Maps of Movies
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
Where Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy says it takes place, and where it was really shot.
A London spy story that is shot in Budapest, Istanbul and an old coach works
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Scenes and places
The Budapest cafe meeting that goes wrong (1973)
Control sends Prideaux to Budapest to meet a Hungarian general who claims to know the mole's name. Prideaux realises the meeting is a trap and is shot as he tries to flee. The botched mission gets Control and Smiley forced out of the Circus.
Set in Budapest — Prideaux travels to Budapest to meet a Hungarian general who is said to know the name of the mole. Google Maps · Apple Maps
Budapest stands in for Czechoslovakia, where the story is set in the novel, because Hungary offered a 20% rebate for film productions.
Filmed at Párizsi Udvar Hotel, Budapest (Belváros, Budapest, Hungary) — The interior hall is the cafe where Prideaux is shot. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Filmed at Fisherman's Bastion, Budapest (Buda Castle Hill, Budapest, Hungary) — Exterior shots in Budapest were filmed here; which scene is not stated. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Filmed at Keleti and Nyugati railway stations, Budapest (Budapest, Hungary) — A Budapest train station appears in the Hungary scenes; the production article names the eastern and western stations. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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The Circus: MI6 headquarters (1973)
After the Budapest disaster, Control and Smiley are pushed out and Percy Alleline takes over the Circus with Haydon, Bland and Esterhase. The new leaders are already receiving secret Soviet intelligence under the name Operation Witchcraft. Smiley is left outside the service.
Set in The Circus, Cambridge Circus — The headquarters of British intelligence, nicknamed the Circus. Google Maps · Apple Maps
The film's Circus is the nickname for the headquarters of British intelligence; the real building used for its exterior is in West Kensington.
Filmed at Blythe House, West Kensington (West Kensington, London, United Kingdom) — Exterior shots of the Circus; the building was altered with computer graphics. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Filmed at Inglis Barracks, Mill Hill (Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom) — Studio scenes, including the Circus interiors, were shot in this former barracks. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Smiley's swim on Hampstead Heath
Smiley, forced out of the Circus, swims alone in a London pond. The scene shows him as a man with time on his hands and nothing to do but think.
Set in London — Smiley is shown swimming in a pond; the film does not name where.
Hampstead Heath is a large park in north London with public bathing ponds.
Filmed at Hampstead Ponds, Hampstead Heath (Hampstead Heath, London, United Kingdom) — Exterior scenes where Smiley is shown swimming; the source does not say which pond. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Istanbul: Tarr, Irina and the offer
Tarr tells Smiley about Istanbul, where his lover Irina offered to give up the mole's identity in return for asylum. Hours after he cabled London, the local station chief was murdered and Irina vanished. Tarr's story convinces Smiley the mole hunt is real.
Set in Istanbul — The city where Tarr's lover Irina offered to trade the mole's name for asylum. Google Maps · Apple Maps
The Istanbul scenes were shot over nine days shortly before Christmas 2010.
Tarr reaches the Paris station
Tarr goes to the Paris station and tells London he has vital information about the Circus's security. It is bait for the mole. He takes the risk on Smiley's promise to get Irina back.
Set in Paris — Tarr visits the Circus's Paris station to send London a message. Google Maps · Apple Maps
The Paris scenes were not shot in Paris: a street in Istanbul doubled for it.
The Merlin safe house
Smiley gets the address of the Witchcraft safe house by threatening Esterhase. He then waits there for the mole to warn Polyakov that Tarr is about to blow their cover.
Set in Merlin safe house, London — The London safe house used for Operation Witchcraft, whose address few know.
The safe house scenes were filmed at a former coach works in east London.
Filmed at Empress Coach Works, Corbridge Crescent, Cambridge Heath (Cambridge Heath, London, United Kingdom) — Location of the Merlin safe house scenes. The coordinate is the street, not the building. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Filmed at Kensington Gore, South Kensington (South Kensington, London, United Kingdom) — Scene not identified in the source Google Maps · Apple Maps
Filmed at Queen Alexandra's House, South Kensington (South Kensington, London, United Kingdom) — Scene not identified in the source Google Maps · Apple Maps
Filmed at Imperial College London, physics department (South Kensington, London, United Kingdom) — Scene not identified in the source Google Maps · Apple Maps
Characters
- George Smiley — A retired British intelligence officer asked to find a Soviet mole at the top of the Circus.
- Jim Prideaux — A field agent sent to Budapest to meet a Hungarian general.
- Ricki Tarr — A field agent whose Istanbul story warns of a mole in the Circus.
- Control — The head of British intelligence, who sends Prideaux to Budapest.
Questions answered on the map
- Where was the Budapest cafe shootout really filmed?
- Where is the MI6 'Circus' in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy really?
- Which city really played Paris in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy?