Vauxhall Cross tube station
Encyclopedia
Vauxhall Cross is a fictional London
, England
tube station
shown in the 2002 James Bond
film Die Another Day
. Several previous Bond films had featured satellite MI6 offices in varying locations around the world (such as an Egypt
ian tomb, a submarine
, a South America
n monastery
, and the sunken cruise ship Queen Elizabeth
); in this case it is an abandoned tube station, not far from where MI6's main headquarters is situated.
In the film, Bond (who at this point in the film is on the run from MI6), mysteriously receives a key to a door on the southeast end of Westminster Bridge
, walks down a flight of stairs and finds himself inside the station where he encounters his superior, M
, and they conduct a secret meeting. The station appears to be in use primarily by the Q-Branch of MI6 as an auxiliary testing facility for new equipment. The quartermaster of Q Branch, known as Q
, is shown to have a virtual reality
room, a shooting range, as well as a storeroom for gadgets used by Bond in previous missions (in keeping with the anniversary theme of Die Another Day, all past gadgets shown on screen come from previous Bond films dating back to 1962). One of the tube tunnels has been converted into a garage where the virtually invisible stealth
Aston Martin V12 Vanquish
is stored.
Vauxhall Cross may have been inspired by Down Street tube station
, which was used as a government shelter during World War II
. In the film a visible trackside line diagram places Vauxhall Cross on the Piccadilly line where Down Street was, listing the stations as:
Actually, Down Street is some 2 km (1.2 mi) west of the Westminster Bridge location shown in the film, and 2.6 km (1.6 mi) north-west of the real Vauxhall Cross, the location of MI6's real-life headquarters, as well as the actual Vauxhall
Victoria Line
station. Alternatively, the same line diagram would be broadly consistent with a separate - though unusually long - branch running off the Piccadilly line
between Hyde Park Corner and Down Street/Green Park.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
tube station
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
shown in the 2002 James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
film Die Another Day
Die Another Day
Die Another Day is the 20th spy film in the James Bond series, and the fourth and last film to star Pierce Brosnan as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond; it is also the last Bond film of the original timeline with the series being rebooted with Casino Royale...
. Several previous Bond films had featured satellite MI6 offices in varying locations around the world (such as an Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian tomb, a submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
, a South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
, and the sunken cruise ship Queen Elizabeth
RMS Queen Elizabeth
RMS Queen Elizabeth was an ocean liner operated by the Cunard Line. Plying with her running mate Queen Mary as a luxury liner between Southampton, UK and New York City, USA via Cherbourg, France, she was also contracted for over twenty years to carry the Royal Mail as the second half of the two...
); in this case it is an abandoned tube station, not far from where MI6's main headquarters is situated.
In the film, Bond (who at this point in the film is on the run from MI6), mysteriously receives a key to a door on the southeast end of Westminster Bridge
Westminster Bridge
Westminster Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge over the River Thames between Westminster on the north side and Lambeth on the south side, in London, England....
, walks down a flight of stairs and finds himself inside the station where he encounters his superior, M
M (James Bond)
M is a fictional character in Ian Fleming's James Bond series, as well as the films in the Bond franchise. The head of MI6 and Bond's superior, M has been portrayed by three actors in the official Bond film series: Bernard Lee, Robert Brown and since 1995 by Judi Dench. Background =Ian Fleming...
, and they conduct a secret meeting. The station appears to be in use primarily by the Q-Branch of MI6 as an auxiliary testing facility for new equipment. The quartermaster of Q Branch, known as Q
Q (James Bond)
Q is a fictional character in the James Bond novels and films. Q , like M, is a job title rather than a name. He is the head of Q Branch , the fictional research and development division of the British Secret Service...
, is shown to have a virtual reality
Virtual reality
Virtual reality , also known as virtuality, is a term that applies to computer-simulated environments that can simulate physical presence in places in the real world, as well as in imaginary worlds...
room, a shooting range, as well as a storeroom for gadgets used by Bond in previous missions (in keeping with the anniversary theme of Die Another Day, all past gadgets shown on screen come from previous Bond films dating back to 1962). One of the tube tunnels has been converted into a garage where the virtually invisible stealth
Stealth technology
Stealth technology also termed LO technology is a sub-discipline of military tactics and passive electronic countermeasures, which cover a range of techniques used with personnel, aircraft, ships, submarines, and missiles, to make them less visible to radar, infrared, sonar and other detection...
Aston Martin V12 Vanquish
Aston Martin V12 Vanquish
The Aston Martin Vanquish was a grand tourer, designed by Ian Callum and manufactured by Aston Martin. The Vanquish was unveiled at the 2001 Geneva Motor Show and was produced from June 2001 to September 2004 with the later Vanquish S being produced from September 2004 to July 2007...
is stored.
Vauxhall Cross may have been inspired by Down Street tube station
Down Street tube station
Down Street, also known as Down Street , is a disused station of the London Underground's Piccadilly line which closed in 1932. During World War II it was used as an air-raid shelter, notably by Winston Churchill and his War Cabinet.-History:...
, which was used as a government shelter during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In the film a visible trackside line diagram places Vauxhall Cross on the Piccadilly line where Down Street was, listing the stations as:
- Vauxhall Cross
- Hyde Park CornerHyde Park Corner tube stationHyde Park Corner is a London Underground station near Hyde Park Corner in Hyde Park. It is in Travelcard Zone 1, between Knightsbridge and Green Park on the Piccadilly Line.-History:...
- KnightsbridgeKnightsbridge tube stationKnightsbridge tube station is a London Underground station in Knightsbridge , The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is on the Piccadilly Line between South Kensington and Hyde Park Corner, and is in Travelcard Zone 1.-History:...
- (Brompton RoadBrompton Road tube stationBrompton Road tube station is a disused station on the Piccadilly Line of the London Underground. It is located between Knightsbridge and South Kensington.-History:...
and South KensingtonSouth Kensington tube stationSouth Kensington is a London Underground station in Kensington, west London. It is served by the District, Circle and Piccadilly lines. On the District and Circle lines, the station is between Gloucester Road and Sloane Square, and on the Piccadilly Line, it is between Gloucester Road and...
missing) - Gloucester RoadGloucester Road tube station-Deep-level station:By the beginning of the 20th century, the MDR had been extended to Richmond, Ealing Broadway, Hounslow West and Wimbledon in the west and to New Cross Gate in the east...
- Earl's CourtEarl's Court tube stationEarl's Court tube station is a London Underground station in Earls Court. The station is located between Earls Court Road and Warwick Road . It is on the boundary of Travelcard Zone 1 and 2 and is in both zones....
- Barons CourtBarons Court tube stationBarons Court is a London Underground station in West Kensington, Greater London. This station services the District Line and the Piccadilly Line. The station is located on Gliddon Road, a short distance from Talgarth Road in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham...
- HammersmithHammersmith tube stationThere are two London Underground stations called Hammersmith:* Hammersmith tube station * Hammersmith tube station -See also:* Hammersmith & Chiswick railway station...
- (Turnham GreenTurnham Green tube stationTurnham Green is a London Underground station in Chiswick in west London. The station is located on Turnham Green Terrace, but the actual green is much closer to Chiswick Park station. The station is served by the District and Piccadilly Lines although Piccadilly Line trains normally only stop at...
missing) - Acton TownActon Town tube stationActon Town is a London Underground station in Acton, west London, served by the Piccadilly and District lines. The station is at the junction of Gunnersbury Lane and Bollo Lane and is in Travelcard Zone 3.-Services:...
Actually, Down Street is some 2 km (1.2 mi) west of the Westminster Bridge location shown in the film, and 2.6 km (1.6 mi) north-west of the real Vauxhall Cross, the location of MI6's real-life headquarters, as well as the actual Vauxhall
Vauxhall station
Vauxhall station is a National Rail, London Underground and London Buses interchange station in central London. It is at the Vauxhall Cross road junction opposite the southern approach to Vauxhall Bridge over the River Thames in the London district of Vauxhall...
Victoria Line
Victoria Line
The Victoria line is a deep-level London Underground line running from the south to the north-east of London. It is coloured light blue on the Tube map...
station. Alternatively, the same line diagram would be broadly consistent with a separate - though unusually long - branch running off the Piccadilly line
Piccadilly Line
The Piccadilly line is a line of the London Underground, coloured dark blue on the Tube map. It is the fifth busiest line on the Underground network judged by the number of passengers transported per year. It is mainly a deep-level line, running from the north to the west of London via Zone 1, with...
between Hyde Park Corner and Down Street/Green Park.
See also
- List of James Bond gadgets
- List of James Bond vehicles
- List of fictional rapid transit stations