drewe by director Stephen Frears (The Queen, High Fidelity) might not be familiar to most people outside of the UK, but to those fans who have anxiously kept up to date with the affairs of the temptress of Dorset in the Guardian newspaper or read the graphic novels based on the comics by Posy Simmonds, this film is sure to be a hit.

Filmed in idyllic Dorset, England, where the comic is set, Tamara Drewe revolves around the love life of its heroine after she returns to the town where she grew-up to refurbish and sell her deceased parent’s home. In doing so, Tamara stirs up old romances with the aging novelist next door and the local handyman as well as a new romance with a troubled rock star. The principle filming locations revolve around Tamara’s home and the writer’s retreat of Stonefield, which plays such a pivotal role in the film that it is almost a character.

The location of Stonefield was of particular importance to the production designers for the film, as that is not only where the film opens-up but where much of the most dramatic scenes were shot. Being true to the look of the comic, Limbury house in the town of Salwayash in Dorset was chosen for the outside filming location and embellished upon by adding sheds, planting roses and burying a few plastic flowers to add color. For the inside, the grand Blackdown house stood in because of it’s larger proportions.

For those looking to capture the lush feel of the Dorset countryside the film evokes, the towns around Lewesdon Hill, which can be seen in the wide shots of the movie, are the perfect place to start, particularly in the towns where snippets of the film were made: Yetminster, Salway Ash and Blackdown.

Dorset, England

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Extended Travel: Greenwich, London

Kellas — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:41:18 +0000

One of the most popular filming locations in London is the UNESCO Heritage Site of Greenwich. Greenwich is a borough of London but really, it is a small town unto itself, located six miles up the River Thames.

Once the home of English royalty, Greenwich has a history that reaches back through Roman times to the pre-historic, with ancient barrow (or burial) mounds still visible. Greenwich is perhaps best known though for being the symbolic home of Greenwich Mean Time, it is here where the Prime Meridian passes through London and for which the time denomination was named.

Among the many films that were made in Greenwich are Eastern Promises (2007), Dorian Gray (2009), The Young Victoria (2009), The Golden Compass (2007), The Duchess (2008), The World Is Not Enough (1999), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), Highlander (1986), Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Patriot Games (1992) and The Madness of King George (1994).

Greenwich is home to the picturesque University of Greenwich (above), at which Eastern Promises, The Duchess, Gulliver’s Travels and The Mummy Returns were filmed. The university also encompasses the Old Royal Naval College, which was built by Christopher Wren in 1694.

Other popular attractions in Greenwich include The Royal Observatory, Flamsteed House (In middle of Greenwich Park). This is the home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian line and is one of the most important historic scientific sites in the world. It was founded by Charles II in 1675 and is, by international decree, the official starting point for each new day, year and millennium (at the stroke of midnight GMT as measured from the Prime Meridian). Also The National Maritime Museum, which contains the UK’s national collection of Martime artifacts. One of the buildings housing the museum is the Queens House, built by Inigo Jones and the first Palladian building in England.

Museyon’s Guide to…BFI London Film Festival

Kellas — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 21:22:54 +0000

The program for the 54th BFI London Film Festival, launched today by Artistic Director Sandra Hebron, showcases an array of highly anticipated films by both established and emerging talent from around the world. Held over 16 days, the festival will screen a total of 197 features and 112 shorts, including 11 World, 23 International and 33 European premieres, many presented by cast members and filmmakers. The 54th BFI London Film Festival will run from October 13th – 28th.

Galas & Special Screenings:
Opening the festival is Mark Romanek’s NEVER LET ME GO, starring Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan and Andrew Garfield, whilst Danny Boyle’s 127 HOURS, starring James Franco will close the festival. In between are THE KING’S SPEECH, with Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter; Darren Aronofsky’s BLACK SWAN, with Natalie Portman; Mike Leigh’s ANOTHER YEAR; NEDS, directed by Peter Mullan; THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT starring Julianne Moore and Annette Bening; and Cannes Palme D’Or winner, UNCLE BOONMEE WHO CAN RECALL HIS PAST LIVES. Other highlights include CONVICTION, starring Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell; Alejandro González Iñárritu’s BIUTIFUL starring Javier Bardem; WEST IS WEST, the follow up to East is East; Xavier Beauvois’ OF GODS AND MEN; and Julian Schnabel’s MIRAL with Freida Pinto. In THE FIRST GRADER an 84 year old Kenyan finally starts school, and AFRICA UNITED features a group of youngsters who trek across Africa to reach the World Cup. THE GREAT WHITE SILENCE, a BFI Archive restoration, is this year’s Archive Gala, featuring a live performance of a new score by Simon Fisher Turner.

Film On The Square:
London’s West End will see a selection of some of the strongest films of the year. Anton Corbijn (Control) presents THE AMERICAN, starring George Clooney; CARLOS is Olivier Assayas’s epic biopic of the infamous Venezuelan terrorist; Jean-Luc Godard continues to challenge cinemagoers with FILM SOCIALISME; ROBINSON IN RUINS marks Patrick Keiller’s long awaited return, and is narrated by Vanessa Redgrave. Other highlights include Diego Luna’s directorial debut ABEL; Kelly Reichardt’s MEEK’S CUTOFF with Michelle Williams and Paul Dano; LE QUATTRO VOLTE, an intriguing quasi-documentary set in an Italian village; LOOSE CANNONS, an Italian coming-out comedy; and RARE EXPORTS: A CHRISTMAS TALE a Finnish fantasy thriller… about Father Christmas. Two of the festival’s features set in Africa are A SCREAMING MAN from Chad and BENDA BILILI, a documentary about the meteoric rise of a band of street musicians from Congo. The UK is represented by Ken Loach (ROUTE IRISH), Joanna Hogg (ARCHIPELAGO), Richard Ayoade (SUBMARINE) and Lucy Walker (WASTE LAND). Amongst the many international filmmakers included are Jan Švankmajer (SURVIVING LIFE), Takashi Miike (13 ASSASSINS) and John Sayles (AMIGO).

New British Cinema:
Amongst the finest new films from the UK are several which deal with real life subjects. In THE ARBOR, Clio Barnard explores the legacy of writer Andrea Dunbar (whose works include Rita, Sue and Bob Too); Hannah Rothschild shadowed her subject for a crucial year in MANDELSON: THE REAL PM?; and FIRE IN BABYLON celebrates the golden age of West Indian cricket. Festival alumni Kim Longinotto focuses on India in PINK SARIS, whilst Turner Prize winner Gillian Wearing makes her feature debut with SELF MADE. Both add to the strong representation of women filmmakers this year. Carol Morley offers a resonant and involving character study with EDGE; IN OUR NAME is an urgent and provocative feature depicting the issues one soldier faces when she returns from war in Iraq; and Marc Evans’ striking PATAGONIA features singer Duffy in her first acting role.

French Revolutions:
The French cinema scene is represented by a range of filmmakers, new and established. Amongst those whose films are screening are new discoveries such as Katell Quillévéré (LOVE LIKE POISON), up and coming talents including award winning director Antony Cordier (HAPPY FEW),Guillaume Canet, who brings his second feature after Tell No One, LITTLE WHITE LIES (featuring Marion Cotillard) and the established force that is Catherine Breillat (THE SLEEPING BEAUTY). Screen icons featured in this year’s line-up include Isabelle Huppert (SPECIAL TREATMENT and COPACABANA), Gerard Depardieu and Isabelle Adjani (MAMMUTH) and Kristin Scott Thomas in Lola Doillon’s IN YOUR HANDS. Isabelle Czajka returns to the festival with LIVING ON LOVE ALONE, the follow up to her debut The Year After.

Cinema Europa:
Celebrating the best in new cinema from mainland Europe, highlights include MYSTERIES OF LISBON, a four and a half hour epic from Raúl Ruiz; WOMB, an unusual love story starring Eva Green and Matt Smith; MY JOY, a beautifully shot, dark parable; the surreal and hypnotic THE TEMPTATION OF ST TONY; and SILENT SOULS, an almost mystical road movie. Here, the spotlight also falls on women directors including Pernille Fischer Christensen, whose film A FAMILY picks up on a recurrent theme of families; EVEN THE RAIN, directed by Icíar Bollaín, written by long term Ken Loach collaborator Paul Laverty, and starring Gael Garcia Bernal; DRAQUILA – ITALY TREMBLES by Sabina Guzzanti, a provocative exposé of Silvio Berlusconi; and returning filmmaker Isabelle Stever (BLESSED EVENTS). More debate is provoked in PICCO, the German film exploring the extreme violence experienced in a youth prison.

World Cinema:
From around the globe, a diverse selection of fiction features and documentaries are presented. Amongst a host of US indies are SPORK, a wonderfully unexpected take on the high school movie; Geoff Marslett’s unique animated film, MARS, an inventive slice of slacker sci-fi; COLD WEATHER, a new spin on the crime genre; and THE TAQWACORES, about Muslim punks in Upstate New York. SMASH HIS CAMERA turns the camera on one of the original paparazzi, Ron Galella. CATFISH raises unsettling issues around social media, whilst LEMMY is the definitive portrait of the legendary Motorhead singer and ultimate rock god. Another revered musical subject features in STRANGE POWERS: STEPHIN MERRITT AND THE MAGNETIC FIELDS. THE TILLMAN STORY examines the controversy surrounding the death of the NFL player turned US soldier in Afghanistan. Other highlights from the rest of the world include MICROPHONE, set in the exuberant underground music scene of the Egyptian capital; AUTUMN, about the conflict in Indian Kashmir; and LEAP YEAR, the Mexico City set feature which won director Michael Rowe the Camera D’Or at Cannes. Amongst the many strong East Asian titles are DEAR DOCTOR, the third feature from Japan’s Miwa Nishikawa and Chang Tso-Chi’s beautifully observed family piece, WHEN LOVE COMES.

Treasures From The Archive:
Showcasing the best recent examples of conservation work, and provoking debate in equal measure, titles include digital restorations of Renoir’s BOUDU SAVED FROM DROWNING and David Lean’s epic THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI and the latest project from Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Foundation, Edward Yang’s A BRIGHTER SUMMER DAY. Missing scenes, incorrect focus problems and technical difficulties have been overcome to bring back to the screen PANDORA’S BOX, starring the iconic Louise Brooks and Mauritz Stiller’s GUNNAR HEDES SAGA. Gritty pre-code films THE MATCH KING and THE MAYOR OF HELL with James Cagney are rediscovered, with light relief provided by screwball comedy TURNABOUT and endearing musical SUNNY SIDE UP. Life in post-war London is captured in three short films restored by the BFI in BOW BELLS AND WATERLOO SUNSETS. Other welcome new restorations include the seminal MAN WITH A MOVIE CAMERA and Manoel de Oliveira’s RITE OF SPRING, as well as the first feature-length gay documentary WORD IS OUT.

Experimenta:
Highlights include feature length works by Sharon Lockhart (DOUBLE TIDE), John Akomfrah (THE NINE MUSES) and Li Hongqi, whose film WINTER VACATION won the Golden Leopard in Locarno. An important aspect of Experimenta is the weekend of artists’ film and video on 23-24 October. Eight curated programmes offer the opportunity to experience a range of international work by prominent and emerging moving image artists. This year’s survey includes Prolix Satori, a new series of collage animations by Lewis Klahr, making his first UK appearance, and three films by Festival regular Nathaniel Dorsky. Every Time I See Your Picture I Cry is a unique live performance piece by Daniel Barrow. There will be installations by Emily Richardson and Martin Arnold, and David Gatten will present a film shot in the Galapagos Islands at the Natural History Museum.

Short Cuts and Animation:
This year, ten programmes celebrate the short film and animation formats, appealing to a wide ranging audience. New filmmakers from the capital are represented in London Calling whilst animation from all corners of the globe are featured, including those in a delightful programme aimed at children. This section doesn’t shy away from controversy with hard-edged stories including THE GOOD NORTH and BURN MY BODY. The spotlight once again focuses on women in the Pretty Girls Make Graves selection. As well as being a place for talent spotting, the section features established names including actors-turned-directors, Sir David Jason and Rupert Friend.

Events:
To complement the film screenings, there will be a full program of events. This year’s Screen Talks feature directors Darren Aronofsky and Mark Romanek. Peter Mullan and Olivier Assayas will lead Masterclasses. Other highlights include music supervisor Randall Poster’s Film School of Rock; a forum about adapting books for the screen; and a special screening of Christy Turlington Burns’ directorial debut about maternal health, NO WOMAN, NO CRY. The Festival has partnered with Time Out to bring a series of free events based around panel discussions with filmmakers.

Awards:
Following last year’s inaugural ceremony, the BFI London Film Festival Awards return for a second year to celebrate the finest films within the Festival and to recognise the achievements of filmmakers, both new and established. This year’s Awards will take place on October 27th at Jerwood Hall, LSO St Luke’s, before a panel of judges composed of figures from across the international film community.

Film Guests:
The stars anticipated to appear at the festival are Julianne Moore, Colin Firth, Hilary Swank, Natalie Portman, Helena Bonham Carter, Naomie Harris, Julian Schnabel, Lisa Cholodenko, Pablo Trapero, Gillian Wearing, Kim Longinotto, Joanna Hogg, Ferzan Ozpetek, Richard Ayoade, Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Christy Turlington Burns.

Tickets:
Tickets to the public go on sale September 27th and can be ordered online, by phone (call 020 7928 3232 from 11:30 – 8:30pm daily), or in person at the BFI Southbank Box Office, open daily from 11:00 – 8:30pm. I addition, tickets will be sold at box offices 30 minutes before each screening.

Extended Travel: Rosslyn, Scotland

Kellas — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 21:30:56 +0000

Ever since 2003 when Dan Brown published his international sensation The Da Vinci Code, fans and conspiracy theorist have been flocking to Rosslyn Chapel outside of Edinburgh, Scotland. The chapel plays a pivotal role in the book and the film starring Tom Hanks, which came out in 2006 and since then, tourism to the site has risen by 56% making it one of the most visited places in Scotland.

Rosslyn Chapel, originally named the Collegiate Chapel of St. Matthew, is a 15th-century church in the village of Roslin, seven miles from Edinburgh. The chapels intricate and sometimes mysteries carvings have led to many rumors about the true purpose of the builders. Many associated the chapel with the Freemason and The Knights Templar. Some of these carvings are called the ‘musical’ boxes, a series of intricate carvings in a sequence of 213 cubes or boxes protruding from pillars and arches with a selection of patterns on them.

Rumors also abound about the chapel’s crypt, a subterranean vault which has been said to contain any one of the following: the mummified head of Jesus Christ, the Holy Grail, the treasure of the Templars, or the original crown jewels of Scotland.

Though many fasilites abound in Brown’s The Da Vinci code about the chapel, such as “Rosslyn” is a form of the term Rose Line, and that a line starting in France also runs through the Chapel but which scholars point out that the name “Rosslyn” is most likely derived from two Celtic words: “ros”, meaning promontory or point, and “lyn”, meaning waterfall, it is a fascinating place to spend a day at away from Edinburgh.

Access: The LRT Number 15 bus comes into Roslin seven days a week from Edinburgh. The journey time is approx 30 mins. The Bus travels along Princes Street in Edinburgh, up Lothian Road and then out through Bruntsfield.

Rosslyn Chapel
Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PU, United Kingdom‎ – 0131 440 2155‎

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Extended Travel: Stirling, Scotland

Kellas — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 22:01:56 +0000

Stirling Castle

Known as the ‘Gateway to the Highlands,’ Stirling has been an important part of Scottish history since Roman times due to it’s location at the base of the Scottish hills and its defensible crag and tail hill.

The city today is best remembered for its strategic importance in the Wars of Scottish Independence which involved freedom fighters William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, immortalized in the film Braveheart. One of the major sites associated with the battles is the Stirling Old Bridge, where William Wallace defeated the English. The bridge isn’t the original wood bridge that stood at the location, but it still gives visitors an idea of how it looked. Another monument to William Wallace is the National Wallace Monument, a Victorian Gothic tower. The tower sits high above the city on a volcanic craig and inside are several artifacts associated with Wallace, most notably the Wallace Sword, a 5 ft, 6 in long claymore.

Doune Castle

The main attraction of Stirling though is the castle, looming over the city. The main buildings of Stirling Castle were completed in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries with a few structures of the fourteenth century remaining and the outer defences fronting the town date from the early eighteenth century. It is thought that because of its great fortified location, Castle Hill was used well before the fourteenth century, through the time of the Romans; it has even been associated with the legend of King Arthur. The castle was most recently in the upcoming film Burke and Hare, the real-life 19th century grave robbers who find a lucrative business providing cadavers for an Edinburgh medical school but when supplies dry-up, make their own.

Another castle close-by that will be more recognizable to those who haven’t grown-up in Scotland is Doune Castle. Doune is a fourteenth century stronghold that is often used as a medieval location in films; the list includes Ivanhoe, Elizabeth: The Golden Age and most famously, Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Access: The closest major airport to Stirling is Edinburgh, 29 miles away. From Glasgow and Edinburgh there are multiple buses which run hourly and both take about an hour. The trains depart every 30 mins and take half the time but will likely cost you twice as much depending on when you book.

News: This is England ‘86

Kellas — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:05:54 +0000

Focusing on the lives of non-racist and nationalist northern English skinheads in 1983, the 2006 film This is England by Shane Meadows opened to wide critical acclaim, making many ‘Best of’ lists for the year. Now four years later, Meadows is revisiting the characters he made famous in a four part TV sequel entitled This Is England ‘86. The sequel finds the characters three years after the film ended, in the midst of the World Cup and on the precipice of many life changes: “As Shaun (Thomas Turgoose) sits his last school exam, the realisation dawns that adulthood beckons and in mid-80s England he’s going to have to find his own way in the world. Luckily life has dealt a surprise hand to his friends too and no one is quite where they thought they would be. Woody, Lol, Smell, Gadget, Milky – they are all looking for love, a laugh, a job and something that resembles a future.”

The first episode of the brand new four-part serial will be previewed at the Showroom, Sheffield on Thursday 2 September, attended by cast including Thomas Turgoose, Vicky McClure, Andrew Shim and Joe Gilgun with a special introduction by director Shane Meadows. Much of the film was made in the Gleadless Valley area of Sheffield and will premiere on BBC4 next month.

News: Wilton House Receives Award

Kellas — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:13:10 +0000

Wilton House Dining Room

The popular filming location Wilton House has won the UK’s top award for Restoration, given out each year by The Historic Houses Association and Sotheby’s. Wilton’s entry into the contest was for its beautifully restored dining room that used both traditional and modern methods of repairs, undertaken by many local craftsmen.

Wilton House, situated near Salisbury in Wiltshire, stands on the site of a 9th century nunnery founded by King Alfred. This, in turn, was replaced by a 12th century Benedictine abbey which, with its surrounding lands, was surrendered at the time of the Dissolution of the monasteries to King Henry VIII, who gave them to William Herbert around 1542. Wilton House has remained in the Herbert family since this time and is the home of the Earl of Pembroke. The 460 year old house – with its history, architecture, art treasures and 21 acres of gardens and parkland – today attracts visitors from all over the world. – Art Knowledge News

Darcy and his sister at 'Pemberly,' ie Wilton House

Wilton house has been used for the years for numerous period films including Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Madness of King George and most recently Young Victoria. It was also used several times for the BBC series, Black Adder starring Rowan Atkinson. The house is known for its airy corridors and lavish interior which lends to filming. This was taken advantage of in Pride and Prejudice when Wilton House stands in for the interior of Darcy’s grand Pemberly estate during the scene when Elizabeth comes to visit the house and while exploring, happens upon Darcy and his sister.

Wilton House
Wilton, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 0BJ, United Kingdom‎ – 01722 746 700

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News: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Kellas — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:40:58 +0000

Harry Potter fans around the world woke-up to a welcomed surprise this morning with the release of the trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Set in two parts, The Deathly Hallows is the final book and film in the Harry Potter series. The first installment premieres November 11th while the closing segment is set for July 15th of 2011.

Shell Cottage built on Freshwater Beach, photo by Russ Hamer

Filmed as one long movie as opposed to two, The Deathly Hallows was shot in locations all over the UK, from the streets of London to the hills of Scotland. Here are a few of our must see locations from the new film:

Levenham – A medieval village that still retains many of its half-timbered houses and a renowned 15th c. church. This town was used in secrecy as the location for Godric’s Hollow- where Dumbledore, Godric Gryffindor and the Potters all once lived. The town’s Market Square is also the setting for John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s 1970 film Apotheosis.

Swinley Forest – Land owned by the English Crown Estate, situated in the Great Windsor Park in the southeast of England, this is the location of the deep forest scenes between Harry and Voldemort.

Freshwater West – The beach upon which Shell Cottage was built for the film. Shell Cottage is the home of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour. It is also where the new Robin Hood with Russell Crowe was filmed in 2009.

Extended Travel: Bath, UK

Kellas — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 22:17:52 +0000

Royal Crescent, Bath (photo courtesy of visitbath.co.uk, Copyright: Bath Tourism Plus / Colin Hawkins)

An hour and a half away from the busyness of London, nestled into the quaint English countryside, amongst rolling green hills, is a city lost in time. A city where one can still “take the waters” at Roman baths, visit the home of Jane Austen or eat a bun invented in 1680 straight from the kitchen where it originated.

That city is Bath. Once the home of aristocrats looking to escape London, little has changed over the years. Londoners still flock here on rare sunny weekends to stroll the tight cobbled streets and browse the shops filled with local treasures.

Over the years, filmmakers from Hollywood to Bollywood have also come knocking on Bath’s door, looking to use its largely untouched scenery in films as diverse as The Other Boleyn Girl, Persuasion and Hot Fuzz. Over 30 movies in all, starting from the 1930s, have been filmed here.

Attractions and their Films:

Abbey Churchyard is actually the center of Bath, dominated by the historical Abbey (1499), surrounded by a bustling square.
Films- Persuasion (1994), Other People’s Children (2000), Bertie & Elizabeth (2001), Persuasion (2006).
The Roman Baths were built over Bath’s hot springs over 2000 years ago and became the center of the Roman town, Aquae Sulis.
Film- Bonekickers (2008).
Above the Roman Baths is the 18th century Pump Room. Jane Austen describes a visit here to take the waters.
Films- The Music Lovers (1969), Persuasion (1994), Persuasion (2006), Bonekickers (2008).
Abbey Green a cobbled square full of alleyways, such as North Parade Passage.
Films- Persuasion (1994), Dracula (2006).
Bath Street is an elegant colonnaded street that links the Roman Baths with the Thermae Bath Spa. It is unadorned by shop signs so lends itself well to filming as little has to be changed to capture Bath of the 18th century.
Films- Persuasion (1994), Persuasion (2006)
Beauford Square, behind the Theatre Royal, is untouched by modern development.
Film- Vanity Fair (2004)

Jane Austen Centre (photo courtesy of visitbath.co.uk Copyright: Bath Tourism Plus)

Great Pulteney Street, just across Pulteney Bridge, and 1100 feet long, straight and broad and was designed for a carriage to turn around. Holburne Museum marks the far end of the street and was originally the Sydney Hotel. The Sydney Gardens was a favorite place for Jane Austen and she set her novel Northanger Abbey in the houses of Great Pulteney Street. The social reformer William Wilberforce, and William Smith, the father of geology who created the ‘map that changed the world’ also lived here.
Films- Vanity Fair (2004), Cheeni Kum (2006). The Duchess (2007) was filmed at the Holburne Museum.
Just off Great Pulteney Street is Sydney Place where, at No 4, Jane Austen lived.
Films- Persuasion (1994) and Vanity Fair (2004)
The Royal Crescent is the grandest and most awe-inspiring of the Georgian crescents in Bath. It is also by far, the most well-known and helped Bath gain its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The crescent has 30 houses and was built by John Wood the Younger. No 1 Royal Crescent is a recreated town house showing the type of lodgings fashionable, and wealthy, visitors to Georgian Bath would have taken.
Films- Vanity Fair (1967), Joseph Andrews (1976), Northanger Abbey (1987), Inspector Morse (1997), Persuasion (2006), The Duchess (2007)
The intriguing Circus was begun in 1754 by John Wood the Elder, the principal architect of the Georgian Bath. Artist Thomas Gainsborough, and statesman William Pitt lived here.
Films- A Respectable Trade (1997), Persuasion (2006)
The Assembly Rooms were built by Wood the Younger between 1769-71 and soon became the centre of fashionable society. The rooms include the Ball Room, which at 105 feet long is the largest Georgian room in Bath. The Tea Room and the pretty Octagon complete the Rooms and in the basement is the Fashion Museum, which charts the history of fashion from the 18th century to the present day.
Films- Northanger Abbey (1987), Persuasion (1994), Bertie & Elizabeth (2001), Persuasion (2006), The Duchess (2007), Bonekickers (2008)

c Museyon

Great Chalfield Manor

The moated manor house of Great Chalfield was built around 1465-1480 and served as the home of the Boleyn girls.

Access:
By Rail: There are regular train services direct from London Paddington with a journey time of 90 minutes. Bristol Temple Meads, just 15 minutes away by train is also a major hub for travel to all other parts of the country. For further information visit www.nationalrail.co.uk
By Bus (called a Coach in the UK): National Express links Bath to all major towns and cities in the UK. For further information visit www.gobycoach.co.uk

View of Parade Gardens from Bath Abbey (photo courtesy of: visitbath.co.uk Copyright: Bath Tourism Plus / Colin Hawkins)

Notting Hill + Travel, London

Kellas — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:39:45 +0000

The neighborhood of Notting Hill in London is cutting edge, it’s well to do, it’s historical and cinematic. The setting for the renowned 1999 film of the same name, Notting Hill is a neighborhood that has seen political upheavals and gentrification on an enormous scale, turning from slum into highly sought after real estate.

The Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts movie chronicles the love affair of a Travel bookstore owner (a man after our own heart) and a world famous actress was filmed in many actual Notting Hill locations. The opening scene takes place on Portobello Road at the Saturday antique market, which stretches from Golborne Road in the north to Westbourne Grove in the south. Film fanatics might also recognize the name Portobello Road from the song of the same name in the 1971 Disney classic, Bedknobs and Broomsticks.

Portobello Road
Portobello Rd, London W11, United Kingdom
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The House with the Blue Door is a well-known term for lovers of Notting Hill. It is where Hugh Grant’s character, William, lives with his inappropriate roommate, Spike. The actual house that at one time was home to The Blue Door is still there but alas, the door is not. After the homeowners received one too many callers from fans of the film, they decided to repaint their door and change the molding around the outside.

The House with the Blue Door
280 Westbourne Park Road, Notting Hill, London, England, United Kingdom
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The Ritz is the scene for many embarrassing moments for our hero. It is here where William is forced to interview the actors from love interest Anna Scott’s new film, telling her publicist he is from Horse and Hound magazine. It is also at The Ritz where William comes face to face with Anna’s on again, off again, boyfriend played by Alec Baldwin.

The Ritz, London
150 Piccadilly, London, United Kingdom W1J 9BR, United Kingdom - 020 7493 8181
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Anna and William go on their first date to the trendy Nobu Restaurant in the Metropolitan Hotel. It is here where Anna tells off a group of men making rude comments at her expense.

Nobu, Metropolitan Hotel
19 Old Park Lane, Mayfair, London, England, UK
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Pining for Anna, William goes to see her newest sci-fi film at Coronet Cinema.

Coronet Cinema
103 Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3LB, United Kingdom‎ - 020 7727 6705
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Anna returns to London after spurning William to film a Henry James novel at Kenwood House in Hampstead Heath. Hampstead Heath is a large park in the north of London, in a much-coveted postcode.

Kenwood House
Hampstead Lane, Hampstead, London NW3 7JR, United Kingdom – 020 8348 1286
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The famous Savoy Hotel is where the third to last scene takes place in the film, where William and his gang of friends hunt down Anna after William turns her down telling her, his heart couldn’t take her leaving again. It is here during a press conference that William professes his love.

The Savoy
91-92 Strand, London WC2R 0EU, United Kingdom - 020 7836 4343
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