Londinium (aka Fourplay)

The film's setting is established with a few shots to accompany the strains of The Westminster Waltz. Whitehall viewed from the Blue Bridge in St. James's Park. A similar view appears in 'The Breaking of Bumbo'.

The view from the Blue Bridge, built in 1957. Its days may be numbered as it is due to be replaced by a tribute to the late Queen in 2026. SJ

St. Paul's Cathedral, viewed from the northwest.

Waterloo Bridge and Hungerford Bridge, with Westminster in the background.

The film's four protagonists - sitcom writer Ben (Mike Binder), Allen (Colin Firth), his wife Carly (Mariel Hemingway) and make-up girl Fiona (Irene Jacob) are seen walking along the Southbank Broadwalk SE1.

Neil Kenny found the spot near the National Theatre.

The scene changes to a view across the Serpentine, with Westminster Abbey in the distance.

Neil Kenny captured the view looking East from Serpentine Bridge, where pedalos have taken over.

The four meet up in Hyde Park for a picnic.

Neil Kenny found the distinctive tree and the view towards the Hyde Park Barracks tower, admitting that he should have stepped back a little for a better match.

Ben walks with Carly, with the Serpentine Bar & Kitchen in the background.

Neil finds the Serpentine Bar & Kitchen doing good business.

Just ahead, Allen walks alongside Fiona. In the distance, the Park Tower, Knightsbridge, can be seen.

Neil Kenny had to avoid goose poop to take this comparison, in which the Dell Bridge and the top of the Park Hotel can still be seen.

Time passes, as we see "Atalanta", the Francis Derwent Wood Memorial on Chelsea Embankment Gardens, with Albert Bridge in the background.

The tree has encroached on the left. SJ

Fiona tells Allen that she has fallen for Ben, as they walk along Hill Street W1, passing the Coach and Horses pub.

On the corner with the northern end of Hays Mews. The southern end of the short mews also has a corner pub The Running Footman seen in 'Escape Route'. SJ

Allen and Carly feed the ducks.

This is the south side of The Serpentine in Hyde Park which matches in certain respects. It may have been filmed at the same time as capture 54 which also uses this spot. SJ

Fiona takes Ben on a tour of London by taxi. They drive past Claridge's, Brook St, London W1.

The flags are out for the 80th anniversary of VE Day. SJ

Next we see the Crimea War Memorial in Waterloo Place SW1.

Taken from the middle of Pall Mall with traffic necessitating a rather snatched shot. SJ

Followed up by the Statue of the 1st Marquess of Westminster, Wilton Crescent SW1...

I found it tricky to include any foreground trees. A similar angle was seen in 'The Fallen Idol' where 31 Wilton Crescent on the left was the centre of action. SJ

...and Admiralty Arch, in The Mall SW1.

Neil Kenny supplies a broader view from the safety of a traffic island.

The film takes a flashback to Ben's arrival in London a year previously. Carly welcomes him. 25 Bruton Street W1, looking west.

The sun is a little lower here as we look towards Berkeley Square. SJ

Carly dodges a taxi. 25 Bruton Street, looking east.

The post box is still there. SJ

The scene shifts to the Southbank, looking across the Thames to Charing Cross Station.

On a "ridiculously hot" day, Neil Kenny matched the view across to the far bank from Queens Walk with the Royal Horseguards Hotel and believes the ship on the northside has moved westward a little to a different mooring.

As Ben walks with Carly they discuss her marriage to Allen. Southbank Broadwalk SE1.

The same spot provided by Neil Kenny.

Ben's agent (Christopher Lawford), on a flying visit, tries to convince Ben to return to LA. Bruton Street W1, walking past Berkeley Square House with the buildings opposite reflected in the windows.

A successful reflection shot! SJ

Ben takes Carly to the theatre. St. Martin's Lane WC2 facing south, with the Duke of York's Theatre on the right.

There were originally two lorries in the way but one kindly moved. SJ

They cross Russell Street WC2 towards the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane...

That coach wasn't moving. Theatre Royal's colonnade on the right and The Fortune on the left. SJ

They reach the theatre. Wyndham's Theatre, Charing Cross Road WC2.

Looking north from the corner with St. Martin's Court. SJ

Ben loved the play, Carly hated it. Wilton Place SW1, facing north.

Some hoarding nearly spoils the view of the tree. SJ

Carly says goodnight to Ben. 27 Wilton Place.

Little change here. SJ

Chelsea Bridge is shown, as the action moves forward two years, and Ben marries Fiona.

Allen walks out of a pub following a disagreement with his scriptwriters. The Rising Sun, 61 Carter Lane EC4.

Still in business. SJ

Following a bout of fisticuffs, Allen heads off down Burgon Street EC4, facing south towards The Cockpit.

A pan left brings this view. SJ

Facing southwest on Knightsbridge SW1, with the Mandarin Hotel to the right.

Busy as usual. SJ

The camera pans left to the restaurant at the Park Tower Casino, where the friends celebrate the book deal Fiona has secured.

Some redesigning to the left but Harvey Nichols across Seville Street is intact. SJ

Ben and Fiona's apartment. The western end of St. George's Terrace NW1.

The sun has risen upon the terrace. SJ

As the four visit the British Museum, WC1, a bored Carly sits outside.

This is the museum's north entrance on Montague Place, guarded by Frampton's stone lions. SJ

Carly walks with Ben. Dave W knows his Berkeley Square, London W1 where he strolls with or without Nightingales here looking out from the gardens to 43 Berkeley Square. (RL)

And it's a real phone box on the west side of the square. SJ

At a band concert in the park, Ben proposes the four spend a weekend in a B&B. Kensington Gardens Bandstand.

On a "ridiculously hot day" Neil Kenny managed to capture the bandstand that had previously eluded his attempts.

Allen arrives at the station where Fiona is waiting. Waterloo Station SE1.

Many changes here in Neil Kenny's shot, but he believes that the stairway is obscuring the required background which is located opposite platform 19 (seen in the next capture). The space to the left is access to stairs whilst the right is now a Foyles. 

Both of their partners phone to say they can't make the trip. Allen leaves with Fiona. Waterloo Station.

Neil Kenny found that platform 19 fitted the bill.

The country house where they are booked in. Latimer House, Church Lane, Latimer, Chesham, Hertfordshire.

Allen and Fiona arrive at the house and spend the weekend together. Unconfirmed location.

Carly and Ben discuss Allen and Fiona's romance. Following on from Capture 33 Dave W is able to place this on the other side of the gardens facing 20 Berkeley Square. (RL)

Yes the south-east corner. SJ

The four discuss their changed relationships over a picnic. Primrose Hill NW3.

A popular aspect from the one of six protected viewpoints in London on top of Primrose Hill. A location list might well include, most recently, Netlix's 'One Day' following in the heels of 'The Fourth Protocol', 'Dream Demon', 'The Tall Guy', 'Jack & Sarah', 'Keep the Aspidistra Flying', 'Career Girls', 'If Only', 'Maybe Baby', 'Breaking and Entering', 'Kiss Kiss (Bang Bang)', 'Three Blind Mice', 'Suzie Gold', 'Driving Lessons', 'The Wedding Date', 'Imagine Me & You' and 'Penelope'. And for rock fans the cover of 'Between the Buttons' (Rolling Stones) was shot in the early morning and Paul McCartney is said to have met 'The Fool on the Hill' here. SJ

Allen marries Fiona. Grosvenor Chapel, 24 S Audley St, London W1, viewed from Aldford Street.

A challenge for my camera's focus depth. SJ

Allen and Fiona cuddle up close. In the background, the Former City of London School, Victoria Embankment EC4.

The same spot from the Southbank Broadwalk, SE1. SJ

One year later, Ben and Carly pass a bookshop displaying Fiona's bestseller. Primrose Hill Books. 134 Regent’s Park Road NW1.

The bookshop still thrives. SJ

The scene shifts to the Serpentine in Hyde Park.

The north bank of the Serpentine looking South. Neil Kenny found that the absence of buildings from the skyline prevented finding an exact match.

A view of the Dell Bridge on the Serpentine.

Neil shows the view from the Serpentine Longwater side towards the Stephen Waterfall offshoot. Heavily zoomed in order to get the angle.

Ben tells Carly he has given her the lead role in the play he has written. The Serpentine, Hyde Park.

Not exactly the same boat or even the angle but it captures the essence. Taken from the south side, looking north. SJ

Ben's agent tries to get him back to LA. Dave W says "can place our chums outside 13 Hill Street as we look towards The Ascott apartment block, now demolished." (RL)

A south-westerly view with the portico of no.15 to the left. The Ascott was also seen in Fumo di Londra caps 104-105. SJ

Fiona and Allen discuss a failed marriage therapy session. Collingham Gardens, facing west at the corner of Bramham Gardens SW5.

The sign is splendidly helpful. SJ

Back home, Fiona threatens to leave Allen. 27 Wilton Place SW1.

I'm not sure where the foreground hedge went! SJ

Ben's agent tries to convince Carly to move to LA. Hyde Park, with the Grand Entrance on the right.

Looking west at Hyde Park Corner by the Wellington Arch (out of shot on the left) with the Lanesborough Hotel on the left, the Duke of Wellington statue mid-left and Burton's screen on the right. SJ

Ben accuses his agent of stealing his girl. The north east corner of Berkeley Square with Bruton Street heading off to the right, Dave W in his comfort zone still. (RL)

Bruton Street is on the right but I must admit I'm having problems reconciling this. I turned around from the following comparison. SJ

The agent walks away. The opposite direction from the previous capture, looking down towards Berkeley Street and the Ritz Hotel in Piccadilly. No doubt Dave W would follow this with 'Tea at the Ritz'. (RL)

The Ritz is in evidence on Piccadilly. On the right Lansdowne House, the office block seen in I'll Never Forget What's 'isname, was demolished in 2023. SJ

Fiona leaves for Rome. 27 Wilton Place SW1.

Looking towards the crescent seen in Hanover Street. SJ

As they feed the ducks, Allen tells Ben he's decided to go to Rome with Fiona.

The Serpentine Bridge can be made out in the background, and the life buoy seems to match, so I'm on the south side. SJ

Fiona prepares to board her train. Waterloo Station

Neil Kenny supplies the comparison from platform level.

To Fiona's surprise, Allen arrives. Waterloo Station.

Neil gained entry to Platform 14 for this shot.

Carly prepares to leave for LA. 1 St. George's Terrace NW1 facing west.

Looking west on a lovely morning. SJ

Ben watches as Carly leaves. Regent's Park Road at the corner of St. George's Terrace.

From the east end of the terrace. SJ