51 Buckingham Gate, SW1

51 Buckingham Gate is not only the address but also the name of this intimidatingly luxurious five-star townhouse hotel. Previously the St James’s Court Hotel, a converted Edwardian block, the hotel’s elaborately decorated courtyard became the exterior of Anthony Hopkins’ London home in the Merchant-Ivory production Howards End.

Trivia: the courtyard's Shakespeare Frieze, illustrating scenes from the plays, is claimed to be the longest in the world.

51 Buckingham Gate

Howards End (1992, dir: James Ivory)