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Top 10 Bridget Jones' London locations
Bridget Jones’s Diary
1. Bridget Jones’ apartment
The marvelous Bridget Jones (Renee Zellweger) lives on the first floor, just above The Globe Tavern. This one has nothing to do with The Globe Theater, located a few hundred meters away. Often described as one of the nuggets of the Borough Market, the Globe is a typical English pub. Hidden away at the foot of one of the pillars of London Bridge, it’s the perfect place to have a pint or a bite to eat. The pub is proud of its famous neighbourhood, which it promotes on its website. However, although the exteriors were shot in the street, the interior of the apartment is a set built at Ealing Studios.
Address: 8 Bedale Street, London, United Kingdom
2. Borough Market
To make her famous blue soup, Bridget goes to the Borough Market. Dating back to the 13th century, this is one of the oldest food markets in the world, but also one of the largest. Helen Fielding’s novel is a free and modern adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Colin Firth was the perfect choice for the film, since he already played Darcy in the series adapted from the novel. Curious anecdote: Hugh Grant and Colin Firth were born with only one day apart: the first on September 9, 1960 and the second on the 10th.
Address: 8 Southwark Street, London, United Kingdom
3. Greek restaurant
In one of the key scenes, there is a fight between Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) and Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) outside a Greek restaurant. The Kalimera has since closed and been replaced by a wine bar, but the street remains recognizable. The scene was not choreographed, but largely improvised by the two actors. Bridget’s famous sheathing panties, worn by Bridget to conceal her curves and signed by Hugh Grant, was sold at auction for £2,000. Following the film, sales of winning panties increased by 17%!
Address: Bedales of Borough Market, 5 Bedale Street, London, UK
4. Cantina del Ponte
Daniel Cleaver’s inviting Bridget to the Cantina del Ponte. The Italian restaurant is known, among other things, for its view of the Thames and Tower Bridge. The district, made up of former warehouses converted into housing and offices, was one of the capital’s historic ports. Renée Zellweger was 32 years old at the time of shooting, the same age as Bridget Jones in the book. The American actress was not, however, the first choice of the production to play the famous bachelor. Kate Winslet, Nicolette Sheridan, Tilda Swinton and Kristin Scott Thomas have all been considered for the role.
Address: 36c Shad Thames, London, UK
5. Royal Exchange Buildings
After confessing his feelings to him, Mark stumbles upon Bridget’s diary. Shocked by its contents, he leaves the apartment. Bridget goes after him in the snowy streets of London, wearing only panties and a vest. The scene, and the film, of course, ends with a kiss. But this last sequence was shot in a remote street, between the fountain and the Mont Blanc shop. In reality, this would have forced Bridget to run more than a mile under the snow to reach Darcy on the other side of London Bridge…
Address: 10/11 Royal Exchange, London, UK
6. Daniel Cleaver’s apartment
With its spectacular views of the Thames, Tower Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral, the building is one of the most prestigious buildings in London. To prepare for her role, Renée Zellweger worked for three weeks in a publishing house, Picador, under the pseudonym Bridget Cavendish. She managed to blend in completely, managing to pass off her accent as a genuine British accent.
Address: Clink Wharf, London, United Kingdom
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
7. Kensington Gardens
During their memorable fight in the park, Cleaver and Darcy fall overboard in the central pond. The park is a real memorial garden with many monuments in honour of famous British figures such as Queen Victoria, Peter Pan, the Jenner statue or the Diana Memorial Playground. Daniel Cleaver’s character appears only briefly in the novel, but the role of Hugh Grant in the first film was so striking that it was fleshed out for the rest.
Address: London, United Kingdom
8. The Serpentine Gallery
More rivals than ever, Mark Darcy and Daniel Cleaver set the stage again and fight vigorously in front of the Serpentine Gallery’s Architectural Pavilion. The duel ends in the fountain of the Italian Gardens. A stroll in Hyde Park will be the perfect opportunity to visit the Serpentine Galleries. Two museums of contemporary art are located in the gardens of Kensington, an architectural marvel offering a variety of programmes for young and old.
Address: Kensington Gardens, London, United Kingdom
Bridget Jones: Baby
9. The Supreme Court
Mark Darcy is a renowned lawyer who is often called upon to plead in this prestigious court. Located at the corner of Parliament and Big Ben, the Supreme Court is open to visitors, revealing its early 20th century Gothic Revival architecture to tourists. It is advisable to book in advance. The production made a point of keeping the identity of the father of Bridget’s baby a secret until the very last moment, even from the film crew. Three different endings were filmed and even the actors did not know the real one until the final editing.
Address: Little George Street, London, United Kingdom
10. London Aquatics Centre
Bridget participates in a water aerobics class under the benevolent gaze of Jack (Patrick Dempsey), one of the two potential fathers of her child, the second being the indomitable Mark Darcy. When Bridget almost drowns, Jack only listens to his courage and dives in to rescue her. The aquatic center is part of the Stratford Olympic Park, built for the 2012 Summer Games. Unlike the first two films in the saga, this episode is not adapted from Helen Fielding’s third novel, Mad About the Boy (2014), but based on an original screenplay by Helen Fielding and David Nicholls. Renée Zellweger does a lot of her own stunts (parachute jumping, skiing and various falls, etc).
Address: Olympic Park, London, United Kingdom
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London's guide to the 1000 cult locations for films, series, music, comics and novels
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Harry Potter, James Bond, Bridget Jones, The Persuaders!, Black Mirror, The Crown, Dr Who, Mister Bean, Monty Python, Sherlock Holmes, Blake and Mortimer, The Beatles, David Bowie, The Who, Amy Winehouse, Dracula, Oliver Twist…
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Passionné par la culture pop depuis son enfance, ses références vont de Donald Duck à Batman en passant par Marty McFly. Fantripper dans l'âme, voyager sur les traces de Ghostbusters, James Bond ou des héros de romans comme Cotton Malone fait partie d'un séjour idéal et réussi !