Head to Britain in the footsteps of James Bond's creator, Ian Fleming
For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond
April 17, 2008 through March 1, 2009 at the Imperial War Museum, London
NEW YORK, April 8, 2008 - With a new exhibition opening in London next week (April 17) to mark the centenary of Ian Fleming's birth, visitors to Britain can explore the author's favorite locales as well as snag tickets to the must-see exhibition through March 1, 2009.
At the Imperial War Museum London, For Your Eyes Only is the first major exhibition devoted to the life and work of the man who created the world's most famous secret agent, James Bond. It explores the author's life including his early work as a journalist and travel writer. Items on display include the 'blood-splattered' shirt worn by Daniel Craig in Casino Royale, along with prototypes of Rosa Klebb's flick knife shoes in From Russia With Love; Halle Berry's bikini from Die Another Day and Goldfinger's golf shoes. Also on display will be rare material including a map of the Mercury News Network established by Ian Fleming in the 1950s showing where all Sunday Times foreign correspondents were based; notes from the Thrilling Cities series; research notes for From Russia With Love written in Istanbul; a selection of annotated Bond manuscripts; the Colt Python .357 Magnum revolver presented to Fleming by the Colt company in 1964 and the manuscript for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
While in London, stay at Dukes Hotel, located in the Mayfair neighborhood where Ian Fleming, who frequently visited the hotel, was born 100 years ago. 2008 is also the 100th anniversary of Dukes and, to celebrate; the hotel is offering a special "Bond about Town" package. The package includes: an overnight stay in a classic double room, a traditional hot towel wet shave at the world famous barbershop 'Truefitt & Hill', a 'Miss Moneypenny Manicure' at the Dukes Health Club, a Martini Master Class including a Vesper Martini, 3-course dinner in The Dining Room, and full English breakfast. Prices start from £450 for two people sharing inclusive of tax and service.
From London, visit Bletchley Park (by train from London Euston to Bletchley). The park is the code-cracking base where Lieutenant Commander Ian Fleming, as he was then known, first began his love affair with the world of espionage, masterminding 'Operation Ruthless', a bid to crack the German Naval Enigma. Bletchley is open year-round, and an audio tour guides visitors around the wartime buildings and elegant Victorian mansion. Exhibits include WWII memorabilia, diplomatic wireless, cryptology machines and post-war computers. A special event, "From Bletchley, with love," on August 25, 2008 will see a parachute display and a large collection of Aston Martins.
Take another day trip to visit Beaulieu National Motor Museum, located in the New Forest (train from London Waterloo to Lymington, then bus from Lymington to Beaulieu). An entire exhibition, "James Bond Experience", which has been created in association with the Ian Fleming Foundation, is dedicated to some of the most glamorous Bond vehicles, including the Jaguar XKR Roadster from Die Another Day, the Aston Martin Volante from The Living Daylights, and the Ford Mondeo from Casino Royale. The overall collection at Beaulieu comprises around 250 vehicles.
Head to the county of Kent, immediately south-east of London. Visit Kent has put together two touring itineraries for visitors, based on famous car journeys: in Moonraker, in a supercharged Bentley; and in Goldfinger in an Aston Martin DB III. Download maps and guides for the two itineraries at www.VisitKent.co.uk, which include tips to visit St. Margaret's Bay near Dover where Ian Fleming bought the house White Cliffs in 1952 as his vacation home and played golf nearby at Royal St. George’s at Sandwich.
For more information on these attractions and destinations, visit www.visitbritain.us, or call VisitBritain’s travel consultants toll-free on 1-800-462-2748.
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Notes to editors:
For more information on attractions in this news release:www.iwm.org.uk;
www.dukeshotel.com; www.bletchleypark.org.uk; www.beaulieu.co.uk;
www.visitkent.co.uk/explore/ebrochures-kent-james-bond.asp.