Find Film Shoot locations for rent in Birmingham, UK

About Birmingham

Located in the West Midlands, Birmingham is one of the United Kingdom’s largest cities. Birmingham attracts millions of visitors each year because of its extensive canal networks, lively nightlife, epic rock music and unmissable food scene. However, since the 1920s, the city is also known for its association with the Peaky Blinders, an infamous Birmingham gang. Furthermore, Birmingham was thrust into the world spotlight upon the release of the eponymous TV series. This popular BBC television original attracts millions of viewers per episode. In fact, the series is now one of the most popular programmes on Netflix!

If you’re hoping to film scenes in Birmingham, you’re in luck. The city is home to dozens of urban areas, green spaces and historic buildings that would be perfect for a film shoot, no matter the genre. This handy guide will help you organise a successful film shoot in Birmingham.

Film Shoot Options in Birmingham

Organising a film shoot is tough work. There’s a lot to think about: location, actors, costume, makeup, scheduling, sound, lighting, cameras—the list goes on! To ease the burden, why not hire some local businesses to help out? Birmingham is home to several talented businesses that can help reduce the stress of your film shoot, including film set caterers, equipment hire experts and reliable transport companies.

• Catering
  Film shoots are intense. Fifteen or sixteen-hour days are not uncommon, and the work can be extremely tiring for all involved. Therefore, you must ensure that all people on set are looked after throughout the day. That’s where a reputable caterer comes in really handy. A top-notch caterer will ensure that your cast and crew are fed and hydrated throughout the day, so that they’ve got more energy to channel into the shoot!

• Equipment Hire
  Your production will require a considerable amount of equipment: cameras, lenses, lighting, microphones, furniture, props, costumes and much more. Thankfully, several highly reputable equipment hire companies in Birmingham and the surrounding areas can help you source the equipment you require.

Film Shoot Vendors in Birmingham

• Gourmet Foods
  West Midlands-based caterer Gourmet Foods offers location catering services in the Birmingham area. The company provides fully catered meals on film sets and is happy to provide a catering solution that fits complex filming schedules. Additionally, Gourmet Foods can provide tables, cutlery and crockery, giving you one less thing to worry about! The talented catering team is highly experienced and will ensure that your cast and crew are adequately satiated and ready for a big day of filming.

• Spaghetti Studio
  If you find that you need to hire cameras, monitors and lenses, Spaghetti can help. The Midlands-based digital cinematography and motion picture equipment rental company has all the equipment you need to ensure that filming goes smoothly. Spaghetti has a vast inventory of equipment where you’ll find the latest and greatest digital cameras, including the ARRI Alexa Mini LF, RED RANGER MONSTRO 8K VV, Sony VENICE and many more popular models. So if you’re searching for a reliable camera equipment hire company, Spaghetti is definitely the company to contact.

Pros and Cons of Film Shoot Locations in Birmingham

Advantages

• Attractions
  Birmingham offers a wide selection of exciting attractions, including the popular Bullring shopping district, Cadbury World, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, the National Sea Life Centre and much more! You’re bound to find something interesting to do when you’re not required on set.

• Transport network
  Birmingham has an excellent transport network because of its size and national significance, meaning you can travel quickly and easily across the city to get to film shoot locations. Furthermore, you can easily reach various other major UK cities, including London and Manchester.

• Proximity to nature
  Although Birmingham is known primarily as a concrete metropolis, the city offers plenty of peaceful green space where you can relax and unwind in nature after a busy day. Birmingham’s popular parks include Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park, Kings Heath Park, Sutton Park and Woodgate Valley Country Park. We can’t think of a nicer way to relax after a busy day of filming!

Disadvantages

• Crowds
  Around 41.8 million visitors flock to Birmingham annually. As you can imagine, the city can quickly become quite crowded, especially on weekends or when popular events are happening. Unfortunately, large crowds are not ideal if you want to film in certain locations without being interrupted!
  
  
• Traffic congestion
  Unfortunately, traffic in Birmingham is a problem. The city is one of the most congested in the UK and, to make matters worse, has the most personal injury claims from road accidents. So make sure to set off for your chosen film shoot locations early to account for traffic.

Famous Locations in Birmingham

• The Jewellery Quarter
  Birmingham’s iconic Jewellery Quarter has been described as a ‘national treasure’ for its thriving jewellery industry. Did you know that approximately 40 percent of British jewellery is made in this area of Birmingham? With over 800 businesses to browse, there are plenty to keep you occupied. Once you’ve spent a few hours mulling over which item of jewellery you’re going to buy, why not visit one of the area’s many bars and restaurants to refuel with a drink and a bite to eat?

• National Sea Life Centre
  The National Sea Life Centre is a popular visitor attraction situated in Birmingham city centre. The National Sea Life Centre is home to the United Kingdom’s only 360° ocean tunnel, where you can see turtles, sharks and tropical fish up close! Additionally, enjoy the Penguin Ice Adventure where you can watch the antics of the cheeky Gentoo penguins as they swim around in the ice-cold water. The National Sea Life Centre is a unique and thrilling attraction that everyone should visit at least once in their life.

• Aston Hall
  Located a couple of miles outside Birmingham city centre, Aston Hall is a stunning 17th-century mansion. The building has lived through 400 years of English history and, as a result, is full of historical and architectural marvels. As you can imagine, it has many stories to tell eager visitors. For instance, royalty has visited the mansion, including Charles I and Queen Victoria! If you’re a fan of ghost stories, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to visit Aston Hall. The spectacular building is thought to be one of England’s most haunted buildings, famed for its spooky stories about mysterious ladies. Sounds fascinating, if not a little frightening!