Filming and Photography

An unforgettable backdrop

Black Country Living Museum is a great location for filming and has welcomed many film crews from documentaries to feature films.

Our 29-acre site (equivalent to around 15 football pitches) is the perfect location for your next project, whether that’s to film the next award-winning drama series, blockbuster movie, short film, radio production, or music video.

The canalside village has a range of Edwardian, Victorian, 1930s and 1940s buildings, houses and shops with spectacular interiors to complement their period setting. The 1940s-1960s town has a high street with a variety of different facades, complete with a zebra crossing, post box, weighbridge, and two red K6 telephone boxes.

Our foundries, industrial wasteland, underground mine, and canal boats also lend themselves to create a spectacular filming location.

For more information, please contact filming@bclm.com 

Information for location managers

The Museum welcomes different types of pre-booked filming, including feature films, television dramas, documentaries, music videos, interviews, and photographic shoots.

We can accommodate film productions of all sizes with parking (over 500 spaces) for a transport base, green rooms & production offices, in-house catering and an experienced filming team who understand technical & operational filming needs and who can be on-hand at all times for any on-site operations or access.

There are a range of chain hotels, restaurants and a large leisure complex within 10 minutes walking distance of the Museum.

What has been filmed at Black Country Living Museum?

Projects filmed at Black Country Living Museum include the award-winning Peaky Blinders (2013-2022), Stan & Ollie (2018), The Colour Room (2021) and Three Little Birds (2023). The Museum has also provided a backdrop for several factual and documentary series, including 24 hours in the Past (BBC) and Celebrity Masterchef (BBC).

Radio productions recorded at Black Country Living Museum include Gardeners’ Question Time (BBC Radio 4) and The Kitchen Cabinet with Jay Rayner and Andi Oliver (BBC Radio 4).

  1. Peaky Blinders

    Gangster family epic set in 1900s England, focusing on fierce boss Tommy Shelby played by Cillian Murphy (BBC, 2013-2022).

  2. Stan & Ollie

    Hollywood biopic on comedy duo Stan Laurel and Ollie Hardy starring Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly (2018, dir. Jon S. Baird).

  3. The Colour Room

    British biopic about Clarice Cliff, who revolutionised the workplace in the 20th century, starring Phoebe Dynevor (2021, dir. Claire McCarthy).

  4. Three Little Birds

    British historical drama television series written by Sir Lenny Henry and inspired by his mother’s stories about leaving Jamaica in the 1950s for Great Britain (ITV, 2023).

  5. Antiques Roadshow

    Fiona Bruce and the Antiques Roadshow team discover a Faberge treasure destined to become one of the most valuable items ever seen on the show (BBC, 2018).

  6. Our Zoo

    The true story of Matt Charman, the man who created Chester Zoo in the 1930s (BBC, 2014).

  7. Arthur & George

    Three-part crime drama adaptation of Julian Barnes’ novel of the same name about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle starring Martin Clunes (ITV, 2015).

  8. Sabaton's '1916'

    Swedish metal band Sabaton’s cover of Motörhead’s powerful song ‘1916’ about World War One (2023).

Testimonials

“Filming at Black Country Living Museum was a great experience and an excellent location for Peaky Blinders.  As a location, it worked incredibly well creatively and in terms of accommodating a large film with all its associated crew, vehicles and equipment. Key to this success are the museum staff and their understanding of film making, who went above and beyond to facilitate our production. Thank you.”

Liam Irving, Location Manager, Peaky Blinders

“We had an excellent time filming the TV series Gandhi with Black Country Living Museum. From our very first visits and consultations they showed a confidence that they would be able to allow us to achieve every we wanted on site. From SFX to large plant there was nothing we could not do on site. 

“We appreciated greatly the ability to Unit Base on site with them. And their practical and pragmatic approach to film making helped greatly with our large scale foreign project. Their ability to help out as issues and requests came up in real time was a greatly admired and ensured we achieved all the shots and scenes we needed to onsite.

“I look forward to bringing another production to BCLM first chance I get.”

Martin Walker, Supervising Location Manager

“Our short film, The Soldier on Smithdown Road, was filmed at Black Country Living Museum in July 2023. The BCLM team were incredibly helpful and supportive throughout the process. Our film has since been shortlisted for Best Production Design at the 2025 British Short Film Awards. We are hugely grateful to the BCLM.”  

Barney Pell Scholes, writer and filmmaker

Where is Black Country Living Museum?

Based in Dudley, the Museum is centrally located in the UK, just eight miles from Birmingham and only three miles from the M5 and M6. We are one mile from Tipton Station, which is on the Birmingham to Wolverhampton line, operated by West Midlands Railway. The Museum has two car parks, with electric vehicle charging points for 13 vehicles.

Full address: Black Country Living Museum, Tipton Road, Dudley DY1 4SQ.

Can students film at the Museum?

We are keen to support students who require location support with their filming projects. However, due to operational commitments and the volume of requests we receive, we require students to complete an expression of interest form.

We will review these quarterly (January, April, July, October) and be back in touch during these months if we are able to support with your request.

For more information, please contact filming@bclm.com 
  1.

    360 Tours

    Explore the Museum’s 26 acres from your screen!

    Discover our translocated and recreated workshops, homes and shops, and modern Visitor Centre.

    Explore our grounds (external link)

  2. Filming regulations

    Please download and read our filming regulations (non-commercial) before making an enquiry.

    Download filming regulations

  3. Photography regulations

    Please download and read our photography regulations before making an enquiry.

    Download photography regulations