Big Ben
london · SW1A
About this location
“Big Ben” is the name of the Great Bell inside the Elizabeth Tower at the north end of the Palace of Westminster. The tower itself — the clock face a hundred million tourist photographs — is part of the Parliamentary Estate, not a separately bookable asset. Interior access is not available to commercial productions. The exterior is the most-photographed building in London and is shot every day from the public pavement without any palace-specific permit.
Who controls access
The Elizabeth Tower falls under the same Parliamentary Estates Directorate Filming and Photography team as the rest of the Palace of Westminster. Site security is the responsibility of the Metropolitan Police Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command. The tower is within the secure Parliamentary boundary — the only legal route in is through the sponsored public tour or through parliamentary staff access, neither of which extends to commercial filming.
Interior: not normally available
Interior access to the clock mechanism, belfry and staircase is limited to a small number of editorial and documentary projects per year, negotiated directly with Parliament. The 2017-2022 restoration of the tower (Strategic Estates) produced official behind-the-scenes content via parliamentary broadcast services; independent crews did not get free access to the same spaces.
Public tours of the tower resumed after the restoration and can be booked via parliament.uk — but these are not filming-enabled. Tour participants can photograph personally; camera crews cannot attach to a tour.
Exterior filming
The exterior is straightforward. Westminster City Council permit covers:
- Parliament Square pavements (handheld or tripod, five to ten working days lead time for standard work).
- Westminster Bridge (pedestrian walkway on either side — the south end gives the classic wide frame with the bridge lamps in foreground).
- Bridge Street and Abingdon Street (flanking the tower — better for intimate angles).
For anything involving road space or significant equipment footprint, allow four to six weeks and expect Met Police sign-off. The north end of Westminster Bridge is a Transport for London carriageway; full closure is a separate TfL Production Services application.
What indie crews actually do
For establishing shots: long-lens exterior from Westminster Bridge or Parliament Square — no palace-specific permission needed. The clock faces are cleanly readable at 200mm from the north end of the bridge. Night exterior with the faces illuminated is one of the most reliable London establishing shots in film.
For dramas set inside the tower: built sets are universal. Doctor Who’s 1996 TV movie used a BBC studio build; the 2013 Doctor Who 50th anniversary exterior was long-lens plus VFX composite.
Practical contact
For any interior request: parliament.uk/visiting/filming-photography — the Filming and Photography team routes the enquiry. Expect the same constraints as any parliamentary interior: months of lead time, full crew identity submission, liability insurance (£5m minimum historically), member/peer sponsorship in most cases, and editorial terms set by parliamentary broadcasting.
For exterior-only: straight to the Westminster permit route — no palace involvement needed.
Access notes
- Parking
- No on-site parking confirmed. Expect to use nearby public car parks or a council parking suspension.
- Loading access
- Loading access not listed. Confirm access points, door widths, and lift availability with the venue before the day.
- Public transit
- london has mainline rail and regional bus connections. Check the nearest station and allow for equipment on-foot from transit.
Ask us about this location
Quick question before you enquire upstream? We often know day-rate ranges, permit lead times, or a direct-to-owner shortcut not shown on the source page.
On the map
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Access process
UK Parliament Filming and Photography
The Parliamentary Estates Directorate's Filming and Photography team handles all access requests across the Palace of Westminster, Portcullis House and the wider parliamentary estate.
- Lead time
- Months minimum. Parliamentary recess is the standard window for chamber-adjacent work.
- Fees
- Editorial case-by-case. Commercial features and drama not normally granted; use stand-ins.
- Met Police Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command handles on-site security.
- MP or Peer sponsorship often required for documentary access to specific parts of the estate.
- No commercial drama in the chambers — *The Crown*, *Brexit: The Uncivil War*, *Vigil* all used sets.
For exterior pavement shots only, the normal council permit route applies.
FAQ
- Do I need a permit to film at Big Ben?
- Yes — filming on or around Big Ben typically requires a permit. Allow roughly 5–10 working days lead time for most UK councils. Interior shoots on private property may also need owner consent.
- Is parking available at Big Ben?
- Parking isn't listed as a confirmed amenity for Big Ben. Check with the site for crew parking, loading, and unit-base options — in london you'll often rely on nearby public car parks or a council parking suspension.
- How much does it cost to film at Big Ben?
- Day rates at Big Ben aren't published — UK film locations typically run £200–£1,500 per day depending on the property, crew size, and exclusivity. Request a quote through the enquiry form with your dates and crew count.
- What crew size is suitable for Big Ben?
- Big Ben suits small crews of around 5 or fewer — documentary units, stills shoots, and lean commercial crews.
- Has anything been filmed at Big Ben before?
- Big Ben appears on Filmshoot's UK location index because it has a documented track record or strong characteristics for film and photography. Specific production credits aren't displayed unless publicly confirmed by the venue — ask the venue directly or check ScreenSkills and IMDb Locations for verified credits.
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