Filming in the city

Get permission to film in Brighton & Hove

Brighton & Hove is a photogenic, film-friendly, city with a colourful, urban street scene, historic architecture, stunning countryside and coastal landscapes.

To film or photograph on outdoor council-owned land, you’ll need to apply for permission through the Sussex Film Office.

You can find information on locations, fees and permits on the Sussex Film Office website. 

They can also advise on:

• road closures
• parking bay suspensions
• finding production crew and facilities

If you need a parking suspension or a road closure, make sure you apply in plenty of time. 

Road closures can take up to 12 weeks to arrange, and parking suspensions usually need 7 working days’ notice. 

Filming in the sea

For any filming that involves people swimming or entering the sea, we'll need a minimum of 10 working days. You will need to complete a risk assessment and arrange any additional safety measures, such as a lifeboat.

Before you apply for filming consent, you should contact our Seafronts Team for specific advice relating to your activities in the sea.

Filming on privately owned land

Some popular locations in Brighton & Hove are not public land or are managed by private operators. To film in these places, you'll need to contact the owners or management companies directly. 

These include:

• Brighton Pier
• The Royal Pavilion
• Brighton Marina
• Brighton Train Station
• Churchill Square

Filming with a drone in Brighton & Hove

If you want to use a drone as part of your filming, contact the outdoor events team.

You will also need to provide:

• a drone operators CAA licence
• Drone Operators Insurance
• a drone operators' risk assessment
• a flight map showing where the drone will take off and land, as well as where it will be flown