In Wonka (2023), one of the film’s most playful outdoor sequences features a close encounter between a giraffe and Oxford’s Bridge of Sighs during a chaotic stretch of Willy Wonka’s journey through the city. The shot, part of the movie’s whimsical world-building, uses the iconic bridge and surrounding streets to ground the story in a real-life historic setting before visual effects and gag elements (like the giraffe) transform it into something delightfully absurd.
The Real Location: Hertford Bridge (Bridge of Sighs), Oxford
The Bridge of Sighs seen in Wonka is actually Hertford Bridge, a famous skyway in central Oxford, England that spans New College Lane and connects two parts of Hertford College. Built in 1914 and designed by Thomas Graham Jackson, the structure is locally and visually known as the “Bridge of Sighs” due to its resemblance (in silhouette, if not in history) to the famous Venetian bridge of the same name.
Although Oxford’s bridge carries a playful nickname, its real history is rooted in academic practicality, linking college buildings over a narrow street. Its distinctive shape—arched, enclosed, and pale stone—makes it instantly recognisable and ideal for film use, anchoring Wonka’s fanciful imagery within a real historical landmark.
Why This Location Works
Oxford’s Bridge of Sighs was chosen for its photogenic Gothic-inspired architecture and timeless feel, which blends perfectly with Wonka’s period-flavoured fantasy world. Combining a real English academic landmark with the film’s surreal elements (like the giraffe gag) plays into the movie’s ability to mix the grounded with the whimsical.
Oxford itself served as a connective backdrop for several Wonka scenes, also including the Radcliffe Camera and nearby university streets clothed in artificial snow, which helped portray a magical European townscape.
About the Bridge of Sighs
- Official name: Hertford Bridge
- Location: New College Lane, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
- Architectural style: Neo-Gothic with collegiate character
- Built: 1914
- The bridge’s nickname stems from its aesthetic resemblance to Venice’s famous Ponte dei Sospiri, though there is no historical link between the two.
Visiting the Filming Location
Hertford Bridge is freely accessible to the public and remains one of Oxford’s most photographed landmarks:
- 🚆 By train: Oxford Station connects to London and other UK cities.
- 🚶 On foot: The bridge is in the heart of the university city, near Radcliffe Square and the Bodleian Library.
- 📸 Visit early in the morning to capture photos with fewer crowds.
Visitors can walk beneath the bridge on New College Lane, admire its stone arches, and explore the surrounding historic colleges that helped form Wonka’s magical Oxford backdrop.
