Sir Thomas Sean Connery, best known for portraying James Bond in seven films, was born on August 25, 1930, in Edinburgh, Scotland. He grew up at 176 Fountainbridge, a place that remained significant to him throughout his life. In 1992, while living in Los Angeles, he founded a production company called Fountainbridge Films, naming it as a tribute to his birthplace and early years.
The building where he grew up no longer exists today. In its place, the area has been redeveloped, but his legacy is still remembered. A commemorative plaque honoring Sean Connery has been placed on the side wall of Hampton by Hilton Edinburgh West End, marking the location and celebrating the early life of the legendary actor.
Sean Connery Birth Place Plaque.Sean Connery Birth Place plaque.Sean Connery Birth Place plaque on a wall of Hampton by Hilton Edinburgh West End (small blue rectangle in the middle of the photo).
In his book ‘Being a Scot’, Sean Connery recalled the modest conditions of his childhood home. He wrote that there was no hot water and no bathroom inside the house, and that the toilet was located outside, reflecting the simple and challenging living standards of his early years.
Since the youth of Sean Connery, the surrounding area has changed significantly. Over time, modern developments have appeared alongside the historic buildings, creating a contrast between the old and the new. What was once a modest, working-class neighborhood has evolved into a more diverse urban landscape, where contemporary architecture stands side by side with remnants of the past.
Hampton by Hilton Edinburgh West End at 166 Fountainbridge.Hampton by Hilton Edinburgh West End (on the right) at Fountainbridge.Buildings located opposite Sean Connery’s family home.Buildings located opposite Sean Connery’s family home.
After visiting M’s house (John Barry’s apartment in London as M’s home in ‘Skyfall’), James Bond (Daniel Craig) decided to return to active duty. Accompanied by Bill Tanner (Rory Kinnear) he headed for an MI6 underground safe house in Range Rover Vogue SE. To return to duty, Bond had to undergo physical, medical and psychological test.
The entrance to the underground facility was filmed on a winding road down to Smithfield Car Park. It is located next to the Smithfield Meat Market.
Smithfield Market in front of the entrance to the Smithfield Car Park.
In the film, the entrance gate was guarded by a guard with a gun. In fact, it is a public parking lot with a barrier.
Entrance to the Smithfield Car Park.
The scene at the Smithfield Market was filmed on January 28th 2012. A specially prepared Range Rover Vogue SE was used for this purpose. The stunt driver drove the car from the roof of the vehicle and Daniel Craig looking through the window was filmed with a camera attached to a special rig mounted outside the car.
The cobblestone paved road from the entrance to the Smithfield Car Park to the entrance to the underground car park forms an almost complete circle around the Smithfield Rotunda Garden with the Peace Memorial Fountain in the middle.
Smithfield Rotunda Garden with Peace Memorial Fountain in the middle surrounded by the road down to the underground parking lot.Smithfield Rotunda Garden with Peace Memorial Fountain in the middle surrounded by the road down to the underground parking lot.Smithfield Rotunda Garden.Entrance to the underground garage.
The tunnel ride was filmed in a different location. When you enter the underground parking lot, the tunnel that appears before your eyes is not like the one shown in the movie.
Interior of the underground car park.
The underground MI6 facility was filmed at Pinewood Studios and the Old Vic Tunnels in London. The House of Vans London located in the Old Vic Tunnels was the place where Bond’s physical skills evaluation was filmed.
Unfortunately the House of Vans London closed its doors in December 2022, so you can no longer see the interiors known from the film. I got there in February 2023, so I was just too late to see this place.
Dr. Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux) crossed the street on the way to her office. She climbed the stairs and entered the room. An unexpected patient was waiting there. It was Lyutsifer Safin (Rami Malek).
The scene with Madeleine Swann crossing the street was filmed at the Mall in London at the end of June 2019.
– St. James’s Park.
Léa Seydoux left the St. James’ Park at the Royal Artillery Boer War Memorial.
– The Royal Artillery Boer War Memorial.– St. James’s Park on the left and the Mall on the right.
She crossed the Mall and walked towards the Duke of York Column at the top of the stairs.
– The Duke of York Column.
The scene with Dr. Madeleine Swann walking up the staircase was filmed in {10-11} Carlton House Terrace in August 2019. The whole sequence with her and Safin in the office as well. The building is located right next to the Duke of York Column.
– The Duke of York Column on the left and {10-11} Carlton House Terrace on the right.
{10-11} Carlton House Terrace was used as filming location not only for ‘No Time to Die’, but also for: ‘Bridget Jones Diary’, Netflix’s ‘The Crown’, BBC’s ‘Sherlock Holmes, ‘Cruella’ and few others. You can rent it i.e. for wedding or conference and walk up the staircase like Dr. Madeleine Swann. Her office was filmed on the 2nd floor in a room that is not available for public use.
In ‘Spectre’ we get to take a look at James Bond’s apartment. He (Daniel Craig) was standing at the window wearing dressing gown while waiting for Monneypenny (Naomie Harris). She brought him a box with personal things recovered from Skyfall. After the meeting in the apartment Moneypenny walked down the street into the darkness of the night.
– 1 Stanley Gardens, Notting Hill, London, UK
The exterior of the house was filmed at 1 Stanley Gardens in Notting Hill in London.
– 1 Stanley Gardens on the corner of Stanley Gardens and Stanley Cres.
The entrance to the building is located at Stanley Cres.
The exterior of the townhouse was filmed on December 15th 2014 in the evening. It was a week after principal photography began. Interior of the apartment was filmed at Pinewood Studios.
Both Daniel Craig and Naomie Harris were on location. Daniel Craig was standing at the window in an apartment with a balcony. Naomie Harris walked down the Stanley Cres towards Ladbroke Gardens.
Real filming locations together with screens of scenes filmed in these places. Film scene on top and my location photo at the bottom.
– James Bond and Madeleine Swann in Aston Martin DB5 travel to Matera. It was filmed on a scenic road between Sapri and Acquafredda in south-western Italy. (location photo: 2022) Read the story behind the scene: Scenic road at the Tyrrhenian Sea in ‘No Time to Die’.– Aston Martin DB5 enters a tunnel. It was also filmed on a road between Sapri and Acquafredda in Italy. The tunnel was created using CGI. There is the Torre dei Crivi on top of the rock that you can see in the film and in the location photo. On location there is a bridge with 3 arches right below the tower. In the film you can see only 2 arches and the entrance to the tunnel. (location photo: 2022) Read the story behind the scene: Scenic road at the Tyrrhenian Sea in ‘No Time to Die’.– Via D’Addozio in Sassi di Matera in Italy. (location photo: 2022) Read the story behind the scene: ‘No Time to Die’ in Matera, Italy. Part 1: Arrival.– James Bond and Madeleine Swann in Aston Martin DB5 enter Sassi di Matera in southern Italy. The car turns right but the camera continues to move forward. We can see the view of the city. There was some CGI used to created that view. The bridge on the left was filmed in Gravina in Puglia and pasted into the view of Sassi di Matera. Photo taken from view point at Via D’Addozio (location photo: 2022) Read the story behind the scene: ‘No Time to Die’ in Matera, Italy. Part 1: Arrival.– Via Bruno Buozzi at the intersection with Rione Pianelle in Sassi di Matera in Italy.(location photo: 2022) Read the story behind the scene: ‘No Time to Die’ in Matera, Italy. Part 1: Arrival.– Via Bruno Buozzi at the intersection with Rione Pianelle in Sassi di Matera in Italy.(location photo: 2022) Read the story behind the scene: ‘No Time to Die’ in Matera, Italy. Part 1: Arrival.– Via Muro in Sassi di Matera. (location photo: 2022) Read the story behind the scene: ‘No Time to Die’ in Matera, Italy. Part 1: Arrival.– Via Muro in Sassi di Matera. (location photo: 2022) Read the story behind the scene: ‘No Time to Die’ in Matera, Italy. Part 1: Arrival.– Via Muro in Sassi di Matera. (location photo: 2022) Read the story behind the scene: ‘No Time to Die’ in Matera, Italy. Part 1: Arrival.– Hotel room was built on special platform just for filming at Belvedere di Piazza Giovanni Pascoli. This is a viewpoint overlooking the city. (location photo: 2022) Read the story behind the scene: ‘No Time to Die’ in Matera, Italy. Part 1: Arrival.– Part of the cemetery in Matera was built in Gravina di Puglia, Italy. Artficial tombs were built at Parco Archeologico Madonna Della Stella as you can see above. Building on the left in Gravina in Puglia were replaced with CGI so it looked like panorama of Matera. (location photo: 2022) Read the story behind the scene: ‘No Time to Die’ in Matera and Gravina in Puglia, Italy. Part 2: Cemetery– James Bond (Daniel Craig) walks towards Vesper’s tomb. Part of the cemetery with the tomb was built near the Church of Our Lady ‘delle Vergini’ on a plateau overlooking Sassi di Matera in Italy. (location photo: 2022) Read the story behind the scene: ‘No Time to Die’ in Matera and Gravina in Puglia, Italy. Part 2: Cemetery– James Bond runs through the cemetery after explosion of Vesper’s tomb. It was filmed in Parco Archeologico di Botromagno in Gravina di Puglia, Italy. (location photo: 2022) Read the story behind the scene: ‘No Time to Die’ in Matera and Gravina in Puglia, Italy. Part 2: Cemetery– James Bond runs on the Ponte Acquedotto in Gravina in Puglia, Italy. (location photo: 2022) Read the story behind the scene: ‘No Time to Die’ in Matera and Gravina in Puglia, Italy. Part 2: Cemetery– After jumping from the bridge (filmed in Gravina in Puglia) James Bond runs through the corridors and runs out of them on the stone stairs. That scene was filmed in Sassi di Matera, Italy. (location photo: 2022) Read the story behind the scene: ‘No Time to Die’ in Matera and Gravina in Puglia, Italy. Part 2: Cemetery– Sassi di Matera, Italy. (location photo: 2022)– Via Gradoni Duomo in Sassi di Matera, Italy. (location photo: 2022)– Via S. Potito in Sassi di Matera, Italy. (location photo: 2022)– Via S. Potito in Sassi di Matera, Italy. Entrance to the Hotel Palazzo Viceconte (location photo: 2022)– Piazza S. Pietro Caveoso in Sassi di Matera, Italy. (location photo: 2022)– Via Fiorentini in Sassi di Matera, Italy. (location photo: 2022) – Via Fiorentini in Sassi di Matera, Italy. (location photo: 2022)– Via D’Addozio in Sassi di Matera, Italy. (location photo: 2022)– Via D’Addozio in Sassi di Matera, Italy. (location photo: 2022)– Piazza San Giovanni in Sassi di Matera, Italy. (location photo: 2022)– Piazza San Giovanni in Sassi di Matera, Italy. (location photo: 2022)– Chiesa di San Rocco at Piazza San Giovanni in Sassi di Matera, Italy. (location photo: 2022)– James Bond and Madeleine Swann arrive at the railway station. It was filmed in Sapri, Italy. As you can see in the film it was mirrored. (location photo: 2022)– James Bond and Madeleine Swann at the railway station. It was filmed in Sapri, Italy. (location photo: 2022)– James Bond at the railway station. It was filmed in Sapri, Italy. (location photo: 2022)– James Bond at the railway station. It was filmed in Sapri, Italy. (location photo: 2022)– James Bond leaves his garage driving Aston Martin V8 Vantage. It was filmed at parking space at Centaur Street, London. Interesting fact is that the sequence was mirrored after filming. In the film he turns right, but in reality he had to turn left. In the center of location photo you can see the entrance to Bond’s garage. He drove towards the exit that is on the right, behind a bicycle. (location photo: 2023) Read the story behind the scene: ‘No Time to Die’ – Bond’s garage in London.James Bond leaves his garage driving Aston Martin V8 Vantage. It was filmed at parking space at Centaur Street, London. Interesting fact is that the sequence was mirrored after filming. You can see electric cables on the ceiling on the opposite side. The exit is partially cover with a wall with an arch on top. In the film it is on the right, while in reality it is on the left. (location photo: 2023) Read the story behind the scene: ‘No Time to Die’ – Bond’s garage in London.– Whitehall Ct in London. (location photo: 2023) Read the story behind the scene: ‘No Time to Die’ at Whitehall Ct in London.– Whitehall Ct in London. (location photo: 2023) Read the story behind the scene: ‘No Time to Die’ at Whitehall Ct in London.– The Mall at the Duke of York Monument in London, UK. Dr. Swann (Lea Seydoux) on her way to the office where she meets Safin (Rami Malek). (location photo: 2011) Read the story behind the scene: No Time to Die’ at The Mall in London– In the very last sequence of ‘No Time to Die’ Madelein Swann and her daughter were driving Aston Martin V8 Vantage on the same road as James Bond and Madelein Swann were driving Aston Martin DB5 at the beginning of the film – scenic road between Sapri and Acquafredda in Italy. They also entered the tunnel that was created with CGI. There is the Torre dei Crivi on top of the rock that you can see in the film and in the location photo. On location there is a bridge with 3 arches right below the tower. In the film you can see only 2 arches and the entrance to the tunnel. (location photo: 2022) Read the story behind the scene: Scenic road at the Tyrrhenian Sea in ‘No Time to Die’.
There were only a few scenes in ‘No Time to Time’ that were shot on location in London unlike in ‘Spectre’ or ‘Skyfall’. One of them was the scene with James Bond (Daniel Craig) arriving at MI6 headquarters in Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Previously James Bond was driving such car in ‘The Living Daylights’.
The scene was filmed on June 30th 2019 at Whitehall Ct. The car was parked near number 4. Daniel Craig walked towards Ministry of Defence that doubled for MI6 headquarters.
– 4 Whitehall Ct.– 4 Whitehall Ct and Ministry of Defence main building on the right.– Ministry of Defence main building.
While filming the scene, Nicola Dove who was still photographer on the set of ‘No Time to Time’ (Interview with Nicola Dove – ‘No Time to Die’ still photographer), took an iconic photo of Daniel Craig. It became an advertisement for Omega watches. It was also the first look image made available to the press.
Whitehall Ct is located in the very center of London. No wonder it is close to other filming locations known from James Bond franchise. In the next photo you can see the place where Bond parked the car in ‘No Time to Die’ in the right bottom and the Old War Office on the left. It was the MI6 headquarter in ‘Octopussy’, ‘A View to a Kill’ and ‘Licence to Kill’. The dome tower was also presented at the end of ‘Skyfall’ when James Bond was standing on the roof and looking at the London panorama. (‘Old War Office Building as MI6 HQ‘).
Another ‘Skyfall’ location can be found behind the Old War Office building. If you walk down the Whitehall Ct in the direction from which the Aston Martin V8 Vantage arrived, you will see the Embankment Place round the corner. The scene with Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem) leaving the subway station was filmed there (‘Skyfall’ at Embankment Station in London).
Media representatives were waiting for Gustav Graves (Toby Stephens) at the Buckingham Palace in London. There was also his assistant, Miranda Frost (Rosamund Pike), waiting for her boss. Right on time he appeared in the sky with Union Jack parachute. He landed between them, answered a few questions and together with Miranda Frost went by car to receive his knighthood from the Queen. James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) was standing in the crowd and just looking at the villain.
– Buckingham Palace in London.
– Buckingham Palace in London.
– Buckingham Palace in London.– Sculptures at Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace in London.
That sequence was filmed in April 2002. Film crew got permission to work around the Buckingham Palace for one day only, until lunch time.
There was parachute jump of 3 stuntmen planned for the scene. To fly helicopter less than 1 kilometer above the Buckingham Palace it was necessary to get special permissions from Anti-Terrorist Units. Executive Producer Anthony Waye said that according to the script the scene was supposed to be filmed at the House of Parliament. About 2-3 weeks before filming it was decided to try to shoot at the Buckingham Palace. When they were trying to get permissions, Queen Mother died and all the offices were closed for 10 days. Permission to shoot there was received less that a week before planned filming day.
– Buckingham Palace in London. View from Spur Rd.
– Buckingham Palace in London.
About 250 members of the film crew arrived on the set very early that day. Actress Rosamund Pike said that she had to wake up at 4 a.m. At 6.30 a.m. filming could begin as sun was rising.
At first the scene with parachuting Gustav Graves was filmed. Three stuntmen, who were made up to look like the villain in the film, were ready for the jump. They were flying in a helicopter with pilot Mark Wolff, who has flown helicopters for 8 previous James Bond films (Interview with Marc Wolff).
– Buckingham Palace in London.
The first jumper was the team leader Allan Hewitt. Film director Lee Tamahori was happy with the shot. He decided to film second jump as backup. There was no time for third stuntmen to jump.
– UK parachute from ‘Die Another Day’ at ‘Bond in Motion’ exhibition in Prague, Czech Republic in 2023.
Afterwards the scene with Gustav Graves landing in the crowd was filmed. Actor Toby Stephens was suspended under the arm of crane 40 feet in the air. It was moving down so it looked like Stephens was parachuting.
– The square in front of the Buckingham Palace in London.
Film crew had to clean the area before 9.30 a.m. as the Life Guards began preparations for the Changing of the Guard.
Film crew moved to the park behind Canada Gate to complete filming the scene. At that time hundreds of tourists were gathering to see Changing of the Guard.
– Canada Gate at Buckingham Palace.
– Canada Gate at Buckingham Palace.
About an hour before end of filming, Pierce Brosnan arrived on the set. In his brief appearance in the scene he was standing in the crowd and looking at his rival getting into Range Rover.
At the end the scene with Miranda Frost and media representatives waiting for Gustav Graves was filmed. In the film it was shown before all other scenes filmed that day.
Sources: – ‘Die Another Day’ audio commentary, „Die Another Day” Special Edition, Danjaq, LLC and United Artists Corporation, 2006 – ‘Just Another Day’, dir. Roger Penny, A Special Treats Production, 2002
“Dr. No” was the first official (produced by EON Productions) James Bond film. Its world premiere took place at London Pavilion on October 5th, 1962. The building with nearly 1200 seats was located on the corner of Shaftesbury Avenue and Coventry Street on the north-east side of Piccadilly Circus in London.
– Piccadilly Circus. London Pavilion on the right.
There were five showings of ‘Dr. No’ that day, starting at 10.45 a.m. Celebrities including Sean Connery (who played 007), Zena Marshall (who played Miss Taro), film director Terence Young, producers Hally Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli, as well as James Bond author Ian Fleming attended a gala screening in the evening.
– Entrance to London Pavilion at Shaftesbury Avenue.– London Pavilion – view from Coventry Street.– Shaftesbury Avenue.
It is worth to add an interesting fact that the same day The Beatles released their first single – ‘Love Me Do’.
Sources: – ‘Premiere Bond’, Associated Press Television News, BBC Worldwide Americas Inc., 2002 – www.007magazine.co.uk
In ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’ James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) visited Professor Inga Bergstrom (Cecilie Thomsen) at Oxford University. While they were together Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 was parked in the courtyard.
The car was filmed at the courtyard at the entrance to the New College Oxford from Holywell Street.
The entrance to the New College Oxford and its courtyard where Aston Martin db5 was filmed.A view from the New College Oxford courtyard at the Holywell Street.
Source: – Tomorrow Never Dies Audio Commentary, Tomorrow Never Dies Special Edition, Danjaq, LLC and United Artists Corporation, 2006
James Bond (Daniel Craig) traveled to Rome to attend funeral of Marco Sciarra – the criminal he killed in Mexico at the beginning of ‘Spectre’. After the ceremony he visited and seduced Sciarra’s widow Lucia (Monica Belucci). She told him about the meeting of criminal organisation called Spectre in Palazzo Cardenza. 007 joined the meeting by pretending to be one of the organisation members. Bond had been recognized and had to escape the meeting. Car chase with 007 in Aston Martin DB10 and Mr. Hinx in Jaguar C-X75 began.
Aston Martin DB10 from ‘Spectre’.Jaguar C-X75 from ‘Spectre’.
An Aston Martin DB10 en route to a Spectre meeting was filmed on Rome’s Passeggiata del Gianicolo. An aerial view of the Italian capital was added by the visual effects team, which included Blenheim Palace. The film crew worked on scenes in the courtyard of Blenheim Palace in February 2015. Interior scenes were filmed at Pinewood Studios.
Blenheim Palace in Woodstock (Oxfordshire), UK
The courtyard in front of the Blenheim Palace.
Bond’s car pulled into the Blenheim Palace Great Court through the narrow gatein the east wing (see photo below). The Great Court was filled with super-expensive cars. To light them the film crew used two 40-by-40 feet soft boxes.
James Bond parked the Aston Martin, got out of the car and walked to the Colonnades.When he was recognized at the Spectre meeting he jumped out of the window and ran to the Colonnades. He jumped outfrom between thecolumns and got into the Aston Martin DB10. Mr. Hinx got into the Jaguar C-X75.
Both cars left the Palace Great Court through the narrow gatein the east wing and they pulled into small East Courtyard (photo below). They left the Blenheim Palace through east gate (photos below). Both cars jumped when they were driving through the gate and continued the high-speed car chase that was filmed in Rome.
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JAMES BOND 