Filming in Northumberland: permits and fees
Northumberland County Council handles filming permits for public land and highways across England's most northerly county, with major heritage sites independently managed.
Who issues permits
Northumberland County Council manages filming on council-maintained public land, highways, and civic assets. The county runs from the Cheviots to the coast, and many of the most-filmed locations here fall under separate management: Alnwick Castle is a private ducal estate, Bamburgh Castle is independently managed, and Cragside is National Trust. The Northumberland National Park Authority covers the uplands and Hadrian’s Wall corridor separately.
Process
Contact the council for public highway and council-land filming. A full production brief — crew numbers, vehicles, dates, risk assessment — should accompany any formal application. Allow four to six weeks for anything involving road closures. Hexham town centre and Kielder Forest both fall within the county but under different management tiers.
Fees
Fees are set by the council on application. Heritage site fees — English Heritage, National Trust, private estates — are negotiated directly with each owner. There is no central fee schedule for the county’s independent heritage properties.
Hadrian’s Wall and World Heritage Sites
Hadrian’s Wall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Any filming on or immediately adjacent to the wall requires approval from English Heritage in addition to any council or National Park Authority permissions. Consult early — these applications require site management coordination and can involve seasonal access restrictions.
Kielder Forest
Kielder Forest is managed by Forestry England, which operates its own filming licence process separately from the county council.
Contact
- Email: business@northumberland.gov.uk
- Web: northumberland.gov.uk
Apply via Northumberland County Council → northumberland.gov.uk
FAQ
- Who issues this filming permit?
- Northumberland 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?
- Northumberland 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 Northumberland County Council's filming page at https://www.northumberland.gov.uk. Submit your dates, locations, crew numbers, and equipment list. Expect a risk-assessment request and, for larger shoots, a pre-filming meeting.