Big Ben film locations

[DB7]

Big Ben tops film location poll

More than 3,000 people were surveyed in the poll

Big Ben has been voted the most iconic film location in London in a new poll.



The landmark topped the survey for a scene in the 1978 thriller The Thirty Nine Steps when Robert Powell's character hangs off the clock face.



St Paul's Cathedral was voted second place, for the scene in Mary Poppins where the hungry pigeons get fed on the building's steps.



More than 3,000 people were surveyed for the poll by cinema advertising company Pearl and Dean.



Westminster Bridge, the location for the opening scene of the British horror film 28 Days Later, is third in the survey.



In the film, Irish star Cillian Murphy's character wakes up to find himself completely alone in London and wanders over the deserted bridge.



The films of British director Richard Curtis, including Love Actually and Notting Hill, featured in the poll several times



Kathryn Jacob, spokeswoman for Pearl and Dean, said: "Richard Curtis has done a lot to raise the profile of London in his films, so it's no surprise that he's taken three places in our poll.



"But for a truly iconic image of London in film it's hard to beat the nail-biting, clock-ticking drama seen at the top of Big Ben in The Thirty Nine Steps."





1. Big Ben (The Thirty Nine Steps)

2. St Paul's Cathedral (Mary Poppins)

3. Westminster Bridge (28 Days Later)

4. Piccadilly Circus (An American Werewolf in London)

5. Number 10 Downing Street (Love Actually)

6. The Millennium Dome (The World is Not Enough)

7. Westminster Abbey (The Da Vinci Code)

8. Portobello Market (Notting Hill)

9. Covent Garden (My Fair Lady

10. Borough Market (Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason)

[donna]

I wonder how many tv and films feature Big Ben, there must be loads, Im sure Gideons Way started that way , am I right?

[CaptainWaggett]

Quite a few films begin with Big Ben

[donna]

Peter Pan is one.

[Freddy]

39 Steps



Robert Powell gripping the minute hand to prevent........won't say more Donna in case you haven't seen it.





regards

Freddy

[donna]

haha no its ok but maybe some others havent seen the film .shhhhh

[Fellwanderer]

39 Steps

Robert Powell gripping the minute hand to prevent........

...it striking 9am and the start of a new working day!

[john audley]

Will Hay and his team made one of their comedy's with a big finish hanging from the hands of the clock face.

My Learned Friend.

[Steve Crook]

The IMDb lists Big Ben as a location for quite a few James Bond titles



Steve

[Windthrop]

The Brighton Strangler (entertaining tosh) uses a reversed image of BB and Parliment in the credit sequence IIRC

[batman]

[christoph404]

More recently "V for Vendetta" features a very nice scene of Big Ben exploding into a thousand pieces!

[Steve Crook]

And what about when the space ship sliced into the clock tower in an episode of Doctor Who (Christopher Eccleston era)?



Steve

[christoph404]

Or "The Chimes of Big Ben" which lands number 6 back where he started!!

[Steve Crook]

Or "The Chimes of Big Ben" which lands number 6 back where he started!!

Didn't it appear in every episode of The Prisoner? When he was driving around London in the opening credits on his way to resign



Steve

[christoph404]

Didn't it appear in every episode of The Prisoner? When he was driving around London in the opening credits on his way to resign

Steve

I was thinking that, he certainly drives in front of the House s of Parliament but can't remember whether there is a shot of Big Ben! Time to quickly check on the DVD I think.



Had a quick look,yep of course there is a shot of Big Ben! It looks very grubby as well! Amazing how sooty and dark many of the historic building in London look in pre 80s films and programs! St Pauls looks very soot stained in the opening of Lawrence as does the view of Trafalgar Square from Dalby's office window in the Harry Palmer films! Seeing vintage footage of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament is a real testament to how well they have been cleaned and restored in recent years.