The story follows two quirky misfits planning a daring holiday heist, with much of the action centred on the fictional Sterling Department Store, which is actually the old Loughborough Hotel in Brixton.
Built in the late 1800s, the Victorian-era building has been used as a bar, event space, and community venue, though it’s now permanently closed.
For the film, its façade was digitally enhanced to look even bigger and better.
Interior shopping scenes were filmed at the Avery Hill Winter Garden in the University of Greenwich’s Avery Hill campus.
Opened in 1902, the Winter Garden now serves as the main library for all three of the university’s campuses.
Other south London highlights include street scenes outside Heaven Café on Loughborough Road, featuring a violin-playing busker, and the Phone Service store in Deptford, which doubles as the repair shop where Nick works.
According to AtlasofWonders.com, Nick’s flat exterior was filmed at Elmore House in north-east Brixton, while several scenes feature Deptford town centre, including a memorable shot of Sophie (Olivia Holt) and Nick (Connor Swindells) walking in Santa costumes outside Deptford railway station.
The film also ventures beyond south London, with scenes in Cambridge Heath, West Ealing, and Wembley Park, giving audiences a festive tour of the capital.
