Mary Poppins Returns

Early one morning, Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda) extinguishes gas lamps along the River Thames. The story is set in the mid-1930s and this is a digital view of River Walk with the Houses of Parliament drawn in the right distance.

Singing "Lovely London Sky" as he goes, the cockney lamplighter cycles on to the next lamp. Facing south on Blossom Street E1 identified on the movie-locations.com website.

Reaching with his stick, Jack turns down the gas on a lamp in the market. Blossom Street in Spitalfields.

The light grows as Jack rides past Tower Bridge. This is the area between Petty Wales and Tower Wharf in EC3.

A brighter aspect. SJ

Boys run alongside Jack as he cycles down a narrow alley. Dartmouth Street seen from Queen Anne's Gate in SW1 with Old Queen Street on the left and the Two Chairmen public house at the corner of Lewisham Street to the centre. The location also features in 'The Big Sleep' and 'Keep the Aspidistra Flying'.

Now. SJ

The song continues as the cheery chap reaches St. Paul's Cathedral. A digital addition forms the left distance in this view of St. Paul's Churchyard in EC4.

Some of it is real. SJ

As Jack turns the corner from St. Paul's Churchyard, the shot tilts up the West Front of the Cathedral on Ludgate Hill.

Half sun half shade. SJ

To the sound of bells, the dome of the Cathedral comes into view. St. Paul's Cathedral on Ludgate Hill EC4.

In the winter sun, looking at its best. SJ

Cycling through a park, the Lamplighter nears Cherry Tree Lane. Martin Stiles discovered that this lawn is in the grounds of Heatherden Hall at Pinewood Studious.

Jack reaches Cherry Tree Lane where widower Michael Banks and his Children live in the house that is about to be repossessed by the Fidelity Fiduciary Bank. The location was created at Shepperton Studios in Surrey,

George Banks (Joel Dawson) finds his father's old kite after it blows into the park opposite the house. The bridge stands in the grounds of Heatherden Hall at Pinewood Studios in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire.

As the wind grows stronger, Jack helps George reel in the kite to find Mary Poppins holding onto it. The grounds of Heatherden Hall with the background bridge that can be seen in a number of productions including 'Bugsy Malone', ‘Please Turn Over’, ‘The Impersonator’, ‘Games that Lovers Play’ and 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’.

Rain pours down as Michael Banks and his sister Jane make their way to the Fidelity Fiduciary Bank where they meet chairman William Weatherall Wilkins who tells them that they have until midnight of Friday to pay the arrears on their house. The Royal Exchange at the corner of Threadneedle Street and Cornhill in EC3.

Couldn't get the height so I settled for the steps and base of the statue. SJ

With George on the handlebar and Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt), John (Nathanael Saleh) and Annabel (Pixie Davies) balanced across his ladder, Jack carries them all to town. Chandos Place WC2.

Taken from ground level but I tried to include some inclination. SJ

Mary Poppins asks Jack to pull over right ahead. Bedfordbury in WC2 seen from Chandos Place with William IV Street in the left background.

Right of The Marquis pub on the corner is Brydges Place which also appears in also in 'Runners'. SJ

Jack looks towards a narrow alley that he's never noticed before as he brings the bicycle to a halt. Facing eastward from the junction of Bedfordbury and Chandos Place.

Really looks rather a modern street in reality. SJ

The five of them enter the dark passageway. Brydges Place looking out onto the junction of Bedfordbury and Chandos Place.

The gang would've had to evade the rubbish boxes here. SJ

Mary, Jack and the children approach small door with a sign above reading Topotrepolovsky's - All Repairs Large and Small Fix-It Shop. Facing west on Goodwin's Court WC2.

Looking towards the exit to St Martin's Lane. Also seen in 'Side by Side'. SJ

Following their encounter with Mary Poppins' eccentric cousin, Jack takes them on to the Fidelity Fiduciary Bank when they spot Jane Banks (Emily Mortimer) ahead. Looking west along Cowley Street in SW1.

Unchanged on the whole with road touched up and street sign blacked out in the orginal. SJ

On her way to a rally, Jane turns when she hears her niece and nephew call out. In front of number 13 Cowley Street.

Plants added. SJ

Mary insists that Jack take her to the rally as the bank is just around the corner. Cowley Street, looking across Great Peter Street towards St. John's concert hall on Smith Square SW1 at the end of Lord North Street.

Some scaffolding to the left and a white van parked in front of the concert hall mar the scene. SJ

Reaching the bank, Mary and the children go inside to return Mr. Banks' briefcase. The Royal Exchange appears in many films including 'Aksar', 'What's Good for the Goose', 'The Salvage Gang', 'Scrooge' from 1951, 'A Touch of Class', 'Wanted for Murder' 'Two Gentlemen Sharing' and 'Monsieur Ripois'.

Rather a lot of work needed to be done to eliminate the background. SJ

Mary takes the children from the bank after George, John and Annabel are chased when they overhear Wilkins talking about their home.

In the foggy darkness they come across Jack and tell him that they are lost. The gateway beneath the lamp, Gate 4, separates Devereux Court from New Court in EC4.

A daytime shot. SJ

Jack leads Mary and the children as they "Trip a Little Light Fantastic". Middle Temple Lane in EC4.

More tripping the light fantastic. Middle Temple Lane with Fountain Court to the left.

With festive decoration rather than props. SJ

Other Lamplighters join in the song and dance routine. Outer Temple running between Essex Court EC4 and Strand WC2.

In Jan '23 this was behind building works but it's now restored to to its former glory. SJ

Gas lamps illuminate the scene before the cast enter an underground fantasy world at the studio. Milford Lane, WC2 located by SJ.

All those lamps must have been props. Looking at Milford Lane with Temple Place behind me. SJ

As midnight on Friday approaches, a taxi travels along a street. Steve Randall found the main square at Somerset House in WC2.

Down at ground level. (SR)

Mist rolls across a lake in the park.

On Cherry Tree Lane, Removals Men load the Banks family's possessions into a pantechnicon.

After Michael notices that his old kite is repaired with the torn up share certificate he has been searching for, Jack calls on his friends to help. Middle Temple Lane EC4, a location featured in several films including 'The Ware Case', ‘The Girl on the Boat’, 'The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu' and 'David Copperfield'.

And now. SJ

Cut to Temple Gardens on Middle Temple Lane EC4.

Unlit. SJ

Lamplighters pour through the the arch of Temple Gardens as they race to prevent Big Ben from chiming.

Tilting down. SJ

At the bank, Wilkins and his associates Hamilton Gooding and Templeton Frye wait for midnight as the Lamplighters cycle around the Victoria Memorial. The junction of Constitution Hill and The Mall in SW1.

I wonder whether the traffic lights were removed or digitally tippexed. SJ

Led by Jack, Mary and the children, the Lamplighters approach "Big Ben". King Charles Street SW1 with a digitally added clock tower in the distance.

A daytime shot and no clock tower. SJ

With five minutes left, Michael and Jane speed towards the bank in the pantechnicon. King Charles Street running between Horse Guards Road and the junction of Whitehall with Parliament Street.

I missed this shot several months ago. The north side of the street. SJ

As Mary Poppins moves the minute hand of "Big Ben" back, Michael and Jane draw up outside the bank. Facing west on Cornhill in EC3.

A daytime view. SJ

Wilkins checks his pocket watch as Michael and his sister run to the doors of the bank. In the foreground stands the Statue of James Henry Greathead on Cornhill.

From ground level with Greathead's legs. SJ

Mr. Gooding and Mr. Frye are ordered by Wilkins to run down and lock the banks doors. Looking out from the Royal Exchange at the junction of Threadneedle Street and Cornhill with Mansion House in the right distance.

It was quite tricky matching the perspective between the columns and the background. SJ

Outside the bank, Michael and Jane fly the kite at Wilkins' window. Looking up at the Royal Exchange from Cornhill EC3.

Taking this comparison, Howie San points out that the clock face has been digitally altered from reality.

As the story draws to its conclusion, blossom fills the scene on Cherry Tree Lane. A set built at Shepperton Studios in Littleton, Surrey,