Photography and filming within the county

With a historical city centre, spectacular countryside, heritage coast and rich coal mining history, County Durham has an incredible diversity of locations to appeal to film and documentary makers and photographers.

Getting permission to film or take photographs

If you wish to film on land owned by us, including public highways, please contact the Filming Friendly Officer. Before filming takes place we require you to provide evidence of Public Liability Insurance and risk assessments along with the schedule and other details.

If your production has the potential to create disruption to members of the public or local businesses we recommend that you give sufficient advance notice so we can advise and assist you.

If you wish to film for a press story

Please contact us at the the press office.

If you wish to film council staff

Please contact us at the the press office.

Filming children or vulnerable adults

There are specific rules around filming or taking photographs of children and young people or others considered vulnerable. If they are in a council establishment, such as a school, youth club or care setting, you need to seek the permission of the head teacher, youth leader or senior member of staff. If they aren't in a council establishment, parental or guardian permission will be required. If in doubt, please contact us at the the press office.

We're a film friendly county

We have signed the Filming Friendly Charter, a Northern Film and Media initiative to establish the North East as the UK's Filming Friendly region. We welcome production companies to our area and will work with you to our mutual benefit.

The purpose of Filming Friendly is to provide a speedy and co-ordinated approach to filming requests on council-owned land and extends to partners including Durham Police and independent land owners such as Durham University and Durham Cathedral.

Within the Filming Friendly network, there is an in-depth knowledge of locations across County Durham, which means we can also offer advice on potential film and photography locations to match the requirements of any project.

Recent major productions

In addition to a large number of popular television documentary and entertainment programmes, recent major productions filmed in County Durham include the long running BBC1 drama series Inspector George Gently starring Martin Shaw and Lee Ingleby.