Film boat hire in London & The River Thames

Film boat hire in London

Every film boat a London shoot needs

We work the tidal Thames most weeks, from Teddington through central London to Greenwich, the Thames Barrier, the Estuary and the Medway. Most London shoots need more than one boat: one in front of the lens, one carrying the camera, and often one standing by for safety. We put them together as one booking, with our own skippers on board.

Pick the boat by the job it does

• Camera and tracking boats: a fast boat for chase and tracking runs, or a steady workboat with deck space for rigs, crew and drone launches.
• Picture and hero boats: motor yachts, workboats, tugs and passenger boats, found for the look you want and crewed by our skippers.
• Safety boats: cover for swims, stunts and cast working close to the water.
• Drone boats: a clear deck and a skipper who holds position while our pilots fly.
• Skippers for your own boat: if the production already has a vessel, we can put a qualified skipper on it.

What London asks of a shoot

Permission. Commercial filming on the tidal Thames needs the Port of London Authority's permission. When we are the production company, we apply for it. When you are, we help you build a strong application with our risk assessments and our knowledge of the river.

Speed. The limit is 12 knots through central London and 8 knots above Wandsworth Bridge. Two stretches allow more for boats holding the PLA's certificate, and our film boat holds one, so a fast subject does not leave the camera behind.

Tide and traffic. The river is tidal all the way to Teddington, so the tide decides how each run is planned. Trip boats, river buses and tugs work all day, and our skippers time every take around them.

Drones. Much of the river through central London sits inside restricted airspace, so a drone shot from the boat needs the right permissions in place before the day. Our drone rules guide explains how it works.

Recent London shoots

ProductionsBTS ARIRANG World Tour on the ThamesOur film boat as the drone platform, and our drone crew in the air, for the Thames activation of BTS’s ARIRANG World Tour.Read the jobProductionsSurfers Against Sewage: the Thames swimA camera boat, a safety boat and the permissions for a swim down the Thames from Teddington Lock to Westminster.Read the jobOur productionsThe Glaukos roundtable, filmed on the ThamesFive eye specialists around one table, filmed on board as the boat passed Westminster and the London Eye.Read the job

Filming somewhere specific? The Thames section covers every stretch from Teddington to the sea, with maps, guides and the jobs we have done there.