84 Charing Cross Road

In 1971, Helene Hanff visits London. Passing the Wellington Arch, Apsley Way, Hyde Park Corner, London W1.

Mirroring the season. SJ

Helene sees Admiralty Arch between Trafalgar Square and The Mall, London SW1.

It looks cleaner. SJ

Not the best shot in the world but included as it shows what used to stand on The Mall just through Admiralty Arch. London SW1.

Buildings alive and well. SJ

The concierge hails a cab for Helene Hanff (Anne Bancroft) outside The Kenilworth Hotel in Bloomsbury.

Some alterations since filming took place. Great Russell Street, London WC1.

Helene looks through the window of Marks & Co's shop that closed in 1970. A studio set included for sake of completeness.

Back to 1949 and the story unfolds in flashback. Ray Edwards spotted Madison Avenue at the intersection with East 92nd Street in New York, New York.

Janette Cotton (JC) found that the lamp post is no longer there.

Helene browses through a copy of the Saturday Review of Literature. Madison Avenue with East 92nd Street in the background identified by Ray Edwards.

The same corner. JC

And spots an advertisement for Marks & Co.'s bookshop in London. Ray remarks that the ‘OK Grocery Store’ in the background occupies 1291 Madison Avenue, it is now known as the ‘OK Market’.

Janette Cotton follows the action past the still trading OK Market store.

The upper floors of 14 East 95th Street, New York, home of Helene Hanff. Steve Randall explains that although East 95th Street is given as Helene’s address in the plot, the actual location here is 15 East 94th Street.

The same balcony. JC

After correspondence begins, a letter is posted from London to Helene. Studio set included for sake of completeness.

Peter provides this view of the real 84 Charing Cross Road showing further changes that have taken place since the comparison for screen capture 36.

A New York Mailman makes deliveries. Facing number 11 East 94th Street located by Steve Randall.

Not much change over 38 years. JC

Packages from London arrive by post. Steve Randall found 15 East 94th Street in New York.

The same row. JC

Helene crosses the street towards a mail box. The intersection at Madison Avenue and East 92nd Street in New York 10128 recognised by Ray Edwards.

Janette Cotton returned to the corner.

Remittance is sent to London, with 12 cents extra for a cup of coffee. Madison Avenue in New York's Upper East Side located by Ray Edwards.

Traffic fills the background of JC's shot.

Detail of the ceiling behind the colonnade of St Martin-in-the-Fields Church in Trafalgar Square WC2.

The same ceiling now.

Tilting from the previous view finds Frank Doel (Anthony Hopkins) walking through the colonnade of St Martin-in-the-Fields Church.

Trafalgar Square, London WC2.

Frank waits for his bus home on Duncannon Street WC2 with St Martin-in-the-Fields Church behind.

A little more cluttered but still the same location.

Frank nears his home in Oakfield Court, Crouch End. Actually Selwyn Court on Church Road, Richmond, Surrey.

No longer crossroads ahead, now a bend. A clearer now shot from Richard Lovejoy (RL).

Frank enters the court where he and his family live. Church Road, Richmond.

The garden has grown but little else has changed. (RL)

Putting out empty milk bottles. Selwyn Court, Church Road, Richmond.

Not the best of angles but I would have had to jump into someones garden. (RL)

Frank queues outside the butchers for rationed meat.

Outside the butchers shop.

Helene watches a fire truck pass her window. Looking towards 16 East 94th Street in New York identified by Steve Randall.

From street level by Janette Cotton.

A young couple outside Helene's apartment. Steve Randall discovered the steps of 20 East 94th Street.

Different railings to the right in Janette Cotton's comparison.

Helene sits in the window of her East 95th Street apartment. The apartment window is that of 15 East 94th Street advises Steve Randall.

JC found that the decorative window surround has been restored.

Helene heads home after working in a warmer building than her 'old brownstone'. Outside 15 East 94th Street, located by Steve Randall.

Janette Cotton kept her feel on the ground fro this view.

Ginny (J. Smith-Cameron) and Ed (Tom Isbell) carry Helene's paperwork. Steve Randall traced this view to that from the door of 15 East 94th Street in New York.

The same background taken from the top of the steps. JC

It's now 1951 and Frank and Nora Doel attend the Festival of Britain celebrations. This appears to be shot in the vicinity of the Jubilee Gardens on the south bank of the Thames. London SE1.

Frank with his wife, Nora Doel (Judi Dench), at the Festival of Britain with the River Thames and the Houses of Parliament in the background. London SE1.

From a similar viewpoint now.

Helene attends Ginny and Ed's wedding.

Frank goes on his travels around the country. As a result of Jonathan G identifying the 1949 Bedford OB with Duple Vista bodywork together with other information I was able to contact Mervyn's Coaches of Micheldever, Hampshire . . . . (RL)

Viewed from the entrance to Glynde Place, with parked cars standing in for the bus. (SD)

The bus pulls up. . . . who operate the coach that still carries the registration HOD 75. An up to date picture of the 29 seater coach can be seen on their website http://www.mervynscoaches.com/home.html As a result, Joshua very generously advised that the location is Lacys Hill, East Sussex . . . .

Lacys Hill in a different season. The trees now slightly obscuring the cottage. (SD)

Frank looks across the road at another stately home as he continues his quest to buy rare editions. . . . and that Frank, standing on Lacys Hill, Glynde, East Sussex with the lych gate of St. Mary's Church to his right, was viewing . . .

The lych gate is just visible behind the summer version of the tree. (SD)

Frank crosses towards the house where he finds a copy of Elizabethan love poems for Helene. . . . the entrance to Glynde Place, Glynde, East Sussex. (RL)

Glynde Place is open to the public for a short season in May and June and the August bank holiday. I was two days too early. (SD)

Helene walks through Central Park after receiving the book of poems on her birthday. Cedar Hill in Central Park, New York, facing buildings on the corner of 5th Avenue and East 79th Street. (SD)

The view from in front of the sapling in the screen capture, which is now a big tree. JC

Marks & Co, at 84 Charing Cross Road. Studio set included for sake of completeness.

The real 84 Charing Cross Road. London WC2.

Helene's friend describes the shop. Studio set included for sake of completeness.

Its election time. Park Road, Richmond, Surrey with St Matthias' Church in the left background.

It was election time in the rest of country but not here in Richmond today. (RL)

The Labour Party canvas for support. Park Road, Richmond.

A lamp post is still in the same place. (RL)

At the polling station. Christ Church Methodist Church on Queens Road in Twickenham, Greater London found by Stanley of the same street who adds that in 1986 when the scene was filmed, the church was scheduled for demolition later that year which sadly went ahead.

The start of a tilt and pan shot. Detail at the base of the spire of St Matthias' Church in Richmond.

As one would expect . . . . . identical. (RL)

Nora Doel helps a neighbour with shopping. Church Road, Richmond, Surrey.

Nora and her friend now use a car! (RL)

Helene chats to Maxine's mother (Betty Low). Facing Carnegie Mansion at number 2 East 91st Street, New York, New York identified by Steve Randall. The building also appears in 'Jumpin’ Jack Flash', 'Daddy Long Legs', 'Marathon Man', 'Arthur' and 'Working Girl'.

Janette Cotton advises that the building is now the 'Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design museum', and here, the front is obscured by 'artistic structures'.

Helene walks the dog in Central Park. Unconfirmed location.

The dog runs back to Helene.

Moving on to 1953 and the Doel family brave the elements on Eastbourne Pier in Sussex, which is also seen in 'The Look of Love' and 2010’s ‘Brighton Rock’.

Moving on to 2014 and the sky is still blue. (RL)

The family enjoy time at the seaside. Eastbourne Pier once again.

And neither did we. (RL)

The upper storeys of the Cavendish Hotel on Grand Parade, Eastbourne. Rebuilt after bomb damage in WWII, shown in 'Millions Like Us'.

And now. (RL)

Lovely lens flare! A rainy day in Eastbourne. Grand Parade from the band stand.

Now, without lens flare or rain. (SD)

The band plays to a wet audience. Eastbourne Bandstand on Grand Parade.

Now, with chairs laid out for this afternoon's concert. (SD)

Frank and his family shelter from the rain. The bandstand in Eastbourne, East Sussex with the pier in the background.

Now with two extra supporting pillars and some decorative temporary fencing. (SD)

Nora listens as Mary (Zoe Hodges) asks why it always rains at the seaside. Eastbourne, East Sussex.

No rain today Mary. Georgia and her friends were also here in 'Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging'. (SD)

Frank walks to see Tottenham Hotspur play. This looks like Mafeking Avenue in Brentford.

Indeed it is Mafeking Avenue. (RL)

Fans walk past The Griffin public house on Brook Road, Brentford. The pub was also seen in 'The Rainbow Jacket'.

Very colourful now even in winter. (RL)

A closer view of the detail on the wall above the walking fans. The Griffin, Brook Road South, Brentford, Middlesex.

A closer view of the greenery that now covers the wall detail. (RL)

The sign says Paxton Road which is in London N17 . . . . . but it isn't. Jamie Heath locates this as Braemar Road outside Griffin Park, Brentford FC's ground.

Showing just a few changes, Antony Blair replaces Jamie's Google image with this original.

Helene looks at a building being constructed on 2nd Avenue after receiving an eviction notice. Unknown location.

Tilting up to the top of the new block being built. 45 E 80th Street, New York. (SR)

Helene looks up at, what will become, her new home. The distinctive bay window behind her belongs to 52 E 80th Street. New York. (SR)

Frank walks through Cecil Court in London WC2.

The same location now, without rain.

Browsing in Cecil Court off Charing Cross Road in WC2.

No books in this window now.

Frank sits in Soho Square, London W1. The location appears in many productions including 'Emil and the Detectives', 'Burning an Illusion', 'Last Night in Soho' and 'The Sexplorer',

The same square now by Richard Lovejoy who wonders "Who planted that tree just there?"

Frank contemplates life in the 60s with a cup of coffee. Soho Square, London.

No time to contemplate these days, they are all on the mobiles. Now shot by Richard.

Helene sits at the desk in her East 72nd Street apartment. Looking across Central Park from an unknown location with what appears to be the San Remo block in the centre left background.