For filmmakers, production companies, and creative teams, choosing the right location is one of the most impactful decisions you can make. A great location looks good on screen, but it also grounds the story, sets the tone, shapes the lighting, and often reduces the need for heavy art direction. Whether you’re shooting in the capital or exploring shoot locations UK wide, a carefully chosen environment adds production value that’s impossible to replicate in post.

At Locations Direct, we work with thousands of film-friendly properties across the country, from urban studios and derelict warehouses to historic estates and contemporary countryside homes. Below, we explore what makes a shoot location truly effective, how to choose the right one, and a curated set of standout venues to inspire your next project.

Why Location Choice Matters for Visual Impact

Every production, no matter the budget, relies on its environment to tell the story. The right setting enhances mood, supports character, and makes even a small production feel substantial. Choosing well elevates the visuals and also prevents costly workarounds later on. When a location naturally fits the brief, you get to build on the surroundings instead of fighting against them to fit your shot.

And with the growing demand for authentic backdrops across advertising, TV, streaming and branded content, the pressure to find striking, practical shoot locations has never been higher.

What to Look for in Professional Shoot Locations

A great location blends visual appeal with functionality. When assessing options, consider:

• Light: Is natural light available? Is blackout possible? What direction does the sun travel?
• Architecture and texture: Walls, flooring, period features, industrial surfaces, ceiling height.
• Control: Traffic, noise, public footfall, and the ability to manage continuity.
• Space: Enough room for equipment, staging areas, unit bases, and department workspaces.
• Access and parking: Essential for crew, trucks, and load-in.
• Power: Sufficient supply for lighting and monitors, especially in older buildings.

Large-Scale Industrial and Street Film Sets

The UK offers exceptional industrial estates and backlot-style environments that provide flexibility, control, and multiple looks in one place, making them ideal for long-form productions, large crews or sequences needing uninterrupted access.

Derelict and Textured Industrial Spaces

Ideal for gritty drama, dystopian worlds, or stylised performance scenes.

Location 1383: Derelict Warehouse, Kent

A run-down warehouse full of layered texture, peeling paint, exposed surfaces and atmospheric decay. It’s visually striking and highly flexible for productions needing an abandoned, distressed or industrial setting, all within the same film-friendly 80-acre estate.

Expansive Industrial Hangars

Great for large rigs, stunt work, SFX, and set builds.

Location 1384: Industrial Warehouse Hangar, Kent

This huge hangar offers vast internal space suitable for major film units, vehicle shoots, and large-format staging. With complete control and proximity to other period buildings onsite, it’s ideal for productions needing multiple contrasting environments without moving location.

Unique Creative Industrial Spaces

Unexpected, characterful options for distinctive visuals.

Location 1385: Unique Industrial Space, Kent

A standout environment offering unusual shapes and textures, perfect for productions seeking something different within an expansive, controllable filming estate.

Controllable Streets and Multi-Era Settings

Perfect for action scenes, vehicle work, period drama, and TV.

Location 1386: Private Controllable Streets, Kent

This 80-acre site features over 100 historic buildings and structures spanning Georgian, Victorian and modern eras. Its network of cobbled, industrial, and Northern-style streets provides unmatched versatility for doubling as multiple towns and time periods.

London Shoot Locations: Urban, Flexible and Production-Ready

London remains one of the world’s most versatile filming hubs. From purpose-built studios to creative warehouses and character-filled streets, the capital offers shoot locations London productions rely on for both speed and variety.

Blackout and Controlled Studios

Ideal for tech shoots, music videos, fashion, and anything requiring total control.

Location 2769: Contemporary Blackout Studio, London

This fully blacked-out 202sqm studio is one of the few dedicated all-black spaces in the city. With Funktion-One speakers, an in-house lighting rig, and a dramatic, atmospheric aesthetic, it’s a favourite for stylised film scenes, brand launches, and events. Its versatility allows productions to transition from controlled filming to dynamic set-ups without losing time.

Creative Industrial Environments

Bold, modern, and visually expressive, ideal for commercials, fashion, and creative content.

Location 1901: Plant-Filled Warehouse, Hackney

Housed inside a 2,000sqft Victorian stable, this double-height warehouse is flooded with daylight thanks to its full-length skylights. With an open-plan layout, mezzanine level, terrace, and abundant greenery, it offers a unique blend of raw industrial features and soft organic elements. A strong choice for editorial, lifestyle or music-driven projects within the London shoot locations landscape.

Rural, Historic and Cinematic Shoot Locations

While London is a creative powerhouse, the UK’s countryside offers some of the most atmospheric, diverse and visually rich shoot spaces available.

Rural Farmhouses and Period Homes

Ideal for character-driven drama, lifestyle commercials and period settings.

Location 2451: White 16th-Century Farmhouse, Kent

This beautifully restored farmhouse blends period authenticity with modern softness with oak beams, painted timber floors, a standout blue AGA kitchen and wildflower meadows. With a traditional threshing barn providing power and crew facilities, it’s a film-friendly rural setting surrounded by rolling fields.

Location 2091: 17th-Century Farmhouse with Natural Pool, Kent

Set in three acres, this farmhouse includes ponds, a natural swimming pool, woodland fire pit and a cinema barn. A charming location for warm, characterful scenes or aspirational lifestyle content.

Country Houses and Historic Estates

Perfect for prestige TV, high-end commercials and large-scale drama.

Location 1727: Country House with Sports Facilities, Warwickshire

A 6,500sqft home with expansive lawns, indoor and outdoor football pitches, a gym and games room. Excellent for sports brands, narrative drama or large family-focused commercials.

Location 1716: Grade II Listed 17th-Century Manor, Staffordshire

This beautifully restored manor includes a drawing room, saloon, library, orangery, large kitchen and an elegant staircase beneath a domed ceiling. Atmospheric, detailed and ideal for period pieces, luxury storytelling and filmic interiors.

Eco and Architectural Homes

Striking modernity with natural surroundings.

Location 1536: Award-Winning Eco House, West Sussex

Suspended over a natural swimming pond, this architecturally unique home offers strong visual identity and clean modern lines. Perfect for fashion, luxury, environmental storytelling, and standout hero shots.

Set the Scene for Success

The UK offers an incredible range of film-ready environments, from expressive London studios to vast industrial estates and peaceful countryside manors. With thousands of shoot locations available, Locations Direct helps productions find spaces that match their brief, budget and creative ambition, with a new direct booking platform alongside full agent support for larger or more complex shoots.

Ready to explore your next backdrop? Start browsing London and UK-wide locations today.