Filming in County Durham: permits and fees
Durham County Council manages county highway and public land filming; Durham Cathedral, Beamish Museum, and Raby Castle are independently managed.
Who issues permits
Durham County Council manages filming on county highways and public land. Key filming destinations in the county operate independently:
- Durham Cathedral — Dean and Chapter, independent
- Beamish Living Museum / Beamish Museum — independent charitable trust
- Raby Castle — private estate
- Auckland Castle — Durham Diocese, independent
The Durham Viaduct is a Network Rail structure — filming on or immediately adjacent to the viaduct requires Network Rail involvement.
Process
Contact Durham County Council for highway and public land filming. For Durham city centre, the council manages much of the public space around the city peninsula. Allow four weeks minimum. Durham Cathedral and its immediate precinct are Cathedral-managed — no vehicles enter the precinct without Cathedral permission.
Fees
County fees on application. Cathedral, Beamish, Raby, and Auckland Castle fees are set individually by each organisation.
Durham World Heritage Site
Durham Cathedral and Castle form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The setting of the peninsula, including view corridors from key vantage points, is a material consideration for any large-scale production. Consult the council’s conservation team early for any shoot that could affect views to or from the Cathedral.
Contact
- Email: durhamhelpline@durham.gov.uk
- Web: durham.gov.uk
Apply via Durham County Council → durham.gov.uk
FAQ
- Who issues this filming permit?
- Durham County Council 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 28 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?
- Durham County Council quotes filming fees case-by-case based on scale, duration, and public-realm impact. Small documentary crews are often charged an admin fee only; feature-film shoots involving road closures cost meaningfully more.
- What does this permit cover?
- The permit typically covers streets, parks, civic buildings. 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 Durham County Council's filming page at https://www.durham.gov.uk. Submit your dates, locations, crew numbers, and equipment list. Expect a risk-assessment request and, for larger shoots, a pre-filming meeting.