LA Filming Shooting Self-Guided Driving Tour

Tour Details

Type
Driving
Duration
2-3 Hours
Audio Stories
35
Deep Dives
4

Welcome to the Los Angeles Tour of filming locations

Welcome to the narrated driving tour of Los Angeles Filming Locations by Action Tour Guide!

Are you ready to turn your phone into a personal tour guide? This app offers a fully-guided experience – just like a local giving you a personalized, turn-by-turn tour.

About the Tour

With up-close looks at famous filming locations across Los Angeles, this tour puts you in the director’s chair! As the beating heart of the film industry, just about everywhere in Los Angeles has starred on the big screen at some point. This tour shows you the best of the best.

This tour features locations from The Dark Knight Rises to La La Land and beyond. No matter what your tastes (or your schedule), there’s something for you in sunny LA. Want to see the haunted hotel from American Horror Story? Done. How about the site of thrilling action sequences like the famous shootout in Heat or a superpowered bank robbery in Spider-Man 2? We’ve got you covered. Or maybe you’re looking for something more old-fashioned, like the lagoon from Gilligan’s Island. Yup, that’s in Los Angeles too!

And the best part? You get to choose which locations to visit and what order you visit them in! That means no waiting around with a tour group at places that don’t interest you. Just go straight to the spots you most want to see!

The tour includes the below stops and more:

Chinatown
Union Station
City Hall
Bradbury Building
The Last Bookstore
650 S Spring St
Palace Theatre
Cicada Club
Millennium Biltmore
Pacific Dining Car
Echo Park Lake
Music Box Steps
The Virgil
The Vista
John Marshall High School
Messhall Kitchen
Ennis House
Griffith Observatory
Bronson Canyon
Hollywood Sign

Starting Point Address: 990 N Hill St STE 206, Los Angeles, CA 90012

What You'll See

North Spring Street & Ord Street
This intersection was the shooting location for the tragic climax of Roman Polanski’s Chinatown, one of the greatest films noir ever made. A staple of Hollywood cinema since the 1940s, film noir blended the cynical, hardboiled American crime fiction of the 20s and 30s with striking, moody cinematography inspired by German Expressionist filmmaking. Film noir stories often follow highly flawed protagonists who find themselves embroiled in conspiracies and complicated investigations far beyond their reach.
Los Angeles Union Station, 800 N Alameda St
Look on your right is Union Station, the busiest train hub in the entire western United States. It has been featured in dozens of films and television shows over the decades, but only occasionally as an actual train station!
Los Angeles City Hall, 200 N Spring St
The center of government in LA and a frequent shooting location in the city. Unlike Union Station, City Hall often plays itself, most famously in the 1953 film adaptation of War of the Worlds, where it was eventually blown up (in miniature form.) However, it has also doubled as other locations, such as in the old 50s TV show The Adventures of Superman, where it played the Daily Planet building.
Bradbury Building, 204 S Broadway
See that brown, Victorian office building on your right? That’s the Bradbury Building, one of LA’s National Historic Landmarks. The Bradbury has been used in a ton of movies, including Double Indemnity and (500) Days of Summer, but it’s most well known as the location for reclusive genetic designer J.F. Sebastian’s apartment in the original Blade Runner. The film returns to this location a number of times, including for the climactic rooftop showdown between human detective Deckard, played by Harrison Ford, and his Replicant quarry Roy Batty. After an extended chase, the expiring Roy delivers one of science fiction’s most famous monologues:
The Last Bookstore, 453 S Spring St
On the ground floor of this tower to your right is The Last Bookstore, the largest used book store in Los Angeles. Once a bank, this space has been transformed into a wonderland for book lovers, with awe-inspiring displays in every nook and cranny of the two-story atrium. It’s also a popular spot for photoshoots and music videos, having hosted artists like The Kid LAROI and the late Kobe Bryant.
650 S Spring St
This bank was featured prominently in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 as the location for one of the most thrilling action sequences in superhero history. In the scene, the villainous Doctor Octopus attempts to rob the bank and battles Spider-Man up and down the sides of the building. Filming a special effects heavy scene like that can be extremely difficult, and often takes days to pull off. The scene involved shots filmed here on location as well as footage shot in front of a green screen on a studio lot, all seamlessly edited together in post-production.
Palace Theatre, 630 S Broadway
The Palace Theater, most famous for doubling as the mysterious Club Silencio in David Lynch’s surrealist masterpiece Mulholland Drive. One of Lynch’s finest works, Mulholland Drive is both a love letter and a scathing indictment of Hollywood itself, created by an artist who has spent the majority of his career on the outside looking in.
Cicada Club, 617 S Olive St
"Look to your left for a vintage, Art Deco looking place on the bottom floor of this building. See the carefully crafted iron grills over the windows? You’re looking at the Cicada Club, a night club that’s been a Hollywood staple since it opened in the 20s. In film, it’s most famous as the location where Julia Roberts flung a snail across the room in Pretty Woman, although it’s also been featured in other movies like Bruce Almighty and Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood. "
Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles, 506 S Grand Ave
The Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles, also known as the fictional Hotel Sedgewick in Ghostbusters. In the film, the Ghostbusters capture their very first ghost here at the hotel, and accidentally destroy the ballroom in the process.
West 5th St and Flower St
As you approach the intersection of West 5th St and Flower St, keep an eye out for any bank robbers in armored vans. This spot was the location for the famous shootout scene in Michael Mann’s Heat, one of the most riveting action sequences of all time. In the scene, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, and their crew of bank robbers are trapped by the police, leading to a nearly 10 minute long gunfight.
Pacific Dining Car, 1310 W 6th St
This cute little diner on your left is the Pacific Dining Car, a prime Hollywood lunch location since the 1920s. Because of its central location here in downtown LA, the Pacific Dining Car has hosted all kinds of Hollywood royalty, from Mickey Cohen and Mae West to Nicolas Cage and Johnny Depp. It’s also been featured in films and television shows, most notably in Training Day.
Echo Park Lake - Gilligan's Island, The Fast and the Furious
That small body of water to your left is Echo Park Lake, one of the many urban lakes that dot the LA landscape. Look out over the water at some of the islands. Do they look familiar at all?
Music Box Steps
The Music Box is a Laurel and Hardy short film comedy released in 1932. It was directed by James Parrott, produced by Hal Roach and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film, which depicts the pair attempting to move a piano up a long flight of steps, won the first Academy Award for Best Live Action Short (Comedy) in 1932. In 1997, it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "'culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.'"
The Virgil, 4519 Santa Monica Blvd
1920s-style saloon with ornate, throwback decor offering haute classic cocktails.
The Vista, 4473 Sunset Dr
You’re approaching a tricky intersection, but as you go through it, try to catch a glimpse of the big red movie theater on the far corner. You can’t miss it - just look for the big, lit up sign!
John Marshall High School, 3939 Tracy St
John Marshall High School is a public high school located in the Los Feliz district of the city of Los Angeles at 3939 Tracy Street in Los Angeles, California. Marshall, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Messhall Kitchen, 4500 Los Feliz Blvd
Sleek & modern indoor-outdoor gastropub serves elevated American comfort food & inventive cocktails.
Ennis House, 2607 Glendower Ave
The Ennis House is a residential dwelling in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, United States, south of Griffith Park. The home was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for Charles and Mabel Ennis in 1923 and was built in 1924.
Griffith Observatory, 2800 E Observatory Rd
Griffith Observatory is a facility in Los Angeles, California, sitting on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in Los Angeles' Griffith Park. It commands a view of the Los Angeles Basin, including Downtown Los Angeles to the southeast, Hollywood to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest.
Bronson Canyon, 3200 Canyon Dr
Holy Toledo, Batman, we’re coming up on Bronson Canyon! This series of caves has been used in Westerns and sci-fi films since the 30s, but it’s most famous as the location of the original Batcave in the 60s Batman TV show. See that little tunnel up ahead? By using carefully chosen camera angles, the mouth of that tunnel was transformed into the entrance to Bruce Wayne’s underground lair. Because the “cave” was really the mouth of a tunnel, the Batmobile could be filmed shooting out of the Batcave at high speeds that wouldn’t have been safe with a real cave.
Hollywood Sign
The Hollywood Sign is an American landmark and cultural icon overlooking Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. It is situated on Mount Lee, in the Hollywood Hills area of the Santa Monica Mountains.

Preview the Tour

Stop 4 - LA Union Station

Stop 7 - the Last Bookstore

Stop 19 - Echo Park Lake

Stop 34 - Bronson Canyon

How It Works

Additional Information

What do we do?

Simply put, Action Tour Guide is an audio guide, map, and tour book – all in one app! We are a GPS-enabled app-based tour that narrates information based on your location right on your phone. You can experience our driving and walking tours at your own pace and literally at any time of the day!

Lifetime Validity

Changing travel date? No worries! All individual tours come with lifetime validity.

No Network Needed

The tour works offline which means you do not need your phone network to enjoy the tour. However, we do suggest you download the tour at your home, hotel, visitor center, etc before you head out for a completely immersive experience.

Not an Entry Ticket

This is not an entry ticket.

LA Filming Shooting Self-Guided Driving Tour

Tour Details

Welcome to the Los Angeles Tour of filming locations

About the Tour

The tour includes the below stops and more:

What You'll See

North Spring Street & Ord Street

Los Angeles Union Station, 800 N Alameda St

Los Angeles City Hall, 200 N Spring St

Bradbury Building, 204 S Broadway

The Last Bookstore, 453 S Spring St

650 S Spring St

Palace Theatre, 630 S Broadway

Cicada Club, 617 S Olive St

Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles, 506 S Grand Ave

West 5th St and Flower St

Pacific Dining Car, 1310 W 6th St

Echo Park Lake - Gilligan's Island, The Fast and the Furious

Music Box Steps

The Virgil, 4519 Santa Monica Blvd

The Vista, 4473 Sunset Dr

John Marshall High School, 3939 Tracy St

Messhall Kitchen, 4500 Los Feliz Blvd

Ennis House, 2607 Glendower Ave

Griffith Observatory, 2800 E Observatory Rd

Bronson Canyon, 3200 Canyon Dr

Hollywood Sign

Preview the Tour

Stop 4 - LA Union Station

Stop 7 - the Last Bookstore

Stop 19 - Echo Park Lake

Stop 34 - Bronson Canyon

How It Works

Additional Information

Tour Details

COMPANY

SUPPORT

CONTACT US

LA Filming Shooting Self-Guided Driving Tour

Tour Details

Welcome to the Los Angeles Tour of filming locations

About the Tour

The tour includes the below stops and more:

What You'll See

North Spring Street & Ord Street

Los Angeles Union Station, 800 N Alameda St

Los Angeles City Hall, 200 N Spring St

Bradbury Building, 204 S Broadway

The Last Bookstore, 453 S Spring St

650 S Spring St

Palace Theatre, 630 S Broadway

Cicada Club, 617 S Olive St

Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles, 506 S Grand Ave

West 5th St and Flower St

Pacific Dining Car, 1310 W 6th St

Echo Park Lake - Gilligan's Island, The Fast and the Furious

Music Box Steps

The Virgil, 4519 Santa Monica Blvd

The Vista, 4473 Sunset Dr

John Marshall High School, 3939 Tracy St

Messhall Kitchen, 4500 Los Feliz Blvd

Ennis House, 2607 Glendower Ave

Griffith Observatory, 2800 E Observatory Rd

Bronson Canyon, 3200 Canyon Dr

Hollywood Sign

Preview the Tour

Stop 4 - LA Union Station

Stop 7 - the Last Bookstore

Stop 19 - Echo Park Lake

Stop 34 - Bronson Canyon

How It Works

Additional Information

Recommended Tours

Tour of California Self-Guided Driving Bundle

Hollywood & LA Filming Self-Guided Driving Tours Bundle

COMPANY

SUPPORT

CONTACT US