Filming and photography in Westminster

When you don't need to apply

We do not require an application if you meet the following criteria:

• Your entire on-street team is 5 people or less, inclusive of crew, cast, extras, contributors/presenters, agency, entourage, and so on.
• You are using handheld equipment only, no tripods, drones, jibs, lights/monitors on stands, magliners, and so on, and do not store any equipment on the pavement.
  • Please note that many other London Boroughs do allow the use of tripods using the above advice. For the avoidance of doubt, Westminster City Council do not.
• You are able to leave a minimum of 2 metres clear on the pavement for pedestrians, double buggies and wheelchairs to pass. You do not block access or egress to any properties, including fire exits.
• You are only filming on a pavement, not in the road itself, a park, on housing estate or at any other council operated location, such as markets or leisure centres.
• You are not filming on a TfL Red Route, including Edgware Road, Grosvenor Place, Marylebone Road, south end of Millbank, Park Lane, Victoria Embankment, Vauxhall Bridge Road and others. Please contact TfL.
• You are not filming on land under Royal Parks jurisdiction, for example, The Mall, Birdcage Walk, Constitution Hill. Please contact Royal Parks.
• You are not filming a contentious subject, for example scenes of violence, sex, nudity, use of replica or real weapons. Please contact the Met Film Unit.
• Your shoot does not involve stunts or special effects, for example wet down, pyrotechnics, action vehicles.

Pre-application advice

We offer a consultation service for help and advice before you apply. This can help you to identify opportunities and costs to help you with your decision-making ahead of a full application.

If you are working on a production with multiple, for example five or more, locations scheduled in Westminster and/or have an ambitious shoot, we can provide a better service to you if you complete a consultation with us first. The consultation allows us to comment, advise and agree principles for locations prior to you submitting a filming application. 

We will advise you if your shoot is feasible particularly if it’s complex or requires resident consultation. The service costs £180 per hour or £42 for charities for filming consultations, inclusive of VAT.

Please note the Consultation should take place 10 to 15 working days before existing timescales are triggered.

Equipment and crew 

Please let us know the equipment you will be using, how many people will be in the cast and crew and details of any complex requirements in your application. 

Insurance

Please provide proof of Public Liability Insurance of at least £5 million per incident and £10 million for large-scale productions.

Documentation

The following documents should be included at the time of application where possible:

• a plan of your filming area showing camera, equipment, lighting and generator positions
• an image of the proposed filming area taken from your site visit
• a copy of your Public Liability Insurance
• contact details including the name, role and mobile phone number of a designated on-site contact.

If you are unable to supply this information in your application, you will need to allow extra processing time.

You must carry out a filming risk assessment and collate appropriate method statements for your filming activity. This documentation must be provided by request.

Location 

If you are filming on a street, road or in a council park or garden, we can arrange permission. Some locations are not owned by the council and will need additional consent, so please check before you apply. 

You can check if your location is in the City of Westminster on our map.

Permits and licences

Please visit our permits and licences page to check you have enough time before you apply.

Roadworks

It’s useful to check if planned roadworks will affect your event or film shoot. Visit the one.network website to find out more.

Health and safety

Your shoot should meet the requirements detailed in the Health and Safety executive guide to audio visual production. Please show how you will meet these in your risk assessment.

You may also need to contact the Metropolitan Police Film Unit with details of your filming and can check if this is required. Please let us know of any objections, restrictions or conditions.

Further health and safety requirements are included in our letter of no objection.

Contacting residents and businesses

Filming can have a big impact on nearby residents and businesses, so it’s important you let them know your production is taking place and discuss any impact it may have on them through ongoing communication and engagement. We can help you to do this.

At a minimum, you should send a letter including the location, duration, timings, the number of people on site, the equipment you will be using, including lighting, cranes and generators, special effects and stunts, and parking.

You must also let people know if actors will be in service uniforms or if imitation weapons or firearms are being used. Please include a contact name and telephone number for the production and the council in case of queries or complaints.

If you have special requirements such as a night shoot or road closure, you may need to consult further with the people who are affected.

Fairer Environment

The council is committed to tackling climate change and improving air quality through Fairer Westminster.

We enforce a no engine idling policy and engines or generators must be switched off when not in use for two minutes or more.

Find out more ways to reduce your environmental impact from Green Screen.

Film London Code of Practice

The Code of Practice for Location Filming in London was developed to provide filmmakers with everything they need to know to ensure a smooth-running shoot in the city. Read the Film London Code of Practice. 

What happens next?

• you can request a pre-application consultation if you would like to talk through your plans
• submit your online application
• we will check your preferred date and location 
• you will receive an email with a reference number and details of how to pay. Check our events and filming fees guidance
• once you have paid, a member of the team will contact you to discuss your application and let you know of any requirements or conditions
• if we approve your shoot, you will be issued with a letter of no objection including conditions specific to your activity. This is not a contract with the council but gives you permission to carry out the activities that have been agreed