Daily Express Building, 121 Fleet Street, EC4

1961’s The Day The Earth Caught Fire is a surprisingly downbeat and detailed sci-fi, predicting global warming, which goes to extremes after nuclear tests tilt the earth’s axis. The film also contains the priceless credit: ‘Beatnik music by Monty Norman’.

Much of the realism comes from the decision to film in the real office of The Daily Express, a black glass deco box which is by far the most striking building on Fleet Street. The newspaper editor is actually played by Arthur Christiansen, the Express’s editor for 25 years, who also acted as technical advisor.

Although the Express has moved out, the office still stands, unchanged. Peer through the windows to see the extraordinary silver and gold lobby, which looks like the set for a lavish 1930s RKO movie of Tutankhamun – The Musical.

Gone, though, is Harry’s, the real bar where the journalists gather, which stood across the street.

The Day The Earth Caught Fire (1961, dir: Val Guest)