London locations
Permits, light and what to expect on the day.
The dome, the steps, One New Change and the surrounding lanes. That is what brings people to St Paul's with a camera.
| St Paul's | |
|---|---|
| Who controls it | The City of London Corporation asks for permission to film or photograph on its property whatever the crew size. |
| Good for | The dome, the steps, One New Change and the surrounding lanes. |
| Light | The lanes around the cathedral are in shade most of the day, which is useful in summer. |
| Busiest | Inside the cathedral is a separate permission from the cathedral itself, not the Corporation. |
The City of London Corporation asks for permission to film or photograph on its property whatever the crew size. An application fee is charged once the application is approved.
Checked on 4 October 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the authority before the shoot.
The lanes around the cathedral are in shade most of the day, which is useful in summer.
Inside the cathedral is a separate permission from the cathedral itself, not the Corporation. The rooftop at One New Change is private property with its own rules.
St Paul's, with Mansion House and Blackfriars a short walk away.
A wide lens for the dome and something long for the lanes.
Treating the cathedral steps as public space. They are not.
| 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 | St Paul's, with Mansion House and Blackfriars a short walk away. |
| What to carry | A wide lens for the dome and something long for the lanes. |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| One New Change terrace | The dome framed by modern glass | Evening |
| Paternoster Square | Open paving and columns | Morning |
| The lanes off Cheapside | Shade and old stone | Midday in summer |
A location is a corner at an hour, not a postcode. Pick one of these and build the session around it.
An hour in St Paul's is three stops, not one.
We start at One New Change terrace, because it is the frame most people came for and it is quietest first.
Then Paternoster Square, which changes the background without changing the light.
We finish at The lanes off Cheapside, which gives a different scale and a different mood.
Any season. The cathedral is stone, and stone works in every light.
Winter afternoons give long shadows across the square.
Weekday lunchtimes are busy with office workers, weekends less so.
Formal shapes suit the setting.
Deep colours against pale stone.
Flat shoes for the cobbled lanes.
One New Change is a covered centre with the terrace above it.
The lanes stay usable in light rain because they are narrow.
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: Camden, Sky Garden and South Bank.
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.