Montagne de Bueren, a 374-step staircase in Liege, Belgium ()
During spring break a few years ago, my family decided to take a jaunt up to Edinburgh, Scotland for a few days. Unbeknownst to me, I inadvertently booked our lodging on Cockburn Street. I was swiftly informed by my husband and teens that a good chunk of the battles between the Children of Thanos (Thanos’ cronies), Wanda Maximoff (the Scarlet Witch) and Vision in “Avengers: Infinity War” had taken place across the street from the apartment. Here are a few spots to check out in Europe where filming took place for various Marvel movies. Warning: there may be a few plot or spoilers ahead if you haven't watched these films before.
“Captain America: The First Avenger” – U.K. Takin place in gritty 1940s Brooklyn, it’s hard to fathom scenes shot anywhere but New York. However, the majority of the first Captain America was filmed in the U.K. Neighborhoods in Manchester doubled as the streets of Brooklyn. Take a stroll down the Stanley Dock in Liverpool and you’ll be walking along the Brooklyn waterfront. Hike through Bourne Wood in Surrey, where the army encampment scenes took place.
“Iron Man 2” – Monaco While the majority of the second Iron Man saga was filmed in New York and California, there’s a sequence set in postcard-picture worthy Monte Carlo, Monaco. The action takes place during the Monaco Grand Prix, when Ivan Vanko unleashes his weapons on unsuspecting drivers. Catch the next race in this sun-drenched city Sunday, May 28, 2023.
“Thor: The Dark World” – Iceland and U.K. Moving from the dusty sands of New Mexico, this Thor installment takes place in the mystical realm of Asgard and London. The opening scenes of Jane Foster’s awkward lunch date happen at the OXO Brasserie atop the OXO Tower in Southbank. Much of the wooded action was filmed in the Bourne Wood in Surrey. The Royal Naval College in Greenwich is all but destroyed as the villainous Malekith lands his craft across the Thames. Stunning scenery from the Skógarfoss Waterfall and outlying areas of Reykjavík, Iceland lend themselves to Asgard and Svartalfheim.
“Guardians of the Galaxy” – Belgium and U.K. With most of the film taking place in space, it’s hard to imagine filming taking place anywhere but a studio or sound stage. However, plenty of sequences were shot in the U.K. and Belgium. The Liège-Guillemins Railway Station servicing the Belgian city of Liège doubles as the ultra-modern pedestrian plaza on Xandar. Likewise, the Millennium Footbridge in central London is the same bridge in which Xandarians attempt to flee the city after coming under attack from Ronan the Accuser. Need a little breath of fresh air? Head to Tilsey Farm in Bramley, England – the site of Yondu’s crash landing in the forest clearing.
“Avengers: Age of Ultron” – Italy and U.K. The initial battle sequence of the second Avengers film takes place again in Bourne Wood and nearby Hawley Wood. However, the infiltrated Sokovian Hydra research facility is actually the stunning Fort Bard located in Aosta Valley, in the northwestern Italian Alps. Waltz through Steve Rogers’ vision with Agent Peggy Carter at the Rivoli Ballroom in south London, or glimpse the great halls of Asgard from Thor’s vision at the Priory Church of St. Bartholomew the Great, also in London. Surprisingly, the sleek exterior of the new Avengers headquarters in upstate New York is the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Art at the University of East Anglia in Norwich.
“Captain America: Civil War” – Germany and Iceland
The film opens in Siberia with Steve Rogers’ long-lost BFF Bucky Barnes transforming into the Winter Soldier. Siberia, in this case, is actually Vik, the southernmost village in Iceland. As we again meet Earth’s mightiest heroes discussing the Sokovia Accords at the U.N. in Vienna, they’re actually hanging out at the Sony Center in Potsdamer Platz, Berlin. If you’ve driven through the Messedamm Underpass (also in Berlin) you’ll be cruising the same street as the infamous underground chase scene in Bucharest. The climactic action scene at the Leipzig/Halle Airport was actually filmed at the airport — with a lot of help from CGI.
“Avengers: Infinity War” – U.K. With the previous films leading up to the beginning of this two-part universal battle and race to prevent the notorious supervillain Thanos from collecting all six infinity stones, our heroes are scattered about the Earth (and a few other realms as well). While the majority of this epic action flick was filmed in studios, as mentioned above, an early battle sequence was shot on the streets of Edinburgh, Scotland. Walk along the picturesque Cockburn Street to see where the fighting began. As you stroll along the Royal Mile (between Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyrood), you’ll see the dramatic towers of St. Giles Cathedral, the city chambers and Parliament Square where Vision and Glaive duke it out. The fight ends at Waverley Station, when the rebel Avengers (Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff and Sam Wilson) lend a hand.
