LONDON

used in the films, as well as where Ian Fleming
himself lived. And at the end, the London Duck
Tour’s amphibious vehicle splashes down in the
river, opposite the real MI6 building! Or take
one of the Brit Movie Tours’ James Bond Tours.
Even better, you can recreate Bond’s speedboat
rides along the Thames (as seen in The World
is Not Enough, and also SPECTRE) on the
ThamesJet RIB-boat, which performs
thrilling ‘aquabatic’ stunts
and reaches speeds of 40mph.
If you still have the energy,
climb over The O2 in the Up at
The O2 experience. Back when
it was called the Millennium
Dome, Pierce Brosnan’s Bond
also got to the top, though he did so
rather more dramatically – by falling
on to it from an exploding hot-air balloon.
GO ALL IN!
By now, you might be feeling exhausted. But ask
yourself: would James Bond go to bed early with
a cup of hot chocolate? This is London, and the
night is still young: spend a Bond-like evening in
the casino – white tux entirely optional.
Les Ambassadeurs Club near Hyde Park
Corner is where Sean Connery first uttered
the immortal line ‘The name’s Bond, James
Bond’, but as that is a members’ only casino,
head to the Hippodrome Casino on Leicester
Square. It has four floors of table and
electronic gaming, including Casino
Royale-style poker in the PokerStars
Live room on the top balcony. It’s
easy to spot if someone’s bluffing.
It’s all in the eyes…
Finally, before bed (ideally with
a glamorous spy you’ve managed
to pick up at the Baccarat table),
celebrate your winnings with
a nightcap. Belvedere vodka,
Bollinger Champagne, Château
Angélus wine and Macallan whisky are
featured in SPECTRE. Try them all and you’ll
really be seeing double… oh seven.
Clockwise from top left: Brit Movie Tours; Up at
The O2; play poker at the Hippodrome Casino; outside
the Hippodrome Casino Inset: Daniel Craig
BRIT MOVIE TOURS COURTESY OF BRIT MOVIE TOURS; UP AT THE O2 COURTESY OF THE O2; CARDS © THINKSTOCK; HIPPODROME CASINO COURTESY OF HIPPODROME CASINO; DANIEL CRAIG © THINKSTOCK
18 | LONDON PLANNER