Filming in Richmond upon Thames: permits and fees
Richmond upon Thames covers Twickenham, Richmond town, and the Thames riverside — popular for period productions in well-maintained green environments.
Who issues permits
Richmond’s filming team manages permits for council-controlled streets and open spaces. Richmond Park is managed by The Royal Parks and requires a separate permit from that organisation. Kew Gardens is managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.
Process
Contact Richmond’s filming service. Standard five working days minimum. Road closures along Richmond’s historic tight streets require at least three weeks and careful traffic management planning.
Fees
Standard London borough rates for streets and council parks. Richmond Park and Kew Gardens fees are set by their respective managing bodies.
What’s covered
Streets in Richmond, Twickenham, Kew, and Ham. Council parks and open spaces. The Terrace at Richmond overlooking the Thames. Council civic buildings.
Typical restrictions
Richmond Park (Royal Parks) and Kew Gardens (Royal Botanic Gardens Kew) each have fully independent permit regimes. Thames riverside filming at many points requires Port of London Authority consent.
Contact
- Email: filming@richmond.gov.uk
- Web: richmond.gov.uk/filming
Apply on the Richmond Council website → richmond.gov.uk
FAQ
- Who issues this filming permit?
- London Borough of Richmond upon Thames 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 5 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?
- London Borough of Richmond upon Thames 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 London Borough of Richmond upon Thames's filming page at https://www.richmond.gov.uk/filming. Submit your dates, locations, crew numbers, and equipment list. Expect a risk-assessment request and, for larger shoots, a pre-filming meeting.