+44 (0) 207 252 3900 info@shootfactory.co.uk
Monday - Friday 10:00 - 17:30
Vehicle access can make a significant difference to a shoot location. For automotive photography and filming, it lets the vehicle become part of the production. For larger shoots, it makes moving equipment, scenery, and set pieces much easier.
Our collection of shoot locations with drive-in access includes photographic studios, warehouse spaces, commercial properties and residential locations across London and the UK.
We have recently added several locations where vehicle access forms part of a much wider production offering. Here are some of the latest additions to the SHOOTFACTORY location library.
Location: London, N16
Campbell is a bright warehouse studio in Dalston, with a character that sits somewhere between an industrial location and a contemporary photographic studio.
The main studio measures 185m² and features a high vaulted ceiling with exposed steel A-frame rafters. White brickwork and wood panelled walls provide a choice of backgrounds, while two rows of skylights bring plenty of natural daylight into the space. These can also be partially or completely blacked out when greater lighting control is required.
Vehicle access is provided through an entrance measuring 2.4 metres wide and 2.75 metres high. Once inside, productions have a maximum overall space of 21 metres by 8.5 metres.
Campbell also has a large lounge and client area, open-plan kitchen and dedicated styling facilities. Hair and make-up stations, clothing rails, polyboards, sandbags, tables, and chairs are available on site, with equipment hire available at short notice.
Its Dalston location puts the studio close to both Dalston Kingsland and Dalston Junction stations, giving crews a drive-in studio without moving production far from central London.
Location: London, NW1
A former Victorian riding arena gives Chalk Farm One a very different backdrop.
The 2,734 sq ft double height space retains architectural details from its past, including an original decorative viewing gallery reached by a cast iron spiral staircase. At the opposite end of the arena is a large J-shaped infinity cove, opening up possibilities for photography, filming, projections, 3D mapping, and set dressing.
Double drive-in doors measure 3.1 metres high by 2.4 metres wide, leading directly into a space more than 23 metres long. A full-length skylight brings natural light into the arena, with electric blackout blinds available when controlled lighting is needed.
Productions also have access to three-phase power, air conditioning, fibre-optic WiFi and a separate 28.6m² styling suite that can double as a green room, breakout area or cloakroom.
With standing capacity for 250 people, Chalk Farm One can also accommodate product launches, presentations, fashion events and other productions requiring a substantial central London space.
Location: London, NW10
Productions looking for a clean studio environment with direct vehicle access have Fresh, a 1,670 sq ft open plan photographic studio in NW10.
At its centre is an 8 metre by 8 metre L-shaped white infinity cove, reaching 3.5 metres high. The cove is pre-lit with five Chroma Q Space Force variable white LED lights mounted to an overhead lighting rig.
A 3.15 metre by 3.25 metre roller shutter entrance provides ground-floor drive-in access. Beyond the entrance is an 11 metre by 10 metre levelled shooting area, giving productions plenty of room around vehicles, products and larger set builds.
The ceiling incorporates acoustic panelling to help reduce reverb, although the studio is not a fully soundproof soundstage. Power provision includes 32-amp and 16-amp outlets.
Fresh also includes a separate 449 sq ft green room with a kitchenette, dining area, sofas, makeup station, changing area, and wardrobe equipment. Three parking spaces are available, with advance notice required for parking and vehicle access.
Location: London, TW9
Drive-in access is not restricted to industrial spaces and photographic studios. Kew combines it with a spacious contemporary residential setting on a half-acre plot.
The property has a dedicated shooting studio with a large aperture that allows a car to be driven directly inside. This makes the location an interesting option for productions that require both automotive imagery and a residential lifestyle setting on the same property.
Elsewhere, the ground floor centres on a large open-plan kitchen, dining and living space. Extensive glazing fills the interior with daylight and provides views across the garden. Generous clear space around the kitchen island gives photographers, camera operators, and lighting teams room to position equipment without losing the residential character of the shot.
The property includes five en suite bedrooms, a cinema room, and a multipurpose games room that can be configured with gym equipment. Outside, the half-acre grounds include a lawn, orchard, sauna, fire pit, sports area, and several outdoor dining and seating spaces.
Kew offers a rare combination of a polished contemporary home, sizeable gardens, flexible interiors, and direct vehicle access.
Location: London, W3
For productions requiring scale, Stanley One provides 7,550 sq ft of fully air-conditioned studio space.
Of this, 6,710 sq ft is on the ground floor, including a substantial 3,500 sq ft CYC area. Rigging height reaches 22 ft, or 6.7 metres, creating considerable vertical clearance for lighting, scenery and larger production builds.
Drive-in access is through 13 ft by 13 ft loading doors, making Stanley One particularly suited to automotive shoots and productions involving substantial equipment or set pieces.
The studio has 400A three-phase Powerlock, high-speed WiFi, a hair and makeup room, a production office, and a green room. Private toilets and a bathroom with shower are also available.
Productions requiring a different configuration at the same studio complex can also look at Stanley Two, Stanley Three and Stanley Four.
At the larger end of the scale is Wembley Warehouse, a two-acre commercial site offering a mixture of warehouse, office and exterior locations within a single London property.
The warehouse provides a substantial open area that can accommodate large sets and production builds. Loading bays and automatic shutters provide direct access around the premises, making it particularly practical for vehicles, production equipment and larger deliveries.
Outside, container yards add another industrial filming backdrop. Parking for more than 100 cars, plus HGV access and parking, gives productions considerably more logistical capacity than a typical London location.
The site also includes a three-storey office block with furnished and unfurnished meeting rooms, an office kitchen, and a rooftop balcony and social space. These additional areas allow you to capture several different looks without relocating the production.
For shoots requiring vehicles, industrial scale and substantial crew parking within London, Wembley Warehouse provides an unusually flexible combination.
Photographing or filming a vehicle places very different demands on a location than a conventional fashion, interiors, or lifestyle shoot. Getting the car through the door is only the starting point.
Door width and height must suit the vehicle, but productions may also need enough floor space to position cameras and lighting around it. Ceiling height can affect lighting setups, while turning space and the route from the entrance to the shooting position can be equally important.
For larger commercial productions, loading access can also help with scenery, props and equipment. Studios such as Fresh and Stanley One provide controlled shooting environments, while Campbell introduces more warehouse character. Kew provides the opportunity to place a vehicle within a residential production, and Wembley Warehouse offers the scale required for much larger briefs.
Discuss exact vehicle dimensions and production requirements with our location team before booking.
The SHOOTFACTORY location library includes an expanding selection of studios, houses, warehouses and commercial and industrial locations offering vehicle access.
You can view our current drive-in shoot locations online, or contact the SHOOTFACTORY team with your brief. If you need a particular entrance clearance, floor area, ceiling height, parking provision or space for a specific type of vehicle, our location agents can help identify suitable options from across the portfolio.
Prefer an AI Summary?