LONDON HOTELS DO HOLLYWOOD
As one of the most recognisable cityscapes in the world, and with the British film industry going from strength the strength, London has unquestionably been a favourite filming location amongst directors. As well as the streets and iconic landmarks, London’s finest hotels have also played a major role in providing authenticity and bringing certain scenes and stories to life.
HOTEL: THE RITZ
FILM: NOTTING HILL (1999)
Room: The Trafalgar Suite
When William Thacker (played by Hugh Grant) is invited by his famous love interest, Anna Scott (Julia Roberts) to her suite at The Ritz, he thinks he has lucked out. Much to his bemusement, she is hosting an interview session with the press and he amusingly pretends to be a reporter from ‘Horse & Hound’.
Each time Miss Scott checks into arguably London’s most famous hotel, she uses a fake name of a cartoon character. You can imagine how often this happens in real life with The Ritz being a favourite among the rich and famous. And as a quintessentially British icon, the filmmakers knew that the use of the hotel would be an immediately recognisable to international audiences and aid in the upscaling of the reach.
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HOTEL: THE LANGHAM
FILM: GOLDENEYE (1995)
Room: Hotel Exterior
When James Bond (played by Pierce Brosnan) is tasked with retrieving a stolen and dangerous Russian satellite system called GoldenEye, he is dispatched to The Grand Hotel Europe in St. Petersburg.
However, much to the convenience of the crew, luxury 5* hotel The Langham on Regent Street was used as a stand-in for filming. Displaying the same exterior splendour as the imitated hotel, hanging a Russian flag off the front of the building was all that was needed to complete the illusion.
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HOTEL: HILTON LONDON ON PARK LANE
FILM: HITCHCOCK’S ‘FRENZY’ (1972)
Room: Suite 508/509
When Richard Blaney (played by Jon Finch) loses his job, he visits his ex-wife seeking advice. She is shortly thereafter found raped and murdered, and his current girlfriend is the next to fall victim. Although innocent, Blaney is arrested for the crimes.
On the run and seeking advice, he visits The London Hilton on Park Lane where his friend is occupying a suite. He is sent packing by the mate’s wife and she watched them disappear from a 2nd floor balcony. The hotel itself has a very recognisable façade amongst the Mayfair hotels and this is believed to have been the reason behind the location choice.
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HOTEL: LANCASTER LONDON HOTEL
FILM: THE ITALIAN JOB (1969)
Room: Suite 602
When Charlie Croker (played by Michael Caine) is released from prison, what more suitable way to celebrate than to spend the day with some scantily-clad young ladies in a fabulously hip London suite. Upon check-out, he is summoned up to a different room to be met with a proposal from the widow, Beckerman. From here, The Italian Job is born.
The hotel was used as it had just the right mix of mystery and elegance to make any meeting a special one. Since filming, the 1960’s interior has been replaced with a much more modern and luxurious style of décor, with fabulous views over Hyde Park.
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HOTEL: THE CORINTHIA
FILM: SKYFALL (2012)
Room: Rooftop
Towards the later stages on the film after some heroic action James Bond (played by Daniel Craig) takes an idyllic moment to gather this thoughts (and presumably to dry his pants) whilst peering over the London Rooftops. Whilst scene itself is actually filmed next-door to The Corinthia, at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, certain Penthouse Suites share the same rooftop and do have their own private terraces offering the same captivating views.
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HOTEL: THE LANESBOROUGH
FILM: EYES WIDE SHUT (1999)
Room: The Royal Suite
When Dr. Bill Harford (played by Tom Cruise) and his wife Alice (Nicole Kidman) attend a party and flirt with other guests, they discuss and admit to having fantasises about strangers. Bill becomes progressively obsessed with the idea, and with many dodgy encounters along the way including a meeting in the impressive pool room at the iconic Lanesborough Hotel, he ultimately ends up with a stranger in The Royal Suite.
The room was used in filming as a representation of where the wealthy and powerful would reside. True to this, in real life the suite costs around £8000 per night and is so exclusive that it is positioned in a secret location within the hotel that reportedly isn't even disclosed to some of the hotel staff.
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HOTEL: THE DORCHESTER
FILM: WIMBLEDON (2004)
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Washed up tennis pro Peter Colt (played by Paul Bettany), competing at the Wimbledon tennis tournament for the final time, has the privilege of staying at arguably London's most famous hotel, The Dorchester. It is here where Peter meets an up-and-coming tennis star by the name of Lizzie Bradbury (played by Kirsten Dunst) for the first time during the Championships. Some say it was this romantic encounter that led to Peter's upturn in form to win the championship, we have our doubts though and reckon it was more down to the rejuvenating qualities of the hotels tremendous spa.
HOTEL: THE MAY FAIR
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HOTEL: THE MAY FAIR
FILM: HEREAFTER (2010)
London's prestigious May fair hotel often finds itself hosting celebrities, but in 2010 if found itself part of the show when executive producer Stephen Spielberg chose it to host the 3rd act of his action thriller Hereafter. Stars Matt Damon and Cécile de France rendezvous outside the hotel, were the later is staying.
