FAQs - Filming, locations and production
Distinctive, dramatic, diverse - a location manager's guide
Opportunities available within our estate(s)
- International feature, streaming and domestic filming locations (landscape, properties, b-unit)
- Commercial advertising - film and stills photography
- Unit-base opportunities
- Ground support
- Advice and information (initial queries FOC)*
With some of the most breathtaking landscapes in northern England, striking industrial and cultural heritage, and easy access to a range of city and media hubs, the Peak District National Park is the ideal location choice.
View Creative England visual guides to:
- Stanage Edge
- Stanage Edge - Hollin Bank Car Park, small unit base area
- Stanage Edge - Hooks Carr Car Park, medium unit base area
- Monsal Trail (including traffic-free and closure tunnels)
Why Peak District?
- Set in the heart of the country; within an hour by road from Manchester (& Media City), Leeds, Sheffield, Derby and Nottingham. Alongside international airport links.
- Easily accessible locations, often with good unit base opportunities, minimising production and talent travel times
- A striking juxtaposition of landscapes; brooding northern uplands and rocky outcrops, changing to rolling lowland countryside and villages in less than an hour by vehicle.
- A myriad of industrial heritage hinting at a bustling past; former rail stations and 500 metre-plus tunnel networks now reclaimed by nature, towering limekilns and mining, to small halls and homes.
*Please note: We are only able to advise in detail on our own landholdings and we cannot liaise on behalf of third party landowners.
Filming in the National Park
Revenue generated from commercial filming is used towards restoration and conservation work, typically directly in the area where filming is taking place.
The Peak District National Park Authority owns around 5% of National Park land, including spectacular estates, properties and historical tracks and pathways, which can be used for filming. We also own a large number of car parks of varying sizes, which are handy for running, tech, heli-ops and unit base operations for many of the popular filming locations.
Fees for filming on Authority-owned land
Please note the following commonly requested Peak District locations are not managed by the National Park Authority:
- Derwent / Howden / Ladybower reservior(s): Severn Trent (filming@severntrent.co.uk)
- Derwent Dam: Severn Trent
- Bamford Edge: (private) c/o BH Sporting
- Macclesfield Forest area: United Utilities
- Mam Tor / Winnats Pass / Kinder Scout / Longshaw Estate: National Trust
- All highways permissions are care of the relevant County Council (usually Derbyshire)
Commercial fees are usually payable for access to film or undertake stills photography on our land and at our properties. Exceptions may include content directly involving our staff and teams (e.g. documentary), most educational and news content and selected tourism content. We are generally unable to support student or low-budget productions due to the high volume of enquiries we receive.
Retrospective licence applications are not accepted and the Authority will pursue fees and, where relevant, compensatory payments where filming has clearly taken place without our prior, written approval under a formal agreement.
Social Media Content
The Authority generally considers the following activities to be commercial, marketing or brand awareness and may be subject to licencing and fees when taking place on our land for the purposes of content creation:
- Original user-generated (influencer/talent-based) content where the host account/individual is receiving a fee
- Any user-generated content including product, brand placement or use as supplied by a third party
- All commercial advertising content, filming and photography even if limited to social media sharing
- Any commercially sponsored, user-generated (influencer/talent-based) content
A small number of exemptions may apply as shown above.
If you are unsure whether your request falls into any of these categories we strongly recommend contacting the Authority beforehand to avoid additional fees or being asked to cease activities once on site.
All filming and photography rates are provided on enquiry with hourly, daily and extended use terms available. Additional fees may be chargeable for the use of equipment or further staff resources.
Recce visits are usually available at no charge and all approvals and licences are subject to the provision of a completed Filming Application and any required supporting documents such as Public Liability Insurance.
Please get in touch to discuss your requirements or if you need more information about filming on land owned by the Peak District National Park Authority.
Drone Use: Please be aware that the sensitive nature of habitats and wildlife at some of our landholdings means that drone use is not always possible during the spring and summer.
Enquiries
Commercial filming
Contact the Communications Team on
We are pleased to be part of Creative England's Filming in England Partnership.
