Filming in Bristol: permits and fees
Bristol Film Office is Bristol City Council's production-facing service for filming permits, locations, parking suspensions, and council-managed locations.
Who issues permits
Bristol Film Office manages filming permits for Bristol City Council-managed land and property. Harbour, drone, private-property, heritage-site, and CAA-regulated activity may require additional consents.
Process
Apply through Bristol Film Office’s online permitting system before planning to film on any Bristol City Council-managed location. Complex productions involving road closures, drone work, the harbourside, or multiple public-space elements need longer lead time. Bristol Film Office also handles parking suspension requests.
Fees
Bristol Film Office publishes current charges. At the 2026 sweep, street filming starts at GBP84 for small crews and GBP163 for medium crews. Large, HETV, and feature filming is by negotiation. Unit bases start from GBP600 per day. Drone filming is listed at GBP245-465 depending on location and number of locations.
What’s covered
City Docks and Harbourside, Redcliffe Caves, parks including The Downs, general highways, centre spaces, car parks, markets, museums, estates, libraries, council buildings, crematoria, and cemeteries inside Bristol’s city boundary.
The city’s Georgian Clifton quarter and redeveloped Harbourside are among the most requested areas for productions.
Typical restrictions
Harbourside safety briefings are required for shoots near water. Working hours restrictions apply after 23:00. Road closures require a Traffic Management Plan submitted to highways. Drone flights require CAA compliance and council sign-off where take-off or landing is on council land.
Contact
- Web: filmbristol.co.uk/filming-permission
- Council page: Bristol City Council filming
Apply through Bristol Film Office -> filmbristol.co.uk
FAQ
- Who issues this filming permit?
- Bristol City Council / Bristol Film Office issues filming permits for its area. Applications go through the council's filming / events team — not the local parks department or police, although those may also be consulted.
- How long is the lead time?
- Allow at least 14 working days. Complex applications involving road closures, drone use, or multiple locations need more — plan 2–4 weeks ahead where possible.
- What's the typical cost?
- Fees start from GBP84. Expect supplementary charges for road closures, parking suspensions, officer attendance, and out-of-hours filming.
- What does this permit cover?
- The permit typically covers streets, parks, civic buildings, commercial. Private property and other national-body land (e.g. Crown Estate, National Trust, Royal Parks) may need separate consent.
- How do I apply?
- Apply via Bristol City Council / Bristol Film Office's filming page at https://filmbristol.co.uk/filming-permission/. Submit your dates, locations, crew numbers, and equipment list. Expect a risk-assessment request and, for larger shoots, a pre-filming meeting.