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Information
New York, Paris, Queensland - these are just three of the locations that
the series never visited. Instead of expensive filming in foreign climes, the
Carry On's stuck to their own back yard which was in and around Pinewood
studios. So familiar locations in Maidenhead, Slough, Windsor and (less
commonly) Ealing were utilised, in some cases more than once. So as you
can tell, when it came to locations, every expense was spared.
However, there were times that the story called for something a bit more
exotic. Therefore, the sweeping majesty of India in Carry On Up The Khyber
was substituted by Snowdonia in Wales. The desert in Follow That Camel was
actually Camber Sands in Rye. There were even two trips down to Brighton
for Carry On at your Convenience and Carry On Girls to film the Pier
sequences.
Of course the world has moved on a great deal since the films were made
and naturally many of the locations have changed substantially. For
example Brighton's West Pier, used in Carry On Girls, has fallen into the
sea after many years of neglect. Indeed the pier was in a dangerous state
when filming started back in 1973 and was closed two years later. The
Palace Pier used in Carry On at your Convenience has changed beyond
recognition, as a great deal of the original buildings have been removed.
The old Odeon cinema in Uxbridge seen in
Carry On at your Convenience and the Wundatours shop seen in Carry On
Abroad have both been demolished. The Playhouse cinema seen at the beginning of Carry On
Camping has been modernised, so it's lost a great deal of the charm it
once had.
Thankfully it's not all bad news. Windsor & Eton train station underwent a
major regeneration in the mid 1990's. All the locations used are still
there, but the station looks so much better in the present day. A great
example of sympathetic urban renewal. Apparently it's now a grade II
listed building.
Finally, if you've any pictures of locations that we haven't got, then why
not
contact us!
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