Public Highways and Council Property

• Filming or holding an event on or affecting the public highway
• Filming or holding an event on private land
• Using special effects, crowd management or licensable activities
• Filming or holding an event on Council property

Public highway

If you want to film or hold an event on a public highway in Westminster, you need to apply to us so that we can make sure that your planned activity does not negatively impact on residents, businesses or passers-by. A public highway is: any public road, pavement or passageway, and includes public spaces like squares.

You need to apply if you want to do any of the following:

•  film or hold an event on a public highway
•  film or hold an event near a public highway if your shoot is like to block or disrupt the public highway
•  film or hold an event on Council property

Private land

If your planned activity is on private land and is completely contained, you will need to ask the permission of the landlord and any residents or businesses who may be affected.

Private land with special effects, crowd management or affecting public highways

If your planned activity is on private land and you plan to use special effects, crowd management, firearms, have licensable activities or large vehicles or equipment, you will still need to apply.

Using Council property

If you want to use Council property for your event or shoot, you need to apply. If you wish to discuss possible locations, contact the Communications and Strategy Unit before applying. Council property includes:

• schools
• car parks
• Council House
• City Hall
• libraries
• Council housing estates
• Parks and squares (with the exception of Parliament Square and Trafalgar Square, which are joint-owned with the GLA).

If your filming or event is in a park or public space in Westminster that is owned or managed by us, please go to our Parks section. If you want to film or hold an event in Green Park, Hyde Park, Regent's Park, Kensington Gardens, St. James's Park or Victoria Tower Gardens, please go to the Royal Parks website.

If you can’t find the answer to your query here or in our FAQs, please email us at speciale@westminster.gov.uk