Find your Film Studio in London

You’ve been planning this film production for a long time, the script is ready, and the actors well-prepared, but you still don’t have a place to bring your ideas to light? There are plenty of great film studios all over London. With Tagvenue’s help you can set out your particular requirements and let us show you all the best fit studios. You will find a lot of film studios in Central London. With easy transport from all over the city, this is a great location for your next production. If you want to find something slightly cheaper and away from the hustle and bustle of downtown, check out your options in London’s amazing suburbs.

Still don’t know how to choose the perfect film studio? We’ve prepared a helpful list of tips for you to keep in mind while choosing your perfect venue:

• Decide on the location. London's vibrant districts will offer you a wide choice of film studios, whether in the centre in areas such as Hackney, Camden, Lambeth, or in the outskirts like Hillingdon, Havering or Croydon.

• Equipment. Imagine a studio shoot where you don’t need to bring your own camera triggers, LED lights, or reflectors because your film studio already has them. Check out the venue on Tagvenue and choose a film studio offering the necessary equipment. How convenient! When planning your shoot, always check our platform for details and then contact the film studio to confirm.

Average film equipment hire costs (Cameraworks.co.uk and thekitroom.co.uk data) 

• Camera £80-400 / day
• Lenses £75 - 400 /day
• Lighting £10-200 / day
• Tripods £15- 40 / day
• Microphones £5-30 / day

• Green Screen. Need a green screen? If so, make sure your first choice film studio offers one. Remember that the green screen should cover the whole background. When using a green screen, either hired or your own, make sure it doesn’t have any wrinkles or tears as this can disrupt the effect in post-production. Some studios will offer green screens of different sizes, while others may offer green screen rooms.

• Capacity. How many people are on your crew? When choosing a venue on Tagvenue, use the slider to search for studios with the capacity you need. Then scroll through venues that can fit your needs perfectly!

• Lights, camera, action! When planning your shoot, it’s always important to decide on the lighting you will be using. Always check with the studio manager to discover if these are available on site or are available for hire. If you are making a student film, always follow the rules of three point lighting and decide which lights you need:

Key light The key light is the strongest, main light. It should be placed in front of the object, 45 degrees above and 45 degrees to the side. It highlights the shape and dimension of a subject.

Fill light This softer light is used to remove shadows from a subject's face. The fill light should be placed on the side, opposite the key light.

Back light The back light should be placed above and behind the object where it can provide a subtle glow in the background.

Three point lighting is impossible without proper lights. Different types of lights can be used for filming. It all depends on the effect you would like to create:

HMI lights, thanks to a specific mix of gases in the bulbs, these lights can create an effect very similar to sunlight. They are used to imitate sunlight shining into a room.

Fluorescent lights give a similar effect to HMI. They provide soft, even light and can be used close to an object.

Open-Faced Fixtures create hard light and dark shadows.

LED lights are an extremely efficient, long-lasting option that provide soft, cool-toned lighting.

Tungsten lights work at higher temperatures and consequently have a higher colour temperature and luminous efficiency. They are often used to light interiors.

Natural light can be used to illuminate the object as well. However this option is only suitable outdoors or in film studios with large windows. During “golden hour”, the brief period in early morning and late evening that provides a unique and sought after light effect, you can achieve spectacular shots.

• Reviews. No matter if it is the first or the 100th time you hire a studio, it is always good to check the film studio’s reviews. You can spare yourself unnecessary stress when you know that the venue where you are going has positive reviews.

• Date. Make sure the date for your shoot is convenient for everyone. Keep in mind that the film studio may already be booked on some days. We highly recommend that you book at least 3 months in advance and, if possible, even 6 months prior. Remember that hire rates can vary widely depending on the time and day of the week. Also, investigate the venue’s cancellation policy. If your plans change and you can’t make the date, let the managers know as soon as possible. As long as you cancel within a certain period of time before your arranged booking, you should be able to get either a full or a 50% refund.

Film Studios in London FAQ

What is the average price for a film studio hire in London?

For film studios that charge a hire fee, expect prices to range from  from £15 up to £400 per hour. Others will charge on a whole day or session basis, in that case, prices will average around £75 up to £28000 for the allotted time. If you are searching among our Super Venues, venues on our platform with almost 150 positive reviews, expect charges from £45 - £55 per hour. (All data from Tagvenue.)

Are all London film studios fully equipped or must I provide my own equipment?

The answer depends on the studio which you want to hire. Some will include equipment such as universal triggers, LED lights, stands and reflectors in the price of the hire. For others, you will need to either bring or hire equipment yourself. Check the venue listing on the Tagvenue platform, they will list information about the equipment provided by each studio. If you have any further questions, reach out to the studio manager directly.

Should I hire equipment or buy my own?

You're just beginning your film career and don't have the money to invest in the latest equipment, or maybe you're planning to invest in a new camera, but you're not sure whether you'll like using it? Why not hire one? Hiring for a short period is a great chance to check if you feel comfortable working with a certain piece of equipment or to test the one that you are thinking of purchasing.

Are there wheelchair accessible film studios?

There are some. To find film studios with wheelchair accessibility you can use the filter ‘wheelchair accessible’ under Facilities in our search options. However, we always recommend that you speak with the studio manager directly about their options and facilities before you finalise your booking.