Yahoo News Friends filming locations every superfan should visit
Fans reluctantly said farewell to the cast of Friends back in 2004 when the cameras stopped rolling for good. After ten seasons, 'The Last One' rounded off with Chandler, Monica, Joey, Rachel, Ross and Phoebe gathering in Monica's apartment for the final time, before leaving to enjoy one last cup of coffee together at Central Perk.
*sobs*
But that overwhelming sense of finality quickly faded thanks to reruns and streaming, ensuring that the show's popularity has endured, so much so that Ranker users voted Friends as the best sitcom in TV history.
It's a big claim, but hardly surprising when you consider just how many people flocked to buy tickets for FriendsFest, which gave UK fans the opportunity to hang out in the show's most iconic locations, from Monica's apartment to Central Perk.
Naturally, those were just sets, and even though the majority of the show's scenes were filmed on studio lots in Los Angeles, some of which you can visit as part of the Warner Bros Studio Tour, there are still a handful of real life New York locations that you can visit for free, as well as a couple of others further afield.
1. The apartments
All of the interior action was filmed in an LA studio, but the exterior of the building is a real life New York location. The West Village at 90 Bedford Street, on the southeast corner of Grove Street and Bedford Street, is the building where both Monica's pad and Joey and Chandler's apartment lives.
You might not recognise it if you just happened to walk past, but once you know, there's no mistaking it.
2. The fountain
But as for TV's most iconic fountain, you won't find that in New York. Despite many people thinking that the one used in Friends is the Cherry Hill fountain in central park, with others claiming the Pulitzer Fountain in Midtown West's Grand Army Plaza was the inspiration behind it, the fountain that was actually used is located in Burbank, California on none other than the Warner Bros ranch.
That's very rarely open to the public, so your chances of recreating the show's opening sequence are slim. Cherry Hill might have to do.
3. The museum
The New York Museum of Prehistoric History where Ross works doesn't actually exist, but the American Museum of Natural History does. Just in case you need your memory jogged, it's where Ross and Rachel first do the deed, and lest we forget, was the setting for sandwich-gate.
4. New York University
Eventually, the paleontologist moves on from the museum and becomes a New York University professor in season six, teaching classes and occasionally becoming involved with his students – not his smartest move.
5. Chandler's workplace
We're still confused about what Chandler actually does for a living – after doing some digging we discovered that he is an IT procurements manager with a specialised knowledge of statistical analysis and data reconfiguration. So yeah... still none the wiser. But we don't feel particularly bad considering his other half and best friends didn't have a clue either.
What we do know is that he works in the Solow Building located just west of Fifth Avenue between 57th and 58th Street, which is near Bergdorf Goodman and the Plaza Hotel. The building itself is very big and shiny. Built in 1974, it has a whopping 49 floors above ground level and is home to a number of law firms and hedge funds.
6. The Plaza Hotel
Speaking of the Plaza, Monica and Chandler celebrate their engagement in one of the city's fanciest establishments during the opening episode of season seven.
7. The Lucille Lortel Theatre
The West Village playhouse, located on 121 Christopher Street, appears three times in the third series of Friends when Joey appears in a number of off-Broadway performances, including 'The One with the Dollhouse', 'The One with the Screamer' and 'The One with the Tiny T-shirt', where he stars in a play with Kate Miller (Dina Meyer) who he initially can't stomach, before eventually falls in love with.
8. The Moondance Diner
The 1950s-themed eatery, where Monica worked as a waitress, was in fact a real diner in Manhattan, also appearing in 2002's Spider-Man and Sex and the City. But in 2007, it upped sticks and moved to Wyoming, eventually closing its doors for good in 2012 after the couple who owned it couldn't afford to run it anymore.
But you can still visit the spot where it once stood, in SoHo on 6th Avenue between Canal Street and Grand Street.
9. Vasquez Rocks
This rather dramatic location has popped up in a number of different films and TV shows. From Star Trek V: The Final Frontier to New Girl, it's seen a fair few camera crews over the years, and history dictates it's likely to welcome a few more.
'The One with Joey's Big Break' also featured the area of natural beauty, which is located in the stunning Sierra Pelona Mountains in northern LA. If you fancy a road trip, this one is your go-to!
10. London
Joey and Chandler's big day out in the UK's capital is definitely one for the tourists. The Marriott Hotel in Grosvenor Square, Westminster Abbey, London Bridge, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Tower bridge all make an appearance at some point.
Jump on an open top bus and experience them all for yourself. London, baby!
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