Spice World

In the opening scenes the Spice Girls emerge to waiting fans. BBC Television Centre viewed from Wood Crescent, London W12. (SR)

Unrecognisable apart from the left. I should be further back on Love Rose Way but there are a lot of obstructions in the open area. SJ

Assistant Deborah (Claire Rushbrook) looks on as the Spice Girls continue signing autographs for their fans. BBC Television Centre, now redeveloped and known as the Television Centre (SR).

Panning left, there is a surviving building at the BBC Centre, in the, er, centre. SJ

With the girls onboard, the Spicebus sets off on its job taxiing the girls around. Seen here crossing Blackfriars Bridge with St Paul's Cathedral prominent to the left.

Taken from the jetty running from the Oxo Tower, this lacks the height that a view from the building would afford. SJ

The Spicebus traveling along Great George Street in Westminster SW1.

The Elizabeth Tower has been clad in scaffolding for quite some time. SJ

The Spicebus driving alongside the River Thames on Chelsea Embankment in SW3.

Rather a lot of traffic but at least one can see Bazalgette's 1874 ornate lamppost of "climbing boys" celebrating the opening of Chelsea Embankment the previous year. SJ

The Spicebus arriving along Kensington Gore in Kensington SW7.

Approaching from the east. SJ

Spice Girls being interviewed by Jonathon Ross outside The Royal Albert Hall, Kensington. The location is seen in many films including 'The Thirty Nine Steps' from 1978, 'Diamonds for Breakfast', 'Joanna', ‘Hennessey’, 'Seven Keys', ‘The Knack . . . and How to Get It’ and ‘Interlude’,

The girls have been replaced by a festive Christmas tree. SJ

The Film Producer (George Wendt) and Grayden (Mark McKinney) sitting in his apartment with views of Battersea Power Station across the River Thames.

The Spicebus on Broad Sanctuary, Westminster SW1 with the Methodist Central Hall on Storey Gate to the centre.

The trees have spread but the hall will perhaps "viva" forever. SJ

Joining Ludgate Hill in the City of London EC4 after passing St Paul's Cathedral.

Replacing Peter's off-angle May '19 snap with a better angle but, in retrospect, not enough road! SJ

Outside the fictitious Daily Event newspaper building . . . Tris advises that this a view of the former King's Reach Tower, now South Bank Tower, from Hatfields SE1.

The front entrance and approach road in front has all but disappeared since the early 2010s with new building seen here on the right so this is the best one can do. SJ

. . . and looking upwards for better identification of King's Reach Tower, recognised by Tris.

Tilting up. SJ

Kevin McMaxford (Barry Humpries) editor of Daily Event sitting in his office with views of London's BT Tower.

The Spicebus still in motion, turning right . . .

Tris advises that the Spicebus is descending Ladbroke Grove before turning into Ladbroke Gardens W11 and that the junction features in 'Robbery.'

. . . then along this road . . .

No bus sweeping into Ladbroke Gardens from Ladbroke Grove in Tris's view.

. . . to pass a flower stall.

Tris provides this comparison shot of the Turquoise Triangle building at 222 Westbourne Grove W11.

Meanwhile, the Film Producer and Grayden have a working lunch with Clifford (Richard E Grant) somewhere near Tower Bridge.

This is conjecture but taken in the, er, vicinity of Tower Bridge very close to the next capture. SJ

Grayden with Tower Bridge behind him.

My confidence is higher than the previous with this match. SJ

The Spice Girls' Spicebus rounds Lansdowne Crescent W11, about 200m in from Ladbroke Grove. Identified by RL.

Tris trained his lens on the same crescent.

The Spicebus traveling along a grand terraced street. St Peter’s Notting Hill as viewed from Stanley Gardens located by RL.

Kaylee Morgan supplied this now capture of Stanley Gardens.

The Spicebus turning out from Lucan Place in Chelsea SW3 onto Fulham Road. Behind the bus is Michelin House, the original UK Headquarter of the Michelin Tyre Company.

A bit of sun glare here. SJ

The Spicebus whizzes past a group of people eating al fresco. Richard Lovejoy recognised The Bluebird at 350 King’s Road in SW3.

Graham Etchell visited the café states that it originally opened as a garage in 1923 for the Bluebird Motor Co. At time of opening it was the largest car facility in Europe. In the 70’ & 80’s it was Carlyle Garages and was the then London County Council Ambulance Station. (SJ)

Continuing on, the Spicebus passes along this tree lined street ... Well it took me a few years but this is further east down King's Road opposite Sydney Street with 181-3 on the left, now the flagship store of Italian furniture firm Lema. (SJ)

This shot would be better replicated from a bus (11, 19, 22, 211, 319). SJ

When the Spice Girls are misquoted in the press and the Catholic church is upset, the Archbishop (Richard Briers) speaks out from outside Westminster Cathedral on Francis Street SW1.

I managed to catch a Wannabe Knievel passing by. SJ

Having flown out to Milan, Italy, the Spice Girls run through one of their songs. This is actually Broadgate Circle, Broadgate EC2.

Not much room for the girls to strut their stuff. SJ

The Spice Girls march back to their rooms at their hideaway. RL identifies this as Loseley Park near Guildford in Surrey, also seen in 'The Legacy', 'The Counterfeit Plan', 'Silent Dust', 'A Dandy in Aspic' and 'I was Monty’s Double'.

Emerging from a telephone kiosk is actor Bob Hoskins.

Treating some fans to a day out, the girls head to London's Docklands.

Aerial view of the Spicebus arriving to drop the girls off.

Taken from ground level. Looking south onto Millwall Inner Dock, with the Glengall Bridge in the far distance. The location has changed with this part of the elevated railway now housing South Quay station, which was relocated from further west on Marsh Wall in 2009.

The girls treat two young fans to a song and a trip on the waters of one of London's remaining docks. Millwall Inner Dock in London E14 identified by RL.

Clifford and Deborah look on from a bridge at the girls speeding around the dock. Glengall Bridge on Pepper Street, Millwall Inner Dock E14 found by RL.

This is taken, looking north, from the bridge rather than the water but it does illustrate how building has now hidden Pelli's One Canada Square which had dominated the view since its completion in 1991. SJ

The Spice Girls walk away from outside the Rendezvous venue they first performed for Clifford. Robin Brigham identifies this as the building at the corner of West Smithfield and Farringdon Street in London WC1.

This replaces Robin's Google from April 2020 taken off angle, but at least with some elevation to rise above the renovation work, from a 63 bus. Going back, the venue was much established as Bubb's Restaurant. SJ

The girls sit down having some down time alongside the River Thames with the Albert Bridge in the background. Other views of the bridge appear in 'Touch and Go', 'The Mutations', 'Passport to Treason' and 'The Party's Over'.

The bridge remains the same. SJ

The Spicebus dashing back to The Royal Albert Hall passes down Coventry Street off Piccadilly Circus.

From Coventry Street. SJ

The Spicebus gets everywhere passing by Eland House, Bressenden Place SW1. This building was only two years old when the movie was made being home to the Department of the Environment and Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. In 2012 it was sold off to be redeveloped four years later and renamed Verde.

It's extraordinary how many modern buildings have been replaced in the Victoria area. SJ

A very familiar location world-wide. The Spicebus passes Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square, London WC2.

The roof I needed access to is behind and above me. SJ

Of course the Spicebus couldn't miss a run past Buckingham Palace. Westminster, London SW1.

No change, not even of guards. SJ

Final stop for the Spicebus, dropping the girls off in Prince Consort Road, Kensington SW7 where the girls seen running up the steps . . .

The south side was redeveloped between 1998 and 2004. SJ

. . . towards a few remaining fans entering The Royal Albert Hall.

As part of the redevelopment mentioned above, a new south porch was added. SJ