Bond ... James Bond
 

I'm going to London in a few weeks with a 10-year-old James Bond fanatic and am wondering if there are any 007-type activities on offer? I know the Science Museum had a Bond exhibition but it closed in April. Anyone know of anything similar?

Thanks, Pumblechook

If you are looking for famous Bond locations, the MI-6 building (the location of Bond's office in the Pierce Brosnan films) is on the river Thames. In one of the films (Goldeneye?), Bond launches a speed boat from an upper floor onto the Thames. For a great view of the building, go to the Tate Gallery (NOT the Tate Modern), and it is across the Thames just to the south. Some years ago, we found it by accident as we left an Underground station and walked north along west bank of the Thames to the Tate Gallery.

Great idea for travel with a child. I recall taking ours to Chantilly and they thought it was just a castle until they realized that "View to a Kill" had been filmed there. Suddenly it was something.

Question? Are the travel details in the Bond tales accurate? If so they would make good tour guides.

There is a book called James Bond's London that is a guide to all the sites in London that were used in the films or the books. I didn't buy it, but it got good reviews.

:)

I am afraid the travel tales in the films are not accurate. In from Russia with Love the great Cistern of Istanbul leads to Bond s friend s office, and the Direct Orient express fails to go through Bulgaria.

In an early Bond film we are in M?s office, and the view from the window shows us that we are on the first floor of the Treasury building facing Parliament Square. I take it that Judy Dench as M ordered a move to the place opposite the Tate.

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I forgot to say that the sort of places where Bond shopped for accoutrements were the shopping arcades that run north and south of Piccadilly, and Jermyn Street.

Ben Haines, London

If you are in London on a Monday, make sure your son catches the new TV show, Spooks, on BBC 1 (9 pm). It's a series about modern day high security agents (MI 5). Very slick and some interesting story lines.

The Imperial War Museum has a permanent exhibition called "the Secret War" which focuses on "the clandestine world of espionage, covert operations, and the work of Britain's special forces" (as the museum's website describes it). I seem to recall that there was a lot of reading of wall texts involved in the exhibit, so it may not be ideal for a 10-year-old. However, there's a lot of other stuff at the Imperial War Museum that a kid that age will appreciate, so a trip there won't be a waste of time even if he doesn't like the secret war exhibit.

The museum also has special activities for children and families, which are listed on its website (http://www.iwm.org.uk/lambeth/index.htm)

Thanks everyone. Lots of good ideas, as usual.

An exhibition of boats used in the Bond films are on show until the end of 2003 at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, Hampshire, not far from the South Coast.

http://www.beaulieu.co.uk/ (click on the James Bond Experience section)

Another interesting website:
http://www.ianfleming.org/mkkbb/iff/

You could hire an Aston Martin like James'

http://www.astonmartincarhire.com/

I don't they really have ejector seats though.