The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Filming Locations

Vancouver, a bustling west coast seaport in British Columbia, is among Canada’s densest, most ethnically diverse cities. A popular filming location, it’s surrounded by mountains, and also has thriving art, theatre and music scenes. Vancouver Art Gallery is known for its works by regional artists, while the Museum of Anthropology houses preeminent First Nations collections.

Lively Gastown is known for its whistling Steam Clock and mix of souvenir shops, indie art galleries and decor stores in Victorian buildings. A trendy food and drink scene includes chic cocktail lounges and restaurants serving everything from gourmet sandwiches to local seafood. Hip eateries also dot the neighboring Downtown Eastside area, while the up-and-coming Railtown district is home to edgy fashion studios.

Popular with creative firms and dotted with smart apartment blocks in converted warehouses, Clerkenwell is home to cutting-edge restaurants and cosy gastropubs, plus historic pubs, sleek bars, and nightclubs. Hip cafes and indie shops line car-free Exmouth Market, which has a twice-weekly street-food market. Leather Lane Market has food stalls catering to local office workers, as well as clothes and produce.

London, the capital of England and the United Kingdom, is a 21st-century city with history stretching back to Roman times. At its centre stand the imposing Houses of Parliament, the iconic ‘Big Ben’ clock tower and Westminster Abbey, site of British monarch coronations. Across the Thames River, the London Eye observation wheel provides panoramic views of the South Bank cultural complex, and the entire city.

The City of London is a historic financial district, home to both the Stock Exchange and the Bank of England. Modern corporate skyscrapers tower above the vestiges of medieval alleyways below. Affluent workers frequent its smart restaurants and bars. Tourists visit iconic, 17th-century St. Paul’s Cathedral, trace the city’s history at the Museum of London, and take in performances at the huge Barbican arts centre.

A fast-transforming district, Nine Elms is home to the regenerated Battersea Power Station, which offers chic riverside dining and bars, plus pop-up food markets. A wide promenade traces the Thames river embankment, and stalls at the wholesale New Covent Garden Market are piled high with fruit, vegetables, and flowers. The area’s modern developments include stylish apartment buildings and the U.S. Embassy.

Windsor is a town on the River Thames in southeast England, just west of London. It’s home to Windsor Castle, a residence of the British Royal Family. Built by William The Conqueror in the 11th century, the castle was extensively remodelled by subsequent monarchs. Public tours take in the State Apartments, which contain opulent furnishings, and paintings from the royal art collection.