Film crew hire/Oxford/Filming locations and permits in Oxford
Filming locations and permits in Oxford
Oxfordshire County Council handles filming on the streets and pavements of Oxford. The city council handles its own parks and open spaces, the University’s filming coordinator handles University buildings, and each college decides for itself. 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.
Small crew on the street · notice
At least 15 working days
Listed streets in the centre · notice
At least 30 working days
Road closure · notice
At least 12 weeks
1 to 4 crew on the street · fee
£150 + VAT a day
On this page
01 The short version
How filming permission works in Oxford
01
Work out whose land it is
Oxfordshire County Council handles filming on streets and pavements. Oxford City Council handles its own parks and open spaces. The University’s filming coordinator handles University buildings, each college decides for itself, and the Bodleian Libraries set their own terms.
02
Apply early enough
A small crew on the street needs at least 15 working days’ notice, or 30 on eight listed streets in the centre. A road closure needs at least 12 weeks, and most colleges want at least two weeks. The county’s full list is below.
03
Tell the people who need telling
Radcliffe Square needs Brasenose College for the square and the county council for the road. A drone in London Oxford Airport’s zone needs a request through Air Portal, and colleges and University land need the owner’s permission as well.
Finding the location first
University buildings
Start with the University’s filming coordinator. A college building goes to the college, because each college decides for itself.
The recce
We walk the location before the shoot, at the hour you’ll film, and check where the van can park. Parking and travel are in the logistics guide.
Who files it
On a full production our producer applies for all of it, in our name. On a crew hire, the location and its permission stay with you. The application names your company, and the public liability certificate is yours. A production manager we book can run the applications, the parking and the call sheet for you.
Sources
We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council and London Oxford Airport.
02 The county council
Oxfordshire County Council and the streets
Oxfordshire County Council handles filming on streets and pavements in Oxford and across the county. The city council doesn’t.
What it covers
It covers filming on the highway, which means streets and pavements, in Oxford and the rest of Oxfordshire. The city council’s parks, the colleges and University buildings each have their own route.
Crew size
The county sorts shoots by size. A small production is usually up to 10 crew. A medium one is 11 to 40 crew, cast and extras, and a major one is 41 or more.
Fees
The county charges a daily fee by the number of crew, plus VAT. Ten premium streets cost more, and the full cost is due if you cancel after the licence is granted. The fees are below.
Notice and insurance
A small production needs at least 15 working days’ notice, or 30 on eight listed streets in the centre. Public liability must be at least £10m.
Road closures
A road closure needs a Special Event Order, with at least 12 weeks’ notice. It costs £3,029 plus VAT, including up to £600 of advertising.
Sources
We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Oxfordshire County Council.
03 Lead times
How much notice each permission needs
The notice Oxfordshire County Council asks for on streets and pavements, shortest first. Book further out than this if you can. The colleges and the Bodleian set their own notice, further down.
| What you need | Who says yes | Minimum notice |
|---|---|---|
| A small production, usually up to 10 crew | Oxfordshire County Council | At least 15 working days |
| A small production on Broad Street, Catte Street, Holywell Street, Merton Street, New College Lane, Oriel Square, Queens Lane or Turl Street | Oxfordshire County Council | At least 30 working days |
| A medium production, 11 to 40 crew, cast and extras | Oxfordshire County Council | Two months |
| A road closure, through a Special Event Order | Oxfordshire County Council | At least 12 weeks |
| A major production, 41 people or more | Oxfordshire County Council | Three months |
04 Fees
What filming permits cost in Oxford
Oxfordshire County Council charges a daily fee for filming on streets and pavements, set by the number of crew. Ten premium streets cost more: Broad Street, Catte Street, Holywell Street, Merton Street, New College Lane, Oriel Square, Queens Lane, Turl Street, Brasenose Lane and Britwell Hill Road. Every fee is plus VAT. The city council’s fees for its own land are further down.
| What | Fee, plus VAT |
|---|---|
| 1 to 4 crew, a day | £150, or £300 on a premium street |
| 5 to 10 crew, a day | £200, or £400 on a premium street |
| 11 to 29 crew, a day | £800, or £1,600 on a premium street |
| 30 to 40 crew, a day | £1,700, or £3,200 on a premium street |
| 41 or more crew, a day | £2,700, or £3,500 on a premium street |
| A road closure, with a Special Event Order | £3,029, including up to £600 of advertising |
05 City council land
Filming in the city council’s parks and open spaces
Oxford City Council handles filming on its own land, its parks and open spaces, and publishes its own fees. Streets and pavements go to the county council.
Who to ask
The city council’s events team takes filming requests for its land.
Streets and pavements
Filming on streets and pavements goes to Oxfordshire County Council. The county’s notice periods are above.
A bond
The city council asks for a bond of £250 to £2,500.
Short notice
Under 7 days’ notice adds 25% to the fee.
Commercial filming fees
Small crew, 1 to 5
£840 a full day, or £420 a half day.
Medium crew, 6 to 11
£1,400 a full day, or £700 a half day.
Large crew, 12 or more
£2,800 a full day, or £1,400 a half day. We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Oxford City Council.
06 The University and colleges
The University, the colleges and the Bodleian
The University, the colleges and the Bodleian Libraries each decide on their own buildings, so you ask the owner first.
| Where | Who to ask | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| University buildings | The University’s filming coordinator | Colleges are separate, and each college decides on its own buildings |
| A college | The college itself. Keble takes location filming enquiries | Most colleges want at least two weeks’ notice. Magdalen and St Edmund Hall may charge a location fee |
| Radcliffe Square | Brasenose College for the square, and Oxfordshire County Council for the road | The Bodleian has no say over the square |
| The Bodleian Libraries | Its filming terms |
|---|---|
| Small crews, up to 10 | From £500 an hour, plus VAT |
| Large crews, 10 or more | From £1,000 an hour, plus VAT |
| What sets the fee | The crew, the kit and the times |
| When crews film | Normally before 8.30am and after closing |
| Large-scale filming | At least 3 months’ notice |
| Filming collection items | At least 28 days’ notice |
Keble College
Keble takes location filming enquiries. It’s a working college, with people living there all year.
Magdalen and St Edmund Hall
Both may charge a location fee. Less than two weeks’ notice is unlikely to succeed there.
Term time
Term time is the hardest time to get college rooms and quads. When the city is busiest has more.
Sources
We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Oxford City Council, Keble College, the Bodleian Libraries and each college.
07 Paperwork
What the paperwork looks like
These are the documents an Oxford shoot is most likely to need, and who asks for them.
RA
Most places ask
Risk assessment
We write ours for the location and the day, and send it with each application.
£10m
Most places ask
Public liability certificate
Oxfordshire County Council asks for at least £10m for filming on streets and pavements. For a college or the Bodleian, we ask when we apply. A drone flight also needs the operator’s drone insurance.
LA
The owner
Location agreement
A signed agreement with each private owner, setting out the dates, the hours and what the crew will bring.
MS
Effects and stunts
Method statements
For special effects, stunts and night work, with the risk assessment. Effects run under a JIGS-graded supervisor and stunts under a JISC co-ordinator.
SIA
Overnight kit
Security
Anyone guarding a location or kit overnight holds an SIA licence.
Sources
We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Oxfordshire County Council.
08 Drones and airspace
Who says yes to a drone in Oxford
One flight can need several yeses. London Oxford Airport covers its zone at Kidlington, RAF Brize Norton and RAF Benson have zones of their own, and colleges and University land need the owner’s permission. The pilot holds their own CAA paperwork.
| Permission | Who grants it | Notice |
|---|---|---|
| London Oxford Airport’s flight restriction zone, at Kidlington | Air Portal takes the request. In air traffic control hours, the controller on duty gives final permission. Outside them, the aerodrome operator does | Not stated. Ask early |
| RAF Brize Norton and RAF Benson | Each has its own flight restriction zone. Check the Drone Safety Map for your take-off point | Check the map first |
| Colleges and University land | The owner, as well as any airspace permission | Ask with the filming request |
The airport’s zone
London Oxford Airport, at Kidlington, has a flight restriction zone that’s active at all times.
Check the map
RAF Brize Norton and RAF Benson have flight restriction zones of their own. Check the Drone Safety Map for your take-off point before the flight is planned.
Air Portal
Requests go through Air Portal. During air traffic control hours, 06:30 to 22:30 local time or as notified, the air traffic controller on duty gives final permission. Outside those hours, the aerodrome operator does.
The pilot’s paperwork
Most of it sits with the pilot. See how we book a drone operator in Oxford.
Sources
We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with London Oxford Airport and the Drone Safety Map.
09 The calendar
When Oxford is busiest
The University’s year sets the busiest times for the colleges. Book around them, or plan for them.
Degree ceremonies
Degree ceremonies at the Sheldonian run on dates through the year. Merton College lists them in May, July, August and November.
Term time
Term time is the hardest time to get college rooms and quads.
What we’d do
If the shot doesn’t need a ceremony day, pick another one. If it needs a college in term, ask the college early and keep the crew small. We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Merton College.
10 Insurance
Public liability and whose certificate it is
Venues and permit offices usually ask for a public liability certificate. Oxfordshire County Council asks for at least £10m for filming on streets and pavements. Which certificate goes in depends on who is the producer of record.
| Who’s asking | Public liability |
|---|---|
| Oxfordshire County Council, for streets and pavements | At least £10m |
| Oxford City Council, for its parks and open spaces | We ask when we apply |
| The colleges, the University and the Bodleian Libraries | Ask the owner with the request |
Crew hire
You’re the producer of record
The certificate the venue gets
Yours, for the company named on the application.
What our insurance covers
The 2% covers employers’ liability for every crew member we book and the kit we hire in for you. It doesn’t cover anything else on the shoot.
What it costs
10% booking fee + 2% insurance, on everything we book.
Permits
The permits are yours.
Full production
We’re the producer of record
The certificate the venue gets
Ours. Our production policy includes £10m public liability, and the certificate names the venue.
What our insurance covers
The 5% pays for insurance across the whole shoot, and the contingency.
What it costs
15% production fee + 5% insurance and contingency, on the production budget.
Permits
We apply in our name, and the fees go in the budget.
If your own producer or director will run the day, book crew hire. If you want us to run the production, ask for a full production quote. The Oxford crew page takes either brief, and teams from abroad can read how overseas teams book Oxford.
Get a location sorted in Oxford.
Tell us where and when. We’ll come back with whose permission it needs, the notice it takes and the insurance they’ll ask for. Or call us on 07412 543822.
Quick contact form
11 Questions
Questions about filming in Oxford
Do I need a permit to film in Oxford?
For streets and pavements, yes. Oxfordshire County Council handles filming on them in Oxford and the rest of the county. A small production needs at least 15 working days’ notice, or 30 on eight listed streets in the centre, and public liability of at least £10m. The city council handles its own parks and open spaces. The colleges, University buildings and the Bodleian need their owner’s permission. On a crew hire, the permission is yours. On a full production, we apply in our name. Check with Oxfordshire County Council for the latest.
How much does a filming permit cost in Oxford?
On streets and pavements, Oxfordshire County Council charges a daily fee by crew size, plus VAT. It’s £150 for 1 to 4 crew, £200 for 5 to 10, £800 for 11 to 29, £1,700 for 30 to 40 and £2,700 for 41 or more. On ten premium streets, including Broad Street and Turl Street, the same bands cost £300, £400, £1,600, £3,200 and £3,500. On the city council’s own land, a commercial full day costs £840 for 1 to 5 crew, £1,400 for 6 to 11 and £2,800 for 12 or more. Check with Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council for the latest.
How much notice do I need to film in Oxford?
On streets and pavements, Oxfordshire County Council asks for at least 15 working days for a small production, which is usually up to 10 crew. A medium production needs two months and a major one three months. Broad Street, Catte Street, Holywell Street, Merton Street, New College Lane, Oriel Square, Queens Lane and Turl Street need at least 30 working days for a small production. A road closure needs a Special Event Order and at least 12 weeks. Most colleges want at least two weeks. Check with Oxfordshire County Council for the latest.
Can I film at the Oxford colleges?
Yes, if the college agrees. Each college decides for itself. Most colleges want at least two weeks’ notice, and Magdalen and St Edmund Hall may charge a location fee. Keble takes location filming enquiries, and it’s a working college with people living there all year. Term time is the hardest time to get college rooms and quads. University buildings go through the University’s filming coordinator. Check with the college for the latest.
Can I film in Radcliffe Square?
Yes, with permission. Brasenose College handles the square, and Oxfordshire County Council handles the road. The Bodleian has no say over the square. The Radcliffe Camera itself is part of the Bodleian Libraries, so filming inside it goes to the Bodleian. Check with Oxford City Council for the latest.
Can I film at the Bodleian or the Radcliffe Camera?
Yes, on the Bodleian Libraries’ terms. Small crews of up to 10 start from £500 an hour plus VAT, and large crews of 10 or more from £1,000 an hour plus VAT. The fee varies with the crew, the kit and the times. Crews normally film before 8.30am and after closing. Large-scale filming needs at least 3 months’ notice, and filming collection items needs at least 28 days. Check with the Bodleian Libraries for the latest.
Can I fly a drone in Oxford?
Yes, with the right permissions. London Oxford Airport at Kidlington has a flight restriction zone that’s active at all times. Requests go through Air Portal. During air traffic control hours, 06:30 to 22:30 local time or as notified, the controller on duty gives final permission. RAF Brize Norton and RAF Benson have their own flight restriction zones, so check the Drone Safety Map for your take-off point. Colleges and University land also need the owner’s permission. Check with London Oxford Airport for the latest.
Can I film in a park in Oxford?
In the city council’s own parks and open spaces, yes, through its events team. A commercial full day costs £840 for 1 to 5 crew, £1,400 for 6 to 11 and £2,800 for 12 or more. A half day is £420, £700 or £1,400. There’s a bond of £250 to £2,500, and under 7 days’ notice adds 25%. A park the city council doesn’t own goes to its owner. Check with Oxford City Council for the latest.
What public liability insurance do I need to film in Oxford?
Oxfordshire County Council asks for at least £10m for filming on streets and pavements. For the colleges, the University, the Bodleian and the city council’s land, we ask when we apply. On a crew hire, the certificate is yours, for the company named on the application. On a full production, we’re the producer of record, and our policy covers the shoot with £10m public liability. Check with Oxfordshire County Council for the latest.
Around the crew
More for Oxford shoots
01
Kit rental
Where to hire camera, lighting and sound kit for an Oxford shoot, and when the crew bring their own.
03
Studios and set builds
Studios at Didcot and south of Reading for set builds, and college rooms hired by the day for interviews.
04
Props and wardrobe
Where props and costume come from, and the stylists and hair and make-up artists we book.
