The Cemetery Park is very popular as a backdrop for feature films, television programmes and fashion shoots.

The site is owned by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and any filming, photography or audio recording that takes place here requires permission from the Tower Hamlets Film Office before it can go ahead. You can contact them here. This includes all requests, no matter how small or large, from portfolio building to major motion pictures, student, amateur or professional.

Material intended for news or current affairs programmes should be discussed in the first instance with both the Cemetery Park Manager contact@fothcp.org and Tower Hamlets Press Office communications@towerhamlets.gov.uk.

Amateurs and Students

The Film Office supports amateur and student photographers taking photographs for a private portfolio, educational coursework or other non-commercial use. It is necessary to apply for permission to use images of any of Borough’s Parks for commercial purposes, this includes professional portfolios.

The Film Office supports emerging talent and will offer reduced rates where possible to low-budget and student film-makers. The same process of ‘How to Film’ should be followed and students must produce a letter on headed paper from their educational establishment confirming their student status. Method statements and risk assessments will need to be shown. Film London can help with these if necessary – call 020 7613 7676 and ask for the Locations Department.

Definitions

The term ‘filming’ refers to all forms of moving image production. This includes feature films, television, commercials, music videos, drama documentaries, corporate productions, video and interactive media.

The term ‘photography’ refers to all forms of still, digital and photo imaging. This includes advertising, editorial, fashion and corporate photography.

Facilities

For an additional fee we can offer the use of the Soanes Centre as a green room for actors/models, crew and equipment. Please contact the Friends for further information.

The Friends Policy on Filming and Photography

We support the use of THCP as a filming/photography location. We love that people see value in the Cemetery Park as a beautiful, atmospheric and scenic location. We welcome filming in the Cemetery Park that is consistent with one or more of the following aims:

  • promotes the Cemetery Park as a special natural environment and historic landscape
  • respects the values of the Cemetery Park, our users and stakeholders
  • raises the profile of London and the parks as tourist destinations in the foreign and home markets
  • contributes to wider Government policy objectives

Further Information

For specific questions about the Cemetery Park, its current use and history, or if you are looking for a particular feel/background from the Cemetery Park, please get in touch.

We suggest a site meeting to meet film-makers/photographers face-to-face and discuss the logistics of their request. This is essential for large scale or complicated productions. An early meeting and/or discussion with the location manager/Production Designer/Art Department will be appreciated.

Recent films and TV series shot here include the BBC’s Luther series, ITV’s Whitechapel, Still Waters and Molly Montana movies.