A Guide to Top Filming Locations in London, Birmingham, and Beyond
London and its neighbourhoods are assets to film industry professionals. The capital of England draws producers who create big-screen and TV series productions; a production company looking for on-screen stand-ins for different world settings will find a treasure trove of movie locations nationwide.
London has brought different films to life; Tower Bridge appears in "Spider-Man: Far From Home" and Wembley Stadium in "Fast & Furious 6." The city's famous cobblestone streets and historical roots can add interest to any screen story. You can include your project in the endless list of productions filmed in the country, whether a film about a quiet village and its polite community, a commercial, or a video highlighting London Fashion Week.
Grab a camera and prepare to produce beautiful photos or footage in various studios and other cinematic settings. Explore our listings to find filming locations in England and the rest of the world!
Why Choose Giggster for Your Filming Location?
A range of filming locations can get your money shot, and Giggster can help you reserve a perfect backdrop for your brand promotion video or film shoot. Browse our vast listings to find and book a filming location like Duplex Penthouse with 360 City View and Hot Tub for your next shoot.
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A warehouse and an empty lot are unique filming locations with plenty of space to build a custom set. In addition to constructing elaborate shoot settings that mirror different world locations, you can also set up production offices at the location.
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A hotel that offers access to a pool, accommodation suites, and restaurant, among other features, is a flexible filming location. The various rooms serve as different sets, all in one location, and can host production parties, including wrap-up celebrations and pre-screening events.
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Are you looking for an equipment-filled location versatile enough to produce different screen projects? Explore Giggster's extensive studios to book a film, photo, podcast, or fitness studio for your project.
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Stately homes are among the most flexible locations listed on Giggster. You rent everything from modern to Victorian time capsules to produce movie scenes, commercials, or social media content.
Incredible Film Locations Start at £13/hour
Exceptional Variety & Quality: Giggster can connect you with 10000 filming locations in and outside the United Kingdom. Peruse the app to find and book everything from an abandoned house to a sprawling ranch property.
Hassle-Free Booking: After finishing your search and identifying a film location, booking the property is straightforward. Use our chat option to contact the host for a personalised rental rate or clarification on other listing details.
24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: A client can cancel their booking within 24 hours of confirmation. Perhaps you are facing permit delays and can't move forward with the shoot; we offer free cancellations within 24 hours of confirmation, as long as you made your booking at least 48 hours before the scheduled film shoot.
Platform Protections: Giggster offers cancellation, damage protection, and liability insurance to protect clients renting film locations. While the plans are optional add-ons to your booking, check with the local Film Office to confirm if you must get liability insurance for permit applications.
What Kind of Location Can I Rent for a Film Shoot?
Movie locations usually create a buzz in and out of the film industry because everyone expects to see how everyday places look on the screen in different productions. Giggster lists film locations that range from studios to private homes; here are our suggestions of the best settings for other projects to help you book the best film location.
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Film Studios – Movies. A film studio is the holy grail of production efficiency; the space can drastically cut filming time and support camera angles that would have proved challenging elsewhere. It's the best setting for indoor shoots, and many have pre-constructed sets in their backlots, mirroring streets, shops, and even entire towns.
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Hotels – Film Scenes. Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" and Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" are well-known movies that were filmed in a hotel. Many hotels provide an all-in-one location with rooms, a bar, a pool, a restaurant, and a patio that can serve as separate filming backdrops.
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Stately Homes – TV Commercials. When you see a luxury house on the screen, it instantly sparks interest and tells you that the character living there is ultra-wealthy. You can find a beachfront property or penthouse smack in the central business district for everything from a TV commercial shoot to movie scenes.
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Buses – Mobile Sets. Remember the early '90s action-thriller "Speed," featuring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock? Reeves' character had to drive a city bus at 50 mph or higher to prevent a bomb from going off. It's the best example of a vehicle being a mobile film location.
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Restaurants – Party Scenes. A restaurant is another versatile production location, and it can serve as the setting for a party scene, date, or show like "Two Broke Girls," which is set entirely in the space. Search for waterfront and beach locations if you are recording a music video shoot.
Film Location Must-Haves
There's a long list of pre-production tasks to complete before getting on set, and securing film locations is high up on the list. Giggster has you covered, and to help you easily identify a property from our website, here is a rundown of the must-have features.
What equipment does the studio have? You'll have an easier time working in a location with equipment, whether a big-budget flick or a student project. Film studios are your best bet when searching for locations with production gear.
Does the studio have a production support team on site? On-site support helps greatly whether you have a production team or need help from start to finish. Photo, podcast, and film studios usually have an in-house team on standby, including photographers and sound technicians.
What helpful resources are in the area? Is the location near a hotel or house where your team can set up shop or stay overnight during production? Does the property have parking on-site, or will you have to search for private parking?
How to Plan a Film Project
Giggster makes finding and booking a shoot location straightforward. The filter search generates ideal suggestions for your project based on activity, setting, and budget. Get your gear ready to move forward, and use these production planning tips to bring your vision to life.
Choose the Best Filming Location – Our website's filter search is highly recommended because it generates suggestions for your project needs. Browse extensive locations to your heart's content, and before you move forward with booking, chat with the host to check if the location is available when needed.
Create a Shooting Schedule – A shooting schedule is your production calendar; outline the start and end dates alongside what to record each day. It helps with logistics mainly because only the people involved in a scene should be at the filming location.
Hire Professional Crew Members – Hire professionals in each core department, from the director to the boom operator. Department heads will manage different teams while on location, so you don't have to deal with avoidable delays.
Take Continuity Photos – You don't want to end up with a movie where background characters keep changing positions in every shot. Continuity images help put everything back where it should be and get the actors in the same starting positions for every take.
Filming Expenses to Plan For
Producing any screen project can be expensive, but Giggster helps you spend less on one of the biggest expenditures—the location. With budget-friendly locations at £13/hour, you can save upfront by renting a cost-effective location.
Is there an all-inclusive deal?
Most studios offer package deals that include recording and editing. This suits busy non-industry people who want the end product ready to broadcast and post. However, you can get different services bundled with the rental cost, which will reduce your overall budget.
What does the fine print say?
Giggster and the hosts do not hide any details about leasing a film location. It's important to chat with the location owner before booking to iron out details like amenities and dates.
Hire equipment instead of buying.
Unless you have James Cameron's "Avatar" budget, which allowed him to partner with Vince Pace to develop the Reality Camera System, you will spend less renting film gear.
Plan Your Film Shoot with Giggster
Now that you understand the film locations on our website and which suits your project, booking the right location is straightforward. Go through our extensive listings and hire a film location today!
