Where Was the German Scene in European Vacation Filmed?

By Anna Duncan

If you’re a fan of the National Lampoon’s Vacation series, you’ll know that in the second installment, European Vacation, the Griswold family traveled all across Europe. One of the most memorable scenes in the movie was when they visited Germany and ended up driving through a parade. But where exactly was this scene filmed?

Location
The German scene in European Vacation was actually filmed in England! The specific location is in fact not even remotely close to Germany but instead takes place on a street called St. John’s Street in Oxford.

Why Oxford?
So why did the filmmakers choose to film this scene in a city that looks nothing like Germany? Well, it turns out that Oxford has a very unique architecture that made it an ideal stand-in for various European cities. Additionally, filming in England meant avoiding some of the logistical challenges and expenses of filming abroad.

The Parade Scene

Now let’s talk about that famous parade scene. The parade featured many intricately designed floats and costumes, making it seem like a massive production.

However, it wasn’t quite as grand as it appeared on screen. In reality, there were only about 50 extras involved in the scene and only three floats were used.

The Car Chase

After mistakenly driving into the parade, Clark Griswold (played by Chevy Chase) ends up leading police officers on a car chase through Oxford. This chase scene was also filmed in England but not in Oxford. Instead, it took place on Brompton Road in London.

  • Fun Fact: Brompton Road is also home to Harrods department store.

In Conclusion

So there you have it – the German scene from European Vacation was actually filmed in England! While it may have been a bit of a surprise, it’s clear that the filmmakers were able to successfully create the illusion of being in Germany through clever use of camera angles and creative set design. Regardless of the location, it remains a beloved scene in one of the most iconic comedy franchises of all time.