Hire houses for filming in London
Originally founded by the Romans, London’s history spans over 2,000 years and has led to a fascinating variety of architectural styles across the city. For example, Christopher Wren designed baroque landmarks such as St Paul’s Cathedral, there are strong Georgian influences in west London’s Mayfair and Bloomsbury, and John Nash’s grand white stucco facades decorate Regent’s Street. Why not hire a piece of London history for your next film project?
Tutti has many houses in the greater London area available for hire, from contemporary family homes to Victorian terrace houses and country homesteads.
Why choose a house filming location?
A professional film studio is a blank slate and requires you to source furniture and props to set your scene. So if you need to create a home setting, why not save yourself the effort and use the real thing instead? Most of the homes you see on TV shows are filmed in real houses (unless you’re talking about a production like Coronation Street with a purpose-built set). Filming at a house location provides you with an authentic setting with more filming angles and various backdrops inside and outside the property too.
London offers many types of houses to suit your filming needs. For a TV commercial, a contemporary family home is a perfect option. If you are shooting a period film, then you need to match the home to the right era such as Victorian, Georgian, or Edwardian homes. You can even give the illusion of shooting on-location in a different country by hiring a Mediterranean or Colonial-style home for example.
But in a city as large as London, how do you discover which houses are available for hire? At Tutti we make scouting a house location easy. Simply search your desired area of London and the type of property you’re looking for on our website.
Checklist for hiring a house for filming
How will you get there?
Make your shoot as easy as possible for all involved by searching for a convenient filming location in north, east, south, or west London. You can filter your search by paid or free parking options, and if you would prefer to take public transport, each page listing tells you the nearest tube lines and bus routes.
What furniture and props do you need?
House filming locations generally come fully furnished. It’s always a good idea to check with the host that you have permission to move the existing props around for your shots. If you require an unfurnished location then you may be better off hiring a space at a film studio.
What lighting equipment do you need?
First of all, you’ll need to understand the amount of natural lighting in the house. Do the rooms have large windows? What direction do the rooms face? The more natural light sources you have at your disposal, the less additional equipment you’ll need to bring to adequately light your subjects.
What style of house do you require?
With so many options available in London, it’s helpful to narrow your search based on the mood you want to evoke. For example, is the story set in a particular decade? Does it make more sense for the subjects to be in luxurious surroundings or a modest setting?
Who does Tutti work with?
Frequently asked questions
What is the ambient noise level? Will it be an issue for my shoot?
The location and style of the house will make a huge difference, for example, an apartment in the centre of Soho will have more ambient noise than a stand-alone house in Wimbledon. In addition to choosing a quiet neighbourhood, you can minimise ambient noise during your shoot by reducing the distance between subject and microphone with a lavalier mic, or by using directional microphones with cardioid or supercardioid patterns to reduce the sound pick-up area.
Will there be parking available at the house filming location?
It’s best to enquire in advance so you don’t get caught out on the day of your shoot. If you want to drive to the location, you can filter your search results using Tutti’s advanced search tool and select free or paid parking options.
How much should I budget to hire a house filming location in London?
This will vary depending on the size of the house, so if you are on a tight budget, think carefully about how much space you really need to get the job done. Most locations charge by the day or half-day with the majority of prices falling between 250 and 1500 per day.
What style of shoot is best suited for house filming?
There are plenty! For example, nearly all films and TV shows require house scenes, ads for household products require examples of how they are used at home, and a house is an ideal interview location for a relaxed, intimate feel.
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