The Ladykillers (1955) - Filming Locations

Watch the Quick Preview Video below, and scroll down for information about the filming locations.

Featured Filming Location Photo

The King's Cross Area In London Then And Now
A scene from the 1955 comedy movie The Ladykillers.

Post World War II London vs Today

This is a view of York Way at the intersection of the A501 near the King's Cross railroad station in London.

The frame from the movie on the left shows the gritty nature of this area, with the buildings covered in layers of soot from decades of air pollution - mostly the burning of coal. The billboards covering the windows of the building at the corner are also prominent.

In the 21st century view on the right, all the buildings have been scrubbed clean and the billboards removed. And every building that was captured on film in The Ladykillers in 1955 is still standing today!

Historical Production & Location Reference

Film: The Ladykillers (1955)
Stars: Alec Guinness, Peter Sellers
Studio: Ealing Studios
Featured Historical Landmarks:
  • St. Pancras & King's Cross: Iconic London railway infrastructure that frames the film's urban atmosphere.
  • Argyle Street: The quintessential residential street that serves as the street leading to the house of Mrs. Wilberforce.

Production & Preservation Note: Alexander Mackendrick's Ealing masterpiece, The Ladykillers, captures a postwar London that has seen significant redevelopment. While the areas around some parts of St. Pancras and King's Cross have evolved drastically since 1955, many of the filming locations remain just as they were when they were captured on film for this movie.

The Plot

A charming British "black comedy" film starring Alec Guinness, Herbert Lom, Peter Sellers and Katie Johnson as Mrs. Wilberforce. The plot involves a gang of criminals (led by Alec Guinness) robbing a bank's armored car and using kindly little old lady Mrs. Wilberforce to (unwittingly) transport the stolen money back to her house, where the gang has rented a spare bedroom (they have told Mrs. W. that they are a string quartet needing a rehearsal room).

There's a lot more to the plot, but you'll have to watch this great movie to see!

The Filming Locations

In this Quick Preview then and now filming location video, we visit two of the movie locations around London. Not surprisingly (it's London after all), many of these locations are easily recognizable today.

The first is just both inside and just outside of the King's Cross Station in the Borough of Camden. The second filming location is on Argyle Street, just south of the historic St. Pancras Station, about a five minute walk from King's Cross.

If you live in the area or will be visiting, these are two filming locations that are easy to get to and should be included on your tour of London filming locations.

More Filming Locations Here!

Browse through all of the other filming locations on the site here:

Filming Locations Then and Now - Site Listings

Member Exclusive - Full "Then and Now" Documentary Video and Photo Gallery

Those of you that have made a small donation to the site and are a current member can view the complete filming locations then and now video documentary in the More Movies Filming Locations Videos section of the site by clicking here to Login and then clicking here:

The Ladykillers - Complete Filming Locations Video


And don't miss the complete photo gallery of filming locations then and now here:

The Ladykillers - Complete Filming Locations Photo Gallery


Back to Chris Bungo Studios Quick Preview Videos Page