Spanning since 1962 and encompassing 25 installments, the James Bond/007 film franchise has created some iconic scenes in movie history. Whether it’s Dr No, Casino Royale, or The Man With The Golden Gun, there have been many gorgeous locations that have been used for filming, such as Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Thailand. But since 007 is a British secret agent, of course there are also plenty of places in the United Kingdom that he has visited too.
Which types of filming locations are needed for 007 films?
Whether it’s car chases, casino scenes, or awesome opening sequences, there are many places around the world which have been used as 007 filming locations over the years. Adult fans of the 007 film franchise can immerse themselves in the world of Bond in a variety of ways, not just through binging the series. Fans can purchase merchandise, discover collectibles, or even play casino games which Bond will have played himself, such as Texas Hold’em and Baccarat.
But if fans of the series want to get out and explore, there are plenty of exciting filming locations to visit around the UK which have been featured in 007 films.
The Cairngorms National Park, Scotland
Beginning in an up to date fashion, the 2021 title ‘No Time To Die’ features locations in the Cairngorms, Scotland. While Bond seems to be returning to his Scottish roots, these Scottish locations actually serve as Norway car chase scenes. The trailer for the movie introduces film fans to the scenic views of the Ardverikie Estate as a car flips over, watched by Highland deer.
Kinloch Laggan at the western edge of the National Park was also used for the memorable film sequence. Scottish filming locations were also used as the setting for Bond’s family home in 2012’s Skyfall.
Stoke Park, Buckinghamshire, England
One iconic henchman scene in the 007 film franchise was filmed at Stoke Park near Slough. The golf club adjacent to the 18th-century mansion provided the location for Bond to meet archenemy Goldfinger in the 1964 movie of the same name. The villain’s trusty manservant Oddjob memorably decapitates a statue by spinning his steel-rimmed bowler hat to slice off its head.
It’s said that the setting inspired Sean Connery’s lifelong love of golf. Stoke Park would later appear in ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’ where Pierce Brosnan’s Bond thwarts evil hitman Dr Kaufman. The interior of the country club residence was also used to depict the interior of the hotel Bond stays in during his visit to Hamburg.
Gare Loch, Argyll and Bute, Scotland
While there is plenty of iconic scenery featured in 007 films, some of the most scenic James Bond filming locations are located in Scotland. In Roger Moore’s third outing as Bond, our hero discovers a sinister plot to destroy British submarines at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde. The base in ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ was actually set on the eastern shore of Gare Loch.
There is a real-life naval base at the sea loch location. Naturally, you can’t get too close to the facility but Gare Loch is a stunning place to visit in its own right. It seems that throughout the history of James Bond films, Scotland proves to be a popular filming location that is used again and again. Film fans that want to keep up to date with the latest film updates will have to pay close attention to the latest news to discover which filming locations might be used next.
The Vauxhall Cross SIS Building, London, England
Fact meets fiction at the real-life headquarters of MI6 that has been used for a touch of secret agent authenticity in GoldenEye, The World Is Not Enough, Die Another Day, Skyfall, and Spectre. The actual headquarters of the British Secret Intelligence Service came under attack in two of those movies before being destroyed in Skyfall and then shown lying in ruins in Spectre.
The Vauxhall building on the banks of the Thames was constructed in 1994. Earlier Bond films Octopussy, A View To A Kill and Licence to Kill, suggested that MI6 were based in the Old War Office building at the junction of Horse Guards Avenue and Whitehall in Central London. Although James Bond has been around the world, 007 filming locations cannot get more British than the heart of England’s capital.