Summer Holiday
Date: 1963
Director: Peter Yates
Production Company: Ivy Films
Stars: Cliff Richard, Lauri Peters, Melvyn Hayes, Teddy Green, Jeremy Bulloch, Una Stubbs, Pamela Hart, Jacqueline Daryl, Lionel Murton, Madge Ryan, David Kossoff, Nicholas Phipps, Ron Moody, The Shadows
Location(s): Athens (Greece), Île-de-France (France), Hertfordshire, Sussex
Region(s): France, Rest Of The World, South East R-Z
Storyline:
A group of London Transport mechanics convert a double deck bus into a mobile home and sing their way across Europe to Greece.
Additional Information:
Screen captures uploaded by Phil Wilkinson
Apologies in advance for the seemingly endless shots of a bus in various locations . . . . looks like the second unit had a better ‘jolly’ than the cast and main crew.
Can you help:
If you have any information regarding this production, the locations or, even better, some comparison shots please contact us. Images submitted must be in Landscape orientation, as would be seen on the cinema screen, not Portrait.
We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.
- Capture 1
- 03 Oct 2014
Bognor Regis pier is shown as the film opens. Bognor Regis in Sussex. Information from Andy Meaden.
Bognor Regis Pier, but now there is a lot less of it. SD
- Capture 2
- 03 Oct 2014
During the titles, a band plays 'Summer Holiday' by the seaside in typically British weather. The Esplanade in Bognor Regis, Sussex with the pier in the right distance identified by Andy Meaden. Will Eleini tells us that the couple sitting on the deckchairs are his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Reddy, who were down from Newport, South Wales on a visit to the family in Southdown Road. "They just happened to be on the seafront at the time." And Carole Leckie spotted her uncle Tony Wayne, real name Bernard Chasemore, leading the band. Carole adds that "He had a band called the Waynettes and also did some acting, appearing in the background of several Norman Wisdom films and as a waiter in 'The Prince and the Pauper' starring Marilyn Monroe."
No rain today and no band either. SD
- Capture 3
- 03 Oct 2014
As the band plays on, the audience enjoys the last of the sunshine. The beach at Bognor Regis with The Esplanade in the background. Located by Andy Meaden.
Now, The Esplanade has been extensively redeveloped. SD
- Capture 4
- 03 Oct 2014
Spots of rain start to fall. Bognor Regis, in what was Sussex at the time of filming but West Sussex since boundary changes in 1974.
The flats on the right have replaced the shops and amusement arcades which were also seen in 'The Punch and Judy Man' and 'The Leather Boys'. SD
- Capture 5
- 03 Oct 2014
Umbrellas are produced as the rain gets heavier. Facing west on Bognor Regis beach. Location found by Andy Meaden.
Standing on the same spot now you find yourself level with The Esplanade. SD
- Capture 6
- 'Now' required
Rain continues to pour as the scene changes to London Transport's bus overhaul facility where Don and his mates work. Aldenham Bus Overhaul Works seen from Elstree Hill South in Elstree, Hertfordshire. Other views of the works can be seen in 'The Secret Man'.
- Capture 7
- 'Now' required
The film turns to colour as Don drives towards the camera with the bus that will be used for a trip across Europe. The now redeveloped Aldenham Works, Hertfordshire. The houses in the background stand on Sullivan Way, Elstree.
- Capture 8
- 28 Sep 2021
The Boys, and the Girls that they meet en route, drive through France. Neil Rigby finds this part of the route to be 233 Route Nationale 10, 7831 Coignieres. (RL)

This Google Earth View from Neil shows just how much the road has been widened. (RL)
- Capture 9
- 'Now' required
Driving around the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The French scenes appear to have been shot by the second unit.
- Capture 10
- 02 Oct 2021
Another snap for the bus family album. Thanks to Neil Rigby we can now add a caption to the album picture saying that it is the entrance to Chateau De Dampierre. 2 Grande Rue, Dampierre - En- Yvelines 78720 (RL)

Neil provides a Google Earth View to support his identification. (RL)
- Capture 11
- 09 Nov 2020
The red London bus continues its journey through France. Chris Bond advises that this is Place Felix Faure in the town of Rambouillet, Île-de-France.

And Chris also provides proof that it's the previously unidentified location. Image copyright Google.
- Capture 12
- 10 Aug 2018
At last . . . . the bus stops and an actress gets out. Andy Meaden locates this as near the entrance of The National Garden of Athens in Greece and 'Arch' Andrews pinpoints the spot as close the the gates leading to Leoforos Vasilisis Amalias.

Mark Harrison provides an up to date shot without a No. 9. (RL)
- Capture 13
- 'Now' required
Don (Cliff Richard), Sandy (Una Stubbs), Steve (Teddy Green), Edwin (Jeremy Bulloch), Cyril (Melvyn Hayes), Angie (Pamela Hart), Mimsie (Jacqueline Daryl) and a disguised Barbara Winters (Lauri Peters) enjoy a song opposite the bus. With The National Garden of Athens identified by Andy Meaden, 'Arch' Andrews adds that this is near the gate opening onto Leoforos Vasilisis Amalias, near St. Paul's Anglican church, on the western side of the gardens.
- Capture 14
- 28 Sep 2021
Off we go through France again . . . . . Neil sees this as 'a bit further up the road from Capture 8, namely, 33 Route Nationale 10, 78690 Les Essarts-le-roi. (RL)

Providing the Google Earth View Neil draws our attention to how wide the pavement was at the time of the original capture. (RL)
- Capture 15
- 10 Aug 2018
Barbara sings with Grazina Frame's voice at a lakeside. Andy Meaden found Lake Marathon or the Marathon Reservoir near the town of Marathon to the north-east of Athens.

Mark managed to include more of the dam structure. (RL)
- Capture 16
- 03 Sep 2019
"Are we nearly there yet?" . . . . Vasileos Constantinou Avenue in Koropi, East Attica located by Stelios Diamantis.

To prove the previously unidentified location, Stelios also points us to this modern view. Image copyright Google.
- Capture 17
- 10 Aug 2018
The bus and crew arrive in Athens, Greece.

Mark reveals a very redeveloped Athens where buses can clearly still go against the flow of traffic. West side of Syntagma Square looking south along Filellinon. (RL)
- Capture 18
- 10 Aug 2018
Don and Barbara alight to be greeted by the locals who have heard about the journey.

Mark captured the same spot . . . and they say buses come along in two's! West side of Syntagma Square looking west along Ermou. (RL)
- Capture 19
- 28 Jun 2018
Stella (Madge Ryan) and Jerry Winters (Lionel Murton) arrive in Athens to find their daughter. Othonos on the south side of Syntagma Square in Athens.

The same sloping location. PW
- Capture 20
- 10 Aug 2018
Don sings about losing Barbara with The Acropolis in the background. A similar view from Philopappou Hill above Athens can be seen in 'La coda dello scorpione'.

Mark found a suitable location to obtain a very similar shot. (RL)
- Capture 21
- 28 Jun 2018
The Shadows dance and play 'Summer Holiday' at the end of the film. Ray E. confirms Andy Meaden's identification of Syntagma Square in Athens with the Parliament Building in the background.

Looking east in Syntagma Square. PW
- Capture 22
- 16 Aug 2018

Mark provides this additional capture taken during the end titles advising that this scene was shot in Vouliagmeni, not far from Athens.

And here's Marks comparison of the location as it looks now.

