Filming at Historic Royal Palaces: permits and fees
Historic Royal Palaces manages location hire and filming across six royal sites including the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, and Kensington Palace.
Who issues permits
Historic Royal Palaces’ commercial venues and location hire team manages all filming enquiries. Each palace site operates under different constraints depending on its visitor programme, conservation requirements, and operational schedule.
Process
Contact HRP’s location hire team with a brief production synopsis, the specific sites of interest, proposed dates, and crew size. The team prepares a formal proposal after assessing availability. Lead times vary significantly: Hampton Court Palace’s exterior grounds may be available at short notice, while interior access at the Tower of London typically requires months of advance planning.
Fees
Location hire fees are premium, reflecting the unique heritage status of these sites. Budget for several thousand pounds per day for exterior locations; interior access with conservation requirements can be significantly higher. All fees are negotiated directly with the HRP commercial team.
What’s covered
Six sites: Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace, Banqueting House, Kew Palace, and Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland. Each site has filming zones, some of which are only available outside public opening hours.
Typical restrictions
Visitor-facing areas at all palaces are typically only available outside public opening hours (early mornings and evenings). Conservation-grade interiors have strict lighting restrictions — no direct contact with surfaces, approved fixtures only, supervised access throughout. Film crews must follow HRP’s conduct protocols at all times.
Contact
Apply on the Historic Royal Palaces website → hrp.org.uk
FAQ
- Who issues this filming permit?
- This permit is issued by Historic Royal Palaces, a national body covering england-se. Applications go direct to them rather than the local council.
- How long is the lead time?
- Allow at least 90 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?
- Historic Royal Palaces 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 civic buildings, parks, 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 Historic Royal Palaces's filming page at https://www.hrp.org.uk/location-hire-and-filming/. Submit your dates, locations, crew numbers, and equipment list. Expect a risk-assessment request and, for larger shoots, a pre-filming meeting.