Film crew hire/Brighton/Shoot logistics in Brighton
Shoot logistics in Brighton
There’s no clean air charge for a crew van in Brighton, because the city’s low emission zone is a bus scheme. A suspended parking bay needs 7 working days’ notice, and the fastest trains from London take about an hour. This guide is our summary for planning a shoot. It isn’t the official source. Always check fees, notice periods and rules with the people named on this page before you film.
Low emission zone · charge for a van
None
Parking suspension · admin fee
£38
Suspended bay · notice
7 working days
Fastest train from London
About 1 hour
On this page
01 Clean air
The low emission zone and crew vans
Brighton’s low emission zone only covers buses, so a crew van has nothing to pay.
What it covers
It’s a scheme for buses, agreed between Brighton and Hove City Council and the bus companies.
Cars and vans
There’s no charge for cars or vans, so a crew van doesn’t need checking against the zone before it’s booked.
On a quote
There’s no emission charge to add for a van in Brighton. Mileage, parking and any suspended bay go on the quote at cost, each on its own line. We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Brighton and Hove City Council.
02 Parking
Suspending parking bays for the van
Brighton and Hove City Council suspends parking bays. Its charges have a row for removals, building work and events, and they don’t mention filming. The figures below come from that row, and we confirm the charge when we apply.
| What | Cost | Notice | How it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| A suspended bay, days 1 to 28 | £51 a 5.5 m bay a day | 7 full working days | The council’s rate for removals, building work and events. It doesn’t list a filming rate. |
| A suspended bay, from day 29 | £50 a bay a day | 7 full working days | The same row, for a suspension that runs past four weeks. |
| The admin fee | £38, or £19 for Brighton and Hove residents and businesses | With the application | Paid on top of the daily charge for the bays. |
| An urgent suspension | £20 extra | Less than 7 working days | For a shoot that can’t wait the full 7 working days. |
| 30 or more bays in one place | Each bay charged as above | 10 weeks | For a big unit that needs a long run of bays. |
| A road closure | Ask the Sussex Film Office | Up to 12 weeks | The Sussex Film Office advises on road closures. |
Before you book a bay
No filming rate
The council’s page doesn’t mention filming. The £51 is its daily rate for removals, building work and events, so we confirm the charge when we apply.
On the quote
The admin fee and the bays go on the quote at cost, each on its own line.
Filming on the street
A suspended bay holds the space for the van. Filming on the street or the seafront still needs the Sussex Film Office, which handles council land.
Sources
We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Brighton and Hove City Council and the Sussex Film Office.
03 By train
Getting the crew and kit to Brighton
The fastest trains from London take about an hour. Direct trains run from London Victoria, London Bridge and St Pancras.
Kit on the train or in a van
By train
A camera operator with a bag of batteries, cards and drives can come down by train. So can a director and a producer, or a small camera and sound crew.
In a van
Lighting, stands, track and carts come in a van. Bigger camera and lighting packages come from London kit houses, so the van usually drives down with the kit.
The crew’s own vans
Gaffers and grips usually bring their own kit van, which saves a hire and a driver.
Crew from London
We book crew who live in Brighton or Hove first. If nobody local is free, or the shoot needs more people, we bring crew down from London. Train fares, or the van’s mileage and parking, go on the quote before anything is booked.
Filming at the station
Brighton station is managed by Southern, part of GTR. Filming at the station or on a train needs GTR’s permission in advance. There’s more in the locations guide. We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with National Rail and GTR.
04 The calendar
When Brighton is busiest
A few big events take over parts of the city each year. These are the dates for 2027.
Brighton Marathon
The marathon is in April. In 2027 it’s on Sunday 4 April.
Brighton Festival
Brighton Festival runs from 1 to 23 May 2027.
Brighton Fringe
Brighton Fringe runs from 7 May to 6 June 2027.
Brighton Pride
Pride is in early August. Its 2027 dates hadn’t been announced when we checked.
What we’d do
If the shot doesn’t need the event, pick another week. If it does, keep the crew small and book early.
Sources
We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with the Brighton Marathon, Brighton Festival and Brighton Fringe.
05 From abroad
Travelling from abroad
The ETA
Most visitors from Europe, the US, Canada and Australia need an electronic travel authorisation, or ETA, to come to the UK. It costs £20.
Crew from an overseas company
The British Film Commission says crew employed by an overseas company can visit the UK for a location shoot, if the content is produced and financed overseas.
One contract with us
If you’re flying in from the US or Europe, your contract is with us. We’re a UK company, so you get one invoice and you don’t need a UK company of your own. See how overseas teams book a Brighton crew.
Bringing kit
Our guide to bringing film equipment into the UK covers the paperwork for kit that flies in with you.
On the quote
Travel and hotels we book for you go on the quote with everything else, under the same 10% booking fee and 2% insurance. The national picture is in our UK guide to travel, hotels and vans. We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with GOV.UK and the British Film Commission.
Get the Brighton logistics sorted.
Send the dates, the locations and who’s travelling. We’ll book the parking bays, travel, hotels and food with the crew, each on its own line. Or call us on 07412 543822.
Quick contact form
06 Questions
Questions about shoot logistics in Brighton
Do crew vans pay a clean air charge in Brighton?
No. Brighton’s low emission zone is a bus scheme, agreed between the council and the bus companies, and there’s no charge for cars or vans. Check with Brighton and Hove City Council for the latest.
How do I suspend a parking bay in Brighton?
Apply to Brighton and Hove City Council at least 7 full working days ahead, or 10 weeks ahead for 30 bays or more in one place. There’s a £38 admin fee, or £19 for Brighton and Hove residents and businesses. The council’s daily rate for removals, building work and events is £51 a 5.5 m bay for days 1 to 28, then £50. Its page doesn’t mention filming, so we confirm the charge when we apply. An urgent suspension costs £20 extra. Check with Brighton and Hove City Council for the latest.
How long does the train take to Brighton from London?
The fastest trains from London take about an hour. Direct trains run from London Victoria, London Bridge and St Pancras. Check with National Rail for the latest.
Can a crew bring kit to Brighton on the train?
A camera operator with a bag of batteries, cards and drives, or a small camera and sound crew, can come down by train. Lighting, stands, track and carts come in a van, and gaffers and grips usually bring their own. Train fares, or the van’s mileage and parking, go on the quote before anything is booked.
Can I film at Brighton station?
Only with GTR’s permission. Southern, part of GTR, manages the station, and GTR asks for permission in advance to film at its stations or on its trains. Commercial requests go to businessdevelopment@gtrailway.com. Check with GTR for the latest.
When is Brighton busiest?
Brighton Marathon is on Sunday 4 April 2027. Brighton Festival runs from 1 to 23 May 2027 and Brighton Fringe from 7 May to 6 June 2027. Pride is in early August. Book the crew, the parking and the travel early for those weeks, or film in another week. Check with each event’s organisers for the latest.
What do overseas crews need to travel to the UK for a shoot?
Most visitors from Europe, the US, Canada and Australia need an ETA, which costs £20. The British Film Commission says crew employed by an overseas company can visit for a location shoot if the content is produced and financed overseas. Your contract is with us, so you don’t need a UK company of your own. Check with GOV.UK and the British Film Commission for the latest.
Can you sort the logistics with the crew?
Yes. Send the dates, the locations and who’s travelling. We book the parking bays, the van, travel, hotels and food with the crew, each on its own line of the quote, with travel and mileage at cost. On a crew hire, everything we book carries the 10% booking fee and 2% insurance. Our team reads every brief within 2 working hours.
Around the crew
More for Brighton shoots
01
Kit rental
Where to hire camera, lighting and sound kit for a Brighton shoot, and when the crew bring their own.
02
Locations and permits
The Sussex Film Office, private places such as the pier, filming on the beach and the drone rules.
03
Studios and set builds
Studios in Brighton for interviews and product shots, and where to go for a bigger set build.
04
Props and wardrobe
Where props and costume come from, and the stylists and hair and make-up artists we book.
