Filming in museums and galleries: permits, fees and lead times
How location filming and photo shoots work at museums, galleries and heritage sites, what they cost, how much notice to give and what you'll need.
Museums, galleries and heritage sites appear in films, TV dramas, adverts and photo shoots all the time, and most have a team or a process for it. The fee you pay usually goes back into looking after the building and its collection.
Here’s how it works, and what to have ready when you get in touch.
Who to contact
Larger museums and heritage organisations have a filming or locations office, often listed under “commercial”, “venue hire” or “filming” on their website. Smaller venues usually handle filming through their events or venue hire team. National Trust filming goes through its central Filming and Locations Office, and nothing can be shot without a signed contract.
How much notice to give
Notice periods vary with the size of the shoot:
- Small shoots (a photographer, or a crew of a few people): around one to three weeks. The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, for example, asks for at least 14 working days’ notice, and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust at least 7 working days.
- Larger productions: months, not weeks, especially for drama with sets, lighting and large crews.
Popular venues book up, so get in touch as soon as you have dates in mind.
When you can film
Interior filming usually happens outside public opening hours: early mornings, evenings or days the venue is closed. Some galleries allow small, quiet shoots during opening hours with restrictions on where you can set up. Outdoor filming in grounds may be more flexible.
What it costs
Most venues charge a location fee based on the size of the crew and how long you’re there, usually as an hourly or daily rate from arrival to departure, with a minimum charge. As an example, the Natural History Museum publishes hourly rates from about £500 to over £2,750 depending on crew size, with minimum fees of several thousand pounds plus VAT.
On top of the location fee, expect charges for:
- staff to supervise the shoot, and security out of hours
- recces (some venues charge, some don’t)
- facilities such as power, parking and holding areas
- any time outside the booked hours
Charities, students and news crews may be charged differently, so ask.
What venues will ask for
- a description of the production and how the venue will appear
- dates, times and a schedule
- crew numbers and a kit list, including lighting and power needs
- public liability insurance, often with a minimum level of cover
- a risk assessment and, for bigger shoots, a method statement
- details of vehicles, parking and load-in
Rules on set
Museums protect their collections first. Expect:
- no touching objects, and kit kept at a set distance from them
- limits on lighting, because heat and light can damage some objects
- no tape or fixings on walls and floors without permission
- floor protection for heavy kit
- a member of staff with the crew throughout
Some collections can’t be shown, or can only be filmed with permission from whoever holds the rights, such as a lender or an artist’s estate.
Finding locations
Browse museums, galleries and heritage sites that hire out their spaces. Each listing links to the venue’s own hire pages, where you’ll usually find its filming information.