Guide to filming or taking photos on the TfL network

Cost to film on TfL locations (from 1 April, 2023)

Unless indicated, all prices are exclusive of VAT and staff costs. The number and type of staff required will depend on the request itself.

Location permit* - please note that numbers of crew and cast will be determined by the choice of station/s

• Crew size 1-10 people: £900 an hour
• Crew size 10-20 people: £1,100 an hour
• Use of an exclusive area from £2,000 per hour

*These charges do not include staff supervision and rates start at £70 per hour

Discounted/student/charity filming

• Unfortunately, TfL is not in a position to offer filming for free or discounted.  As a self-funded organisation offering locations for free or less than cost is not financially viable, regardless of the type of request. 

Filming on a train in service

• Filming on a train in service is possible, however numbers of crew and cast have to be limited and only lightweight, handheld equipment will be permitted.  This number will be determined by the location and line on which you wish to shoot.

Use of exclusive area, with or without a train

• Rates start from £2,000 per hour (not including staff costs)

Recces/site visits

• We are happy to arrange any site visits or recces to our exclusive locations but we limit these to a maximum of 2.  Hourly charges of £500 p/h will be made for any additional access leading up to your shoot.  Please be aware though, that we have excellent 360⁰ footage on all of our exclusive sites at on the EyeRevolution website.

IFS Cloud Cable Car

• From £500 an hour plus VAT per cable car (approximately three return trips an hour)

Zone 4 onwards

• There is an additional flat cost of £600 if filming in Zone 4 and beyond

Evening and weekends - additional costs

• Requests for evenings and weekends do not include staff costs and will be subject to a minimum charge of 8 hours per member of supervisory staff in attendance

Filming at short notice

• A late notice fee of £600 plus VAT will be charged for applications made within 3 weeks (15 working days) of the proposed filming date, assuming we are able to accommodate the request

Last minute changes to your booking

• A £300 admin fee will be charged for changes to an existing booking requested within five days of filming

Copyright

We protect our brand and charge for its use. Find out how to apply to use our intellectual property on the Brand licensing page.

How to pay

• Payment for all permits must be made either in advance or on the day

Access times to film or photograph

We can only permit filming and photography during off-peak periods:

• Monday to Friday: 10:00-15:30 and 20:00-23:30
• Weekends: generally any time of day (depending on location)

Filming through the night

We don't recommend that you film or photograph when locations are closed at night because this is when essential engineering work is carried out. However, it may be possible if you give advance notice and if there are no planned works at the location you want to use.

Filming at weekends

You can generally film at any time of the day (depending on location). This will incur additional staff costs - see above

Notice period

Adequate lead time is expected when applying to film on TfL. We generally require a minimum of 3 weeks (15 working days) notice. Occasionally this can be turned around faster, depending on the nature of the request but may be subject to a late notice fee of £600.

What you will need

Insurance

You must have a current policy of insurance, providing cover for death and personal injury to any person and loss of, or damage to, any property. Your public liability insurance must be for at least £10M GBP and must be in the name of the company who is actually undertaking the filming.

Relevant script/storyboard

You will need to have your script or layout approved by the TfL Film Office before a permit is granted.

Permits will generally not be considered if a script or layout breaches or contradicts TfL byelaws or marketing campaigns or contains any of our filming restrictions.

London Underground (LU) can refuse a permit application without providing specific reasons, but we will normally offer advice on how you can bring your script or layout into line with its restrictions.

You can send us a synopsis or storyline before submitting your full permit application.

Restrictions

We do not permit flash photography or additional lighting unless you are using an exclusive area. In some cases they may be used - the TfL Film Office and operational staff can advise you on this.

Tripods are only authorised at the discretion of operational staff and are not allowed on station platforms or near escalators for safety reasons.

In accordance with TfL regulations, the following activities are not allowed to be filmed or photographed:

• Vandalism or graffiti
• Assaults on passengers or staff
• Suicides
• Fare evasion or ticket touting
• Use of firearms or weapons
• Drinking or carrying open containers of alcohol
• Misuse of escalators or LU property
• Unlicensed busking
• Begging
• Smoking or the use of illegal drugs
• Behaving in an overtly sexual or indecent manner (including nudity)
• Direct threats (including terrorist) to LU, its staff or passengers
• Anything that may negatively affect the interests of the site owner

We can refuse permit applications which include activities which breach or contradict TfL regulations and marketing campaigns.

Exclusive access areas

We have areas where you can have exclusive access to film: Aldwych, Bank (at the weekends) with a Waterloo & City Line train and Charing Cross with a Jubilee line train

Charges for exclusive areas currently are from £2,000 per hour (plus VAT) for the station or £3,000 per hour (plus VAT) with the additional use of your own train. Staff costs are not included.

Exclusive areas can include:

• Closed or separated areas from the public
• Your own train
• Use of station platforms
• Working escalators

Filming equipment

Equipment, lighting, or props etc over 1.8 metres long or 25kgs in weight requires special movement arrangements for the escalators and cannot be done in an operational environment.