In Bridget Jones' Footsteps: Exploring London

Fans had to wait almost ten years for a sequel to the popular "Bridget Jones" films. The long-awaited fourth installment, "Mad About Him," will be released in German cinemas on February 27th. Just a few weeks after the cinema release in Great Britain, which immediately achieved record results.

The return of Renée Zellweger (55) as the popular but chaotic diarist is the best box office opening of all time for a romantic comedy in Great Britain and Ireland. The hype surrounding the permanently single woman invented by British author Helen Fielding (67) in the 1990s seems to be unbroken even 24 years after the first part.

A hype that is also reflected in London, the home of Bridget Jones. And not just on the famous red double-decker buses, on which the film poster is clearly visible. Numerous film tours, such as BritMovieTours , offer guided tours of the filming locations. Fans can discover both old and new filming locations and follow in Bridget Jones' footsteps.

Borough Market: Where it all began

Bridget Jones' house from the first three films is located right on Borough Market, just a few steps from London Bridge. The typical British brick house can also be seen from the outside in the current film; Bridget has her first date there with her much younger lover Roxter (Leo Woodall, 28).

Selfies in front of the door, where Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant, 64) and Mark Darcy (Colin Firth, 64) have already been waiting, are of course a must. However, fans do not get to see the apartment itself, as the interior shots were filmed in a studio. Instead, the Thai BBQ restaurant "Khao Bird" has been located there since September 2024 with a very special highlight on the drinks menu: the cocktail "Bridget's Blue Soup" with coconut milk and vodka. A tribute to Bridget's legendary failed soup from the first part.

New phase of life in Hampstead

In the new film, Bridget, now widowed, lives with her two children in the upscale district of Hampstead, which is known for its Georgian and Victorian townhouses. On a walk, you can not only discover her new house, but also other filming locations that can be seen in the current film. Flask Walk, a narrow pedestrian alley that borders directly on Hampstead High Street, is a real highlight.

The lively street is lined with traditional pubs, cafes and small shops. For the film, the alley was converted for a winter scene in the middle of summer. Bridget buys a hot chocolate for her daughter here.

Bridget first meets Roxter in the park in Hampstead Heath, just as she is hanging from a large oak tree. The "man tree", as Bridget herself calls it in the film, is located on Parliament Hill, a popular vantage point that offers a wonderful view of London.

The Ottolenghi Restaurant is also located in Hampstead. In the third part, "Bridget Jones' Baby," Jack Qwant (Patrick Dempsey, 59) raves about grilled salmon with pine nut salsa - a dish that the Israeli-British celebrity chef Yotam Ottolenghi - if rumors are to be believed - did not even have on his menu at the time. It was only after the film was broadcast that he created one of his most popular classics from the previously fictional dish.

filming locations in front of well-known backdrops

The "Bridget Jones" series also uses London's most famous landmarks as a backdrop. In the first part, Bridget walks across the crowded Tower Bridge while reading a text message from Daniel Cleaver. The bustling Piccadilly Circus can be seen several times. Here, for example, messages from Bridget's diary appear on the illuminated billboards.

The Royal Courts of Justice, the seat of the central royal courts in London, also play an important role. Human rights lawyer Mark Darcy is working on a high-profile case there, which Bridget is supposed to report on in the first film. However, when she quickly goes to buy cigarettes and snacks, she misses the verdict. The tobacco shop where Bridget takes her fateful snack break is actually opposite the courthouse.

Eldorado for film fans

What began in 2001 with a small apartment above Borough Market has developed over the years into a cinematic declaration of love for London. If you want to find out more about the filming locations of Bridget Jones, you can find more information at VisitBritain.

The official website for tourism in Great Britain has just launched a global film tourism campaign entitled "Great Britain in the spotlight". "Bridget Jones" is just one of many blockbusters that were filmed in Great Britain. London alone, with its numerous filming locations for mega hits such as "Harry Potter", "James Bond" or "Mission Impossible", is a true El Dorado for film fans and, in contrast to the film metropolis of Los Angeles, is only a stone's throw away from Germany...

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