London locations
Permits, light and what to expect on the day.
Woodland, ponds, the pergola and the view from Parliament Hill. That is what brings people to Hampstead Heath with a camera.
| Hampstead Heath | |
|---|---|
| Who controls it | The Heath is managed by the City of London Corporation and needs a permit. |
| Good for | Woodland, ponds, the pergola and the view from Parliament Hill. |
| Light | The pergola is shaded and even all day, which suits portraits. |
| Busiest | Apply early in summer. |
The Heath is managed by the City of London Corporation and needs a permit. For a small shoot with handheld equipment there is a two-hour photography licence you apply for online. The licence at the Hill Garden and Pergola runs Monday to Friday only, not weekends or bank holidays, and summer applications take longer.
Checked on 4 October 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the authority before the shoot.
The pergola is shaded and even all day, which suits portraits. Parliament Hill works at sunset.
Apply early in summer. The two-hour window is short, so scout first and arrive knowing where you are standing.
Hampstead, Gospel Oak or Hampstead Heath overground.
Handheld kit only, because the short licence is written around small equipment.
Arriving without knowing the exact spot. Two hours goes quickly on a large heath.
| Who controls it | City of London Corporation |
| Permit needed | On City Corporation property, yes; small portable public-highway work follows the film office process |
| Notice to allow | Confirm the current lead time with the film team |
| Insurance | Ask the film team |
| Worth knowing | Fees and further licences depend on the property and equipment |
| Nearest stations | Hampstead, Gospel Oak or Hampstead Heath overground. |
| What to carry | Handheld kit only, because the short licence is written around small equipment. |
Rules and fees change. Confirm with the authority named above before the shoot, and treat this table as a starting point rather than a permission.
| Where | What it gives you | When it works |
|---|---|---|
| The Hill Garden and Pergola | Columns, climbing plants, even shade | Any time on a weekday |
| Parliament Hill | The city skyline behind the subject | Sunset |
| Kenwood and the surrounding woodland | Trees and open lawn | Morning |
A location is a corner at an hour, not a postcode. Pick one of these and build the session around it.
An hour in Hampstead Heath is three stops, not one.
We start at The Hill Garden and Pergola, because it is the frame most people came for and it is quietest first.
Then Parliament Hill, which changes the background without changing the light.
We finish at Kenwood and the surrounding woodland, which gives a different scale and a different mood.
Spring and early summer for the pergola planting.
Autumn for the woodland, which is the best in inner London.
Winter for the view, which is clearest when the air is cold.
Layers. The Heath is exposed and colder than the streets below it.
Boots, because the paths hold water for days after rain.
Simple shapes, since the background is busy with foliage.
The pergola itself is partly covered.
Kenwood House has cafes and shelter if the weather turns.
The City of London Corporation asks for permission to film or photograph on its property whatever the size of the crew.
You contact the film team with the location, date, times, number of people and the equipment you will bring.
An application fee is charged once the application has been reviewed and approved, and payment is due before the shoot.
Ask the film team for the current lead time before fixing the call sheet; the published process varies with the location, equipment and disruption.
Nearby, with different rules and a different look: Little Venice, Richmond Park and Tower Bridge.
The full list of occasions is on event photography in London.
Next step
Send the date and intended use; the current permission route can then be checked before the location is promised.
Send the date, location and what you need photographed.