Live Tides
NOTICES TO MARINERS
Charts & Surveys
Incident reporting
Life-threatening emergencies on the river:
Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard
For near miss, safety observations and incident reporting click below
Filming, photography and events on the tidal Thames
A Director’s dream: 95 miles of the tidal Thames, one endless set, a thousand locations
The tidal Thames stretches 95 miles from the North Sea, through central London, to Teddington, offering an exceptional range of filming and event locations.
We regularly support a wide range of activity, including major feature films, documentaries, advertising, commercials, and promotional events.
International crews are always welcome, and our team is here to help with permits, logistics, and filming safely on this busy working river.
A permit is required for all commercial filming, photography, and event activity on the tidal Thames.
A permit is required for activities including:
- Filming on or from vessels moored on and travelling on the Thames
- Filming or photography on or over the foreshore
- Use of piers, pontoons, jetties, or other river structures
- Promotional events or PR stunts on or over the river or foreshore
- Drone operations taking off or landing from the foreshore or a licensed vessel
This is because the tidal Thames is a working river and the safety of navigation, and all river users is our key concern. It is our statutory responsibility to keep river traffic moving. Our Harbour Master team considers river traffic management, safety considerations, and how best to coordinate complex or large-scale shoots and events.
Fees are agreed with our Corporate Affairs team and reflect the scale, duration, and complexity of your activity.
To apply for a film or photography permit, please complete this form.
If you need guidance, please contact us directly ([email protected]) or visit our FAQs.
Filming & Photography
A Director’s dream: 95 miles of the tidal Thames, one endless set, a thousand locations.
Promotional events
All events on the tidal Thames and its foreshore must be risk assessed and approved by the PLA Harbour Master team in advance.
Promotional events, brand activations, PR events and stunts are all considered on a case by case basis.
Please note these differ from river events, such as rowing races.
ALL fees for promotional events are by negotiation only.
Drone filming
Planning to fly a drone to film/photograph over the Thames or its foreshore for any commercial purpose?
If you're filming with a drone from a vessel or the foreshore for any commercial purposes, you need to complete a PLA film Permit form and a Drone Application.
To apply, you’ll need details including: an exact location (preferably What3Words), CAA Licence, risk assessment, flight plan, and drone specs.
Fees vary depending on the size, length, and complexity of your shoot.
Managing river traffic
Filming on the foreshore
For large-scale shoots or events that could impact navigation, the PLA may need to:
- Issue a Notice to Mariners
- Dispatch Harbour Service launch vessels
These services carry additional costs and must be arranged in advance. The costs of both these activities must be paid in full by the film maker/event producer.
The Thames foreshore is hazardous and can become dangerous quickly due to fast tides, slippery access, and hidden risks like sewage, sharp objects, and potential disease.
All access is at your own risk, so please take precautions, and check tide times before planning your project or event.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes. Any filming activity on the foreshore or from a vessel the tidal Thames generally requires permission from the Port of London Authority (PLA) in the form of a filming permit. This includes commercial shoots, editorial shoots, feature films & TV productions, documentaries, online social media content, and drone usage.
Filming permits are issued by the PLA, however, you may also need permission from other stakeholders, such as local borough councils, the Environment Agency, or private landowners depending on your location and activities.
Tidal Thames: Managed by the PLA (from Teddington Lock to the North Sea).
Non-tidal Thames: Above Teddington Lock, permissions may be required from the Environment Agency or riparian landowners.
Bridges, piers, and towpaths often require separate permissions.
Yes. Permit fees vary depending on: The size and scope of the production location and duration, impact on river traffic or public access, fee structures can be provided upon enquiry or after a preliminary assessment.
Applications submitted out of the five working day notice period will incur a late fee.
Yes, but drone filming requires not only permission from the PLA, but permission from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and possibly local authorities as well as proof of pilot qualifications and insurance.
For small productions, please allow at least five working days. For more complex productions and events, please allow a minimum of four weeks.
The Harbour Master Team need adequate time to assess the potential navigational safety risks as the tidal Thames is a working river.
No, scuba diving is NOT permitted on the tidal Thames on any occasion.
Surface diving is allowed in circumstances, pending a permit approval which can be applied for here.
Please clearly state you will be diving in your application so it can be flagged for early consideration.
Yes. Filming involving; pyrotechnics or special effects, drone operations, river closures or major disruption and diving or stunts will require additional scrutiny and safety assessments. Please make sure to include this in your application and submit your risk assessment as early as possible to ensure we can accommodate your requests.
No, we cannot close the river, however, we can restrict access for short periods of time, but this requires significant planning. There are additional Harbour Master fees for traffic freezes and stakeholder consultations. Safety is our key priority at the PLA, and some productions may not be possible, even with extra precautions.
Traffic freezes aren’t allowed for continuity purposes but only to facilitate navigational safety.
Yes, but you must: use appropriately licensed and insured vessels, submit a risk assessment complying with PLA navigation rules, and highlighting crew and cast safety at all times.
Guides for event organisers
Essential information if your organisation is planning events on the tidal Thames or the foreshore.
Detailed information from our Harbour Masters on criteria that every event must meet before it will be permitted.
Key information on protecting the tidal Thames and its wildlife during your event.
Information organisers should consider to keep attendees safe when holding gatherings near the Thames.
Events taking place on the tidal Thames and its foreshore must have a permit from the Port of London Authority.
