Filming in Wales: Creative Wales permits guide
Creative Wales connects productions to Welsh locations support, crew and facilities, studios, local authorities, Cadw, Natural Resources Wales, and other permission holders.
Who issues permits
Individual local authorities in Wales issue their own filming permits. Creative Wales acts as the national support body, directing productions to local councils, property owners, studios, crew/facilities, and regional contacts. Natural Resources Wales, national park authorities, Cadw, and private landowners remain separate permission holders where relevant.
Process
Contact Creative Wales early in pre-production. The locations database requires productions to register a project before searching, and the team provides additional guidance where database access or local routing is unclear. Lead times depend on the specific councils, sites, and landowners.
Fees
Creative Wales’ support function is separate from local permit and location-hire charges. Individual councils set their own filming fee schedules. Cadw-managed sites, including Harlech Castle and Caernarfon Castle, have their own location hire rates.
What’s covered
All of Wales, including urban areas through local councils, countryside through Natural Resources Wales and national park authorities, and heritage monuments through Cadw. Creative Wales also points productions toward Wales-based studios and build spaces.
Typical restrictions
Filming within Eryri (Snowdonia), Pembrokeshire Coast, and Bannau Brycheiniog national parks requires national park authority permission in addition to any council permission. Cadw-managed sites, including most of Wales’s major castles, require Cadw film consent. Welsh language context should be considered when producing content set in Welsh-speaking communities.
Contact
- Web: creative.wales/filming-wales
- Locations: creative.wales/filming-wales/locations
Start with Creative Wales -> creative.wales/filming-wales
FAQ
- Who issues this filming permit?
- This permit is issued by Creative Wales, a national body covering wales. Applications go direct to them rather than the local council.
- How long is the lead time?
- Lead time varies. UK councils typically ask for 5–10 working days for a straightforward filming permit, but road closures, large crews, or night shoots may need 3–4 weeks. Contact the team early.
- What's the typical cost?
- Creative Wales 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, outdoor. 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 Creative Wales's filming page at https://www.creative.wales/filming-wales. Submit your dates, locations, crew numbers, and equipment list. Expect a risk-assessment request and, for larger shoots, a pre-filming meeting.