Children of Men

Leaving a coffee bar where patrons watch news about the death of Diego Ricardo, the world’s youngest person, Theodore Faron (Clive Owen) walks along a filthy London street with the drink that he has purchased. Looking east along Fleet Street in EC4 with the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral in the distance.

A quieter street captured during London's lock-down. PW

Theo pauses to liven up his coffee with whisky before a blast rips through the bar, killing or maiming the customers inside. Facing west on Fleet Street with St. Clement Danes’ church in the right distance. Fleet Street is seen in many other productions including ‘The Day the Earth Caught Fire’, ‘Strange Bedfellows’, 'The Rough and the Smooth', ‘Front Page Story’, ‘Defence of the Realm’, ‘Sea Wife’, ‘The Third Visitor’ and ‘A Run for Your Money’.

Taken from about the same position. PW

Telling his boss that he has been affected by the death of Diego, Theo takes the train out of London to see his friend Jasper Palmer. Alresford railway station in New Alresford, Hampshire.

Even if the station was dressed for the film, care, attention and maintenance has continued in the ensuing 20 years. (RL)

Passing Security Guards and cages of illegal immigrants after alighting from the train, the bureaucrat leaves the station. Alresford station on Station Road, New Alresford. The station also features in ‘Bullseye!’.

To achieve the angle that yellow car just had to be in shot. (RL)

In the station car park, Jasper Palmer (Michael Caine) opens his arms to welcome his friend. The car park at Alresford station on the Mid Hants Railway in Hampshire.

Where isn't parkimg a problem? (RL)

Making their way to Jasper’s hidden home, Theo moves branches from the entrance of the concealed driveway. The website www.british-film-locations.com advises that this is the test track at Longcross studios in Longcross, Surrey. The track also appears in ‘Psychomania’.

Following an afternoon spent relaxing with his friend, Theo is woken by his alarm at 7.59 am the next morning. Mike Martin identifies this as the view from Coniston House on Wyndham Road, Camberwell SE5 looking north towards central London with the BT Tower in the distance. A previous resident of the twenty storey block Mike adds that this is taken from about half way up.

Passing a row of heavily armoured Police Officers, the Ministry of Energy employee walks towards work. Ravenscroft Street in E2.

The same elements of the location remain. PW

Theo passes cages filled of illegal immigrants. Facing the Dorset Estate from Ravenscroft Street with James Hammett House in the left background and George Lovelass House behind.

A less dystopian view. PW

The shot moves to find belongings being thrown from the upper floor of a block of flats. James Hammett House on the Dorset Estate in E2. The building was seen under construction during 1957 in ‘The Secret Place’ and a view of one of the upper floors features in 'Legend'.

Looking up at James Hammett House from Ravenscroft Street. PW

People lay flowers at a makeshift shrine. Looking from Crosby Square in EC3 with the spire of St. Andrews Undershaft Church in the top right distance, now obscured by the Leadenhall Building. nicknamed the "Cheese Grater", which was completed in 2014. The location also features in 'Silver Dream Racer'.

Mark O'Neill provides a fine series of three shots governed by building works, park vehicles and suspicious security officers. That one's fine Mark. (RL)

Luke (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Patric (Charlie Hunnam) jump out on Theo. Undershaft as noted in Simon James’s London Film Location Guide, which is also seen in ‘Match Point’.

Another good angle Mark, just a pity about the temporary ironwork. (RL)

The two ‘Fishes’ bundle Theo into a van and drive away. Undershaft in the City of London with St. Helen's church, Bishopsgate in the left background.

They are all fine Mark, maybe you are less suspicious to security officers than you think. (RL)

At the Fishes hideout, Julian Taylor (Julianne Moore) asks her estranged husband if he can get transit papers for a 'Fugee'. British Film Locations identifies this as Chatham Historic Dock’s number 3 slip in Chatham, Kent.

Chatham it is. SJ

When the former activist refuses to help Julian, a bag is pulled over his head and he’s manhandled back to the van. Chatham Historic Dockyard in Kent.

Not quite the correct angle but there seemed to be visitor restrictions on the left. SJ

The van carries Theo back into London.

Theo takes the bag from his head after the Fishes release him. The corner of Cable Street and Dock Street in E1 with Royal Mint Street ahead, Leman Street to the right and the viaduct carrying the Docklands Light Railway overhead.

Braving the rain for us Mark O'Neill 'popped out' to capture the scene for us today, much the same except for the background building that has sprung up in the interim. (RL)

A reverse point of view sees Theo picking up the bus fare that Patric threw at him. Looking east along Cable Street from the junction of Leman Street, Dock Street and Royal Mint Street. This section of Cable Street also features in 'River Beat', 'A Prize of Gold' and 'On the Fiddle'. (RL)

Having covered the previous capture Mark only had to turn around whilst on the spot for us. (RL)

Followed by a tuk-tuk, a limousine passes through grimy streets. Looking northward on Great Scotland Yard SW1. The street also appears in ‘The IPCRESS File’, ‘Morning Call’, ‘The Crooked Sky’ and ‘Atonement’.

A little bit of redevelopment on the right side. SJ

The Bentley Arnage passes a pair of mounted Police Officers. Great Scotland Yard with The Admiralty Building on Whitehall in the distance.

This may require a revisit, given the parking obstructions... And here's the improvement a week later as promised. SJ

Demonstrators rally in Trafalgar Square. Looking along Whitehall towards the Houses of Parliament from Trafalgar Square WC2.

Not quite as busy. I was fortunate to see this scene being filmed early on a Sunday morning many moons ago. SJ

The Bentley turns towards a barrier that’s raised as it approaches. Facing Admiralty Arch and The Mall in SW1.

Cluttered only by road signs. SJ

Sitting in the back of the car, Theo experiences the relative tranquillity of St. James’s Park. Admiralty Arch at the eastern end of The Mall. The famous landmark appears in many films including ‘Duffy’, ‘84 Charing Cross Road’, ‘The Betrayal’, ‘Quatermass 2’, ‘Nowhere to Go’ and ‘That Riviera Touch’.

An almost forgotten world passes by the window of the Bentley. The Mall passing through St. James’s Park in SW1.

A rather empty Mall. SJ

Crossing the Thames, the limousine reaches the Ark of Arts where Theo’s cousin is based. A composite image created by CGI featuring the bridge at Longcross Studios in Longcross, Surrey and Battersea Power Station in Nine Elms SW8. Other views of the Power Station can be seen in ‘Code Name: Emerald’, ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’, ‘Sitting Target’, ‘A Dandy in Aspic’, ‘Mix Me a Person’, 'Up the Junction' and 'Richard III'.

Theo is met by an Official (Barnaby Edwards) when he gets out of the car. This is the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern on Bankside SE1.

Phil Evans paid a visit to the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern.

Over dinner, Nigel (Danny Huston) listens as his cousin asks if he can provide transit papers. Sharp eyed Dave W points out that this is actually a reversal of the view from the top of Battersea Power Station for the shore line shows "a bit of Pimlico and rather more of Millbank, SW1". (RL)

After accepting £5000 for getting the papers, Theo watches as the greyhound he bets on comes in first. Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium on Plough Lane SW17.

Picking up his winnings, Theo leaves the stadium after being approached by an Old Woman. The entrance to Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium which was closed and demolished in 2017 to make way for apartments and a football stadium.

Indicating that Theo should follow, the Old Woman (Valerie Griffiths) waits for a bus. The high rise blocks in the background appear to have been built by the 'cut and paste' method.

On the top deck of the bus, Theo and Julian begin to have an argument.

Theo follows Julian from the bus. Cheshire Street in E2 with since demolished buildings in the left background.

Not even the cracks in the pavement match up. PW

Julian makes her way over a footbridge. Three Colts Corner on Cheshire Street. Other lengths of the street can be seen in 'Last Christmas' and '‘Nineteen Eighty-Four'.

So the past's future did turn out very similar. PW

The footbridge links Cheshire Street with Fleet Street Hill and Pedley Street.

Obviously the same location. PW

Halfway across the bridge Julian gives Theo a kiss. Facing north on the bridge that crosses the railway running between Liverpool Street and Bethnal Green stations. The bridge also makes an appearance in 'Face' as well as 'Naked' and 'Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels'.

There's clearly a wider palette of colours available these days. PW

On the south side of the bridge, Luke meets Julian and Theo. Fleet Street Hill in Shoreditch, beneath the remains of the viaduct that once carried trains into Bishopsgate Goods station. A similar view is seen in 'Tube Tales'.

Less rubbish, more paint. PW

Getting into the back of a Renault Avantime, Theo is introduced to Miriam and Kee. Looking along Fleet Street Hill towards Pedley Street in E2, a shot similar to one seen in 'Face'.

St. Anne's church on Underwood Road still stands to the south. PW

On the journey to Canterbury, a burning car is pushed into the road ahead by an armed gang. Bourne Woods near Farnham in Surrey located by British Film Locations.

John Tuttlebee returned to Bourne Wood to capture the same curve of the road and the line of distant trees.

Escaping from the gang and the Police who soon arrive on the scene, the travellers arrive at Thomasz and Emily’s farm. Stocker's Farm, Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire.

Theo watches as Miriam and Kee are led inside the house. Stocker's Farm was also a filming location for ‘The Lair of the White Worm’, 'Dark Places', ‘Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason’, ‘The Other Side’ and 2010's 'Never Let Me Go'.

A while later, Miriam (Pam Ferris) takes Theo to a barn where Kee shows him that she’s pregnant.

When Patric arrives at the farm, the opportunity to leave under cover of darkness as taken and the Renault is rolled down the hill to the road with Theo, Miriam and Kee inside.

Fleeing from the relative safety of Jasper’s hideaway, Theo looks down from the woods as Fishes arrive looking for Kee. Bourne Woods in Surrey.

Theo, Miriam and Kee make their way across a barren landscape to meet a friend of Jasper’s. Mentioned in "Lights, Camera, Action!" by East of England Tourism, the location is confirmed by John Tuttlebee as Lion Creek, just off Creeksea Ferry Road leading to Wallasea Island in Essex.

Visiting the salt marsh, John managed to get close without getting muddy.

More computer added chimneys belch smoke into the distant sky as the camera pans with the Fiat. Lion Creek off Creeksea Ferry Road to the north-east of Rochford identified by John Tuttlebee . . . .

. . . who also provides this proof.

The sun rises on the derelict school where Jasper has arranged that his dealer Syd will meet Theo.

Waking up alone in the car, Theo enters the building.

In the playground, Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey) sits on a swing.

Theo raises his hands when approached by border guard Syd (Peter Mullan).

From a Homeland Security checkpoint, a bus departs for Bexhill Refugee Camp with Theo, Miriam and Kee on board.

The camera moves to follow as the bus joins the road to the coast.

In darkness, the bus reaches Bexhill on Sea where Miriam is taken from the bus whilst saving Kee when her waters break unexpectedly. Bruneval Barracks, part of Montgomery Lines on Pennefathers Road alongside the A325 in Aldershot, Hampshire. Information from movie-locations.com

With Theo holding Kee, the bus moves forward into a brightly lit shed.

Theo and Kee enter the chaotic refugee camp to look for Syd’s contact, Marichka. The Royal Connaught Park, Bushey in Hertfordshire, formerly the Royal Masonic School for Boys which closed in 1977.

Finding the statue of a soldier that Syd had mentioned, Theo soon discovers his contact. The Royal Connaught Park off The Avenue in Bushey.

Marichka (Oana Pellea) drives the pair away on her tuk-tuk to find accommodation for the night. The former Royal Masonic School for Boys' buildings also provided locations for other productions including 'Lucky Jim', 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade', 'It's Great to be Young' and 'Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life'.

Inside the building Kee gives birth to a baby Girl.

Escaping after Syd discovers the Baby, Theo falls as Marichka leads Kee away from the building.

The camera follows Marichka, Kee and Theo's progress as they approach a line of Refugees.

The three push a way through the advancing column.

Marichka leads the way to the home of a Georgian family. Greenwich London College at the corner of Calderwood Street and Thomas Street in Woolwich SE18.

Even without the film's touches this still looks rather dystopian today. (SR)

Through the windows of the apartment, Theo sees armed Men on the roof tops opposite.

With Sirdjan (Faruk Pruti) leading the way, Kee is moved from the building.

As Refugees and Troops converge, Sirdjan, Kee, Marichka and Theo take cover in an alley.

A gap in the gunfire allows the four to move out of hiding.

The Water Authority building that leads to safety is found.

Thomasz (Jacek Koman) and Luke appear, followed by Patric.

Kee and the Baby are taken away as Sirdjan, Marichka and Theo wait to be shot by Patric.

The Fishes are distracted when the Military open fire, saving Theo and his companions.

Following the Fishes, Theo takes cover as he attempts to find Kee.

Theo tracks the Fishes down to a high-rise apartment block. On their website, movie-locations.com explain that these scenes were shot at the derelict RAF Upper Heyford in Oxfordshire.

Refugee Gunmen are shot down when they run into view as Theo makes a dash to the building.

Theo takes cover whilst waiting for a chance to enter.

Holding her Daughter in view, Kee is helped from the building by Theo watched by the Soldiers and Fishes who have ceased firing.

As gun shots begin again behind them, Theo leads Kee and the Baby away.

Marichka comes out of hiding to assist.

Theo, Kee and her Baby return to the Water Authority Building where they part company with Marichka before taking a small boat along a tunnel to the sea. The Royal Connaught Park in Bushey, Hertfordshire.

The fatally injured Theo rows Kee and her Baby out to sea to await the arrival of Tomorrow, a ship manned by the Human Project.