All districts in Norfolk welcome filmmakers and are keen to help you with your shoot or production, large or small.
To gain necessary permissions to shoot on council-managed locations such as beaches, parks, green spaces, highways, leisure centre’s, schools etc… you will need to liaise with the district you would like to film in.
It is also important that you check with your locations/ productions that you have the required Public Liability Insurance and suitable site-specific risk assessments along with all the relevant permissions. We would advise that you speak with the local district council for confirmation around their requirements when filming in their area. It is the responsibility of the production company/film-maker to identify and gain all consents required. These may include planning permission, road closures, location agreements etc. Below you can find all the necessary contact information in your selected district(s) below.
This map will help you identify the appropriate district depending on your required locations.
Districts Contact information
Breckland District Council
The district of Breckland is one of the largest rural districts in England. Nestled on the Norfolk/Suffolk border, Breckland spans over 500 square miles of beautiful countryside and covers much of the south, west and central parts of Norfolk.
The district is centred round the five market towns of Attleborough, Dereham, Swaffham, Thetford and Watton.
If you are interested in filming in Breckland, get in touch with their film-friendly team, who will be able to advise and help you discuss permits, licences and any additional information you will need to film.
Name: Breckland Council Press and Communications Team
Email: communications@breckland.co.uk
Phone Number: +44 (0)1362 656870
Website: https://www.breckland.gov.uk/
Broadland District Council
Norfolk is possibly most famous for the man-made Broads, a National Park with over 125 miles of navigable lock-free waterways set in beautiful countryside and studded with charming and picturesque towns and villages.
If you are interested in filming in Broadland, get in touch with their film-friendly team, who will be able to advise and help you discuss permits, licences, who the land owners are of the selected locations and any additional information you will need to film.
Named Contact: Graham Peers, Tourism Officer
Email: graham.peers@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk
Contact Number: +44 (0)1508 505268
Website: https://www.broadland.gov.uk/
Great Yarmouth District Council
The Great Yarmouth Borough is a unique and evocative place, boasting an iconic seaside resort, miles of sandy beaches, and rich historic architecture – all special locations on the threshold of the Broads National Park and North Sea. The Borough Council has an experienced team who are happy to advise you on locations, ownership and permissions. The area also offers plenty of reasonably priced accommodation for crew.
Great Yarmouth Borough Council has available a variety of special locations for filming and commercial photography, including:
- Beautiful beaches and busy historic seafronts (Great Yarmouth and Gorleston-on-sea)
- Historic South Quay (along the River Yare and described by Daniel Defoe as “the finest quay in England, if not in Europe”)
- A traditional Market Place (one of the largest and oldest in England)
- Impressive medieval town wall and defensive towers (second best preserved in England)
- Grand historic Town Hall (19th century renaissance-style civic building)
- Beacon Park (modern landscaped business park)
If you are interested in filming in Great Yarmouth, get in touch with their film-friendly team, who will be able to advise and help you discuss permits, licences and any additional information you will need to film.
Please complete and submit the Filming and Commercial Photography Application Form [420kb] along with your public liability insurance certificate, risk assessment and any other relevant documents identified in the application form.
This applies to both major and small-scale productions, including TV documentaries. For students who wish to film in public spaces, the form should be completed and submitted by your course tutor.
More information about filming in Great Yarmouth including the use of drones, fees, and locations can be found here.
Named Contact: Chloe Ingram or Clare Dyble
Email: chloe.ingram@great-yarmouth.gov.uk or clare.dyble@great-yarmouth.gov.uk
Contact Number: +44 (0)1493 846157 / or 846120
Kings Lynn and West Norfolk District Council
There are around 550 square miles of West Norfolk and every single one has something to surprise, inspire and delight, with stunning nature reserves, Fens waterlands, glorious sandy beaches, the seaside resort of Hunstanton, maritime history of King’s Lynn, and country homes including Sandringham, the Queen’s rural retreat.
If you are interested in Filming in West Norfolk & King’s Lynn you will need to complete a filming application form which can be found here.
Before making an application, please read their filming guidelines, which should answer most questions you may have about filming on our land.
To make an application you’ll need:
- an electronic copy of your public liability insurance
- the date(s) you want to film on
- details of your crew, and the equipment and vehicles you’ll be bringing
- the exact location, street name, or postcode of where you want to film
If your filming is straightforward (hand-held cameras, minimal crew) you should complete a basic filming application. There is no charge for this.
If your filming is complex (large equipment, road closures, special effects) you should complete a complex filming application. There is a charge of £30 for this.
If you are interested in filming on council-owned land in West Norfolk and Kings Lynn, get in touch with their film-friendly team, who will be able to advise and help you discuss permits, licences and any additional information you will need to film.
Other people you may need to contact:
- The owners of any private land you want to film on
- Norfolk County Council, who are responsible for public roads in West Norfolk
- Norfolk Constabulary
- Anglian Water, who are responsible for waterways in West Norfolk
- The relevant parish council(s)
Named Contact: Communications Team
Email: communications@west-norfolk.gov.uk
Contact Number: +44 (0)1553 616506
Website: https://www.west-norfolk.gov.uk
North Norfolk District Council
North Norfolk is renowned for its spectacular coastline, fantastic wildlife, miles of glorious beaches, seaside communities and a beautiful hinterland of rolling countryside and picturesque market towns and villages.
If you are interested in filming in North Norfolk, get in touch with their film-friendly team, who will be able to advise and help you discuss permits, licences and any additional information you will need to film.
Named Contact: Communications Team
Email: communications@north-norfolk.gov.uk
Contact Number: +44 (0)1263 513 811
Website:http://www.north-norfolk.gov.uk
Norwich City Council
Norwich welcomes filmmakers and is keen to encourage inward investment through photography, filmmaking and television and their team are keen to help. There is a variety of film-friendly locations managed by Norwich City Council, including historic, commercial and residential properties, parks and open spaces.
For guidelines on filming within Norwich please click here. You will also need to complete an application form which can be found here.
If you are interested in filming in Norwich, get in touch with their film-friendly team, who will be able to advise and help you discuss permits, licences and any additional information you will need to film.
Named Contact: Events Team
E-Mail: events@norwich.gov.uk
Contact Number: +44 (0)1603 212126
South Norfolk District Council
South Norfolk has some of the county’s most scenic and peaceful countryside, with winding lanes, thatched cottages, welcoming pubs and picturesque villages and market towns.
These welcoming market towns consist of Diss, Harleston, Loddon and Wymondham. The area is also dotted with the rich architecture of Saxon and Norman churches, including Wymondham’s 12th century Abbey.
If you are interested in filming in South Norfolk, get in touch with their film-friendly team, who will be able to advise and help you discuss permits, licences and any additional information you will need to film.
Named Contact: Graham Peers, Tourism Officer
Email: graham.peers@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk
Contact Number: +44 (0)1508 505268
Website: https://www.south-norfolk.gov.uk
Highways Contact Information
Highways
Norfolk County Council are happy to help facilitate and support the use of locations in Norfolk. As you may know, you are legally required to apply for permission to carry out work, roadworks, streetworks or other notifiable activities on the public highway. For those interested in needing this facility in Norfolk we advise that you contact the local Area Network Coordinators to discuss this further as they will be able to provide advice, guidance and assistance. Further information about Highways Services and Fees can be found here.
Email: information@norfolk.gov.uk.
Phone Number: 0344 800 8020
Website: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/roads