New Orleans: Movie and TV Show Tour

Lights, camera, French Quarter. This two-hour walking tour turns familiar streets into movie sets, linking shows such as NCIS: New Orleans, The Originals, Your Honor, and The Big Easy with the city’s architecture, ghost stories, and local history. Within the first fifteen minutes, you can expect references to several major productions.

I especially like the small-group format, which lets guide Trevor McQueen ask about your favorite shows and adjust the walk around your interests. I also like the mix of screen trivia and real New Orleans context. The main consideration is that this is a full two-hour walk on old streets, and much of the material leans toward vampire productions, so it may be less appealing if you do not watch those shows.

The route is easy to follow, but French Quarter traffic can be unpredictable. Arrive about 15 minutes early, wear comfortable shoes, and be ready for heat, rain, uneven walkways, and a guide who may know far more about fictional New Orleans than you expected.

Key points at a glance

• Trevor McQueen personalizes the route: He asks about your favorite movies and shows, then points out matching locations and avoids spoilers when needed.
• The first fifteen minutes cover major productions: Expect references to NCIS: New Orleans, The Originals, Your Honor, Runaway Jury, The Big Easy, and The Simpsons.
• The route crosses the historic French Quarter: You walk from Royal Street to Chartres Street, Jackson Square, the Old Ursuline Convent, LaLaurie Mansion, and St. Louis Cathedral.
• Film trivia comes with local context: The tour also covers architecture, production challenges, celebrity homes, ghost stories, and New Orleans culture.
• Small groups are a real advantage: Some departures have had only two or four people, allowing plenty of questions and personal attention.
• The pace includes a halfway break: This gives you a chance to rest and use a restroom before finishing the loop.

Why this tour works better than a simple film-location list

A movie-location tour can be disappointing if it only points at a building and says, that appeared in a film. This experience aims for more. Trevor McQueen connects filming locations with the reasons directors choose the French Quarter, the look of the old buildings, and the practical problems of filming in a busy historic district.

That extra context gives the tour value even if you have not seen every production on the list. You are not expected to be a serious film scholar. If you enjoy architecture, local stories, or the way a familiar street changes on screen, you will still have plenty to follow.

The strongest feature is the personal approach. At the start, Trevor asks which New Orleans movies or series interest you. If you are a fan of The Originals, he can focus on its locations. If vampires are not your thing, he can shift attention toward productions such as NCIS: New Orleans, Chef, Girls Trip, The Pelican Brief, or JFK.

That flexibility matters in a small group. A large commercial walk often follows a fixed script. Here, the guide can pause for questions, explain a detail again, or spend more time on a production that matters to you. One person even received a private tour when no one else had booked the same time. That is not guaranteed, but the format allows for a notably personal experience.

Starting at 400 Royal Street and the old courthouse

The meeting point is at 400 Royal Street, on the steps of the Supreme Court Building across from Brennan’s Restaurant. This is a useful starting point because you are already in the heart of the French Quarter, surrounded by old façades and streets that regularly attract film crews.

Arrive early. The warning about traffic is practical, not fussy. The French Quarter can be slow to cross by car, and finding a drop-off point may take longer than expected. The tour begins on foot, so you want to be standing at the courthouse rather than hurrying in from several blocks away.

The opening section quickly sets the tone. You begin identifying productions filmed in and around the Quarter, including NCIS: New Orleans, The Originals, Your Honor, Runaway Jury, The Big Easy, and even The Simpsons. That last reference is a good reminder that the tour is not limited to obvious Louisiana dramas or vampire stories.

The most useful part of this opening is learning to look at the buildings as a film crew might. Architectural details, ironwork, courtyards, street angles, and distinctive corners help reveal why one block appears in multiple productions.

Chartres Street, Napoleon House, and Jackson Square

From the courthouse, the route heads down Chartres Street from the Napoleon House Restaurant. This section places the movie material directly beside one of the French Quarter’s best-known streets and public spaces.

You will hear about productions filmed in New Orleans across several decades. The list includes Interview with the Vampire, Now You See Me, The Princess and the Frog, Live and Let Die, King Creole, The Cincinnati Kid, Renfield, and The Haunted Mansion. The range is useful because it shows how the city can play different roles on screen, from a period setting to a modern crime drama or supernatural town.

At Jackson Square, the walk gains a broader city focus. The square is one of the French Quarter’s most recognizable spaces, and it helps you understand why filmmakers repeatedly return to this part of New Orleans. You can enjoy the setting even if a particular movie reference means little to you.

I would pay attention here to the difference between a real location and its movie version. Film crews may frame only one doorway, wall, or stretch of pavement. The rest of the scene can be altered through costumes, lighting, camera angles, or digital work. The guide also explains some of the challenges of filming in the French Quarter, where public streets, old buildings, and regular city activity all affect production.

The Old Ursuline Convent and the quieter side of the route

The walk continues to the Old Ursuline Convent. This is one of the points where the tour moves beyond the most photographed parts of the Quarter and gives you a different sense of the neighborhood.

The value here is not simply spotting a movie location. The convent helps anchor the film stories in the age and character of the city. As you move through the area, Trevor adds historical and architectural details that make the location easier to remember later.

This is also where the tour can feel less like a checklist. You are not rushing from one famous address to the next. Instead, the route uses the streets themselves as part of the story. New Orleans becomes both the setting and the subject.

If you are taking photos, keep in mind that the most important details may be small. A particular balcony, entrance, corner, or building line can be more significant than an entire landmark. Without a good memory for visual details, it may be hard to match every location to a scene later. One useful improvement would be showing still images from the productions, but this is primarily a guided walking experience rather than a presentation with photos.

LaLaurie Mansion, ghost stories, and the Royal Street return

The route loops back up Royal Street at LaLaurie Mansion, one of the city’s most notorious haunted houses. This adds a darker note to the film discussion and fits naturally with productions involving vampires, ghosts, and supernatural drama.

The mansion is especially relevant if you enjoy The Originals, Interview with the Vampire, or similar shows. Trevor’s knowledge of those productions is a major strength, and he can connect screen locations with the city’s ghost-story tradition.

Still, this section may feel less rewarding if you do not watch vampire or supernatural programs. One visitor found the tour educational and fun but felt that too much attention went to vampire-related films. That is the clearest limitation in the experience. The guide can tailor the conversation, but the French Quarter’s supernatural image is a major part of the tour’s appeal.

You may also hear about celebrity homes, sightings, and other filming locations beyond the main route. These details add personality, but they are not the main reason to book. The best material comes from the combination of locations, production stories, and New Orleans history.

Finishing at St. Louis Cathedral

The tour ends at St. Louis Cathedral in the middle of the French Quarter. This is a convenient finish because it leaves you in a central part of the city, surrounded by restaurants, shops, and other sights.

Ending at the cathedral also gives the route a clear shape. You start near Royal Street, cross through Chartres Street and Jackson Square, reach the Old Ursuline Convent, then return along Royal Street. The route is compact enough to cover on foot but varied enough to avoid feeling like one long street walk.

The tour lasts two hours, and a halfway break is included. That break matters in New Orleans, where heat, humidity, rain, and crowded sidewalks can make walking harder than the distance suggests. Use the pause to rest and refill your energy before the final section.

The pace has generally been described as comfortable. Still, you should treat this as an active walking tour, not a bus ride with occasional stops. Old walkways may be uneven or unstable, and the tour takes place rain or shine.

What $30 buys you

At $30 per person, the tour is reasonably priced for a two-hour guided walk in the French Quarter. The value depends on how much you enjoy the subject. A casual film fan may find the mix of movie references, architecture, and city history more useful than a standard sightseeing walk. A dedicated fan of The Originals or NCIS: New Orleans may consider the personal attention the main attraction.

The small-group setup improves the value. You can ask questions instead of simply listening to a fixed speech, and Trevor can spend time on the productions you care about. Past groups have sometimes been very small, including private departures with one or two participants.

I would not book this expecting a full behind-the-scenes studio tour. You are walking through public streets and viewing exterior locations. There is no promise of active filming, celebrity sightings, or access inside private buildings. The appeal is seeing how ordinary French Quarter places became part of movies and television.

The reserve-now, pay-later option and free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start also make booking less risky. Those policies are helpful if your New Orleans schedule is still shifting.

Who will enjoy it most

I would recommend this tour to:

• Fans of The Originals, Interview with the Vampire, NCIS: New Orleans, and Your Honor
• Visitors who enjoy movie trivia but also want local history and architecture
• Couples or families who prefer a small, conversational tour
• People looking for a different way to explore the French Quarter
• Film fans who want recommendations for movies filmed in New Orleans

You may want to skip it if you dislike walking, have trouble with uneven streets, or want an indoor activity. The information says the tour is wheelchair accessible, but it also warns that some walkways are old and unstable and lists people with mobility impairments as unsuitable. Those details do not fully match, so contact the provider before booking if accessibility is important to you.

You should also think about the subject mix. The tour includes many genres, but vampire and supernatural productions receive plenty of attention. If those shows do not interest you, tell Trevor at the beginning so he can shape the experience around other films.

Practical advice before you go

Wear comfortable shoes and comfortable clothing. A two-hour walk through the French Quarter is not the place for stiff footwear or clothing that does not handle warm weather.

Arrive 15 minutes early at the courthouse steps. French Quarter traffic can be unpredictable, and a late arrival could mean trying to find the group after it has started moving.

Bring weather protection. The tour runs rain or shine, and outdoor conditions can change the feel of the walk. Pay attention near older walkways and traffic crossings.

If you are a fan of a specific production, say so immediately. Trevor has tailored tours around The Originals, vampire series, and other personal favorites. He has also checked whether participants had finished a show before discussing details, which is a thoughtful way to avoid spoilers.

Finally, ask questions. The best parts of this experience come from conversation. You can ask about filming challenges, architecture, actors, ghost stories, or other places to visit during the rest of your trip.

Should you book the New Orleans Movie and TV Show Tour?

Book it if you want a personal, talkative introduction to New Orleans on screen. At $30, the combination of a two-hour French Quarter walk, a small group, local history, and film trivia offers solid value, especially for fans of The Originals, NCIS: New Orleans, and Interview with the Vampire.

I would be more cautious if you dislike supernatural material or have mobility concerns. For everyone else, this is a fun way to look at familiar streets with fresh eyes, while still learning about the city beyond the camera frame.

FAQ

How long does the New Orleans Movie and TV Show Tour last?

The tour lasts two hours and includes a halfway break.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $30 per person.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at 400 Royal Street, on the steps of the Supreme Court Building across from Brennan’s Restaurant.

Where does the tour finish?

The tour finishes at St. Louis Cathedral in the middle of the French Quarter.

Which movies and shows are covered?

The tour can include NCIS: New Orleans, The Originals, Your Honor, Runaway Jury, The Big Easy, The Simpsons, Interview with the Vampire, Chef, Now You See Me, The Princess and the Frog, Live and Let Die, King Creole, Girls Trip, The Pelican Brief, JFK, The Haunted Mansion, The Cincinnati Kid, Renfield, and The First 48, among others.

Is the tour led in English?

Yes. The live tour guide speaks English.

Can the guide tailor the tour to my favorite show?

Yes. The guide asks about your favorite movies and shows and can point out locations that match your interests.

Is the tour suitable for people with mobility impairments?

The activity information says it is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. It also notes that some walkways may be old and unstable, so confirm access details with the provider before booking.

What should I wear?

Wear comfortable shoes and comfortable clothing suitable for a two-hour outdoor walk.

What happens if it rains?

The tour operates rain or shine. You should be prepared for changing weather and outdoor walking conditions.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.