Finding the perfect location for your next London based video production (2024).
London is one of the best places in the world to be a video production company, the people, the hustle and bustle and locations are among the most exciting to be found anywhere in the world. It’s especially great if you know all of the best places worth thinking about when planning your next video. With so many places to choose from, and so many different hoops you need to jump through it can be a very daunting task trying to figure out the do’s and don'ts of finding a location in London.
This blog walks you through the numerous online directories and sites that help you find locations in London and walks you through the important steps you have to go through in order to be allowed to film there.
Table Of Contents
1. Peerspace
2. Locations London
3. Scouty
4. UK Film Locations
5. AirBnB
6. Film London
7. How to get permission to film in London
Online location directories for video production.
It’s no secret that almost everything you want to know is online, this is also true when finding locations for video productions. From forums and directories, to private blogs there are heaps of places you can search through to find your perfect somewhere.
Peerspace
If you are looking for boutique places for interviews, brand films or full blown features Peerspace could be your one stop shop. A place where anyone can upload their space for film work, it’s a mix of studios, houses, warehouses and spaces to be rented out on a daily basis. Think of it as an AirBnB for film spaces.
Locations London
Similar to Peerspace, Locations London is a one stop shop for film locations in London. On the pricier end of things they are aimed at clients like Apple, IBM and Toyota. Sure, there are some great little finds on here and if you’re looking to find a location that allows large amounts of flexibility for a multifaceted shoot then this is a fantastic option.
Scouty
For those looking for a cheaper option Scouty is a great place to look. A UK based company Scouty operates from London and has every location a production could ever need. From fancy manor houses to cute hidden gems. the team are really helpful and are full of ideas for those needing something more specific. Check out Scouty and begin location scouting today.
UK Film Locations
Looking for a weird location like an alleyway or a graffiti wall? UK Film locations offer a fantastic breadth of outdoor locations that are well outside the box. It’s minimalist in it’s presentation but you can get a good idea of the look and feel. Unfortuanetly it doesn’t always give you the details of ownership of the locations.
AirBnB
It sounds like a curve ball but if you’re looking for a small space for an interview or even need a set for a more elaborate set up like a cooking show… AirBnB could be the place to find it. You need to make sure you ask the owners permissions before using it and do not simply book it out through the platform. There are different insurances needed for video production vs simply accommodation so it’s essential you get proper clearance.
Location managers for video production.
Need extra help finding a location? Why not try hiring a location manager?
Film London
Film London is one of the UK’s leading authorities and resources for finding the right people for the right video production job but did you know it’s also a great place to find locations? Film London offers a bespoke location finder service through their location manager. Aimed at the larger productions this option is great for anyone looking for something very specific.
How to get permission to film in London
It is essential that you always have the correct permissions to film in any location in London. If it’s a private property then you need the permission from the landowner and all the correct insurance to make sure their property is protected. Maybe you are thinking of filming in a public place in London, if that’s the case then you need to get permission from the body that manages it.
One of the easiest way to seek permission to film in a public place in London is through the Borough Film Service (BFS). These require different contacts for different boroughs but a useful set of contact details can be found on this Film London page. Whether you will be granted permission to film is dependant on the size of your crew, the set up needed, the timeline until the shoot and the duration f the shoot itself. These are just a few variables they will consider.
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