Best Music Video Locations in Birmingham
Birmingham is one of the best cities in the UK to shoot a music video. In a single day you can go from graffiti-covered railway arches to Victorian streets to sleek modern architecture, all within a few miles. Here are the locations I’d look at first, and what you need to know about permission before you turn up with a camera.
1. Digbeth
If you want an urban, gritty look, start here. Digbeth is full of red-brick warehouses, railway arches and huge murals, and the street art changes all the time, so your video won’t look like anyone else’s. It works brilliantly for rap, grime, drill and alternative music.
2. The Custard Factory
In the middle of Digbeth, the old Bird’s Custard factory is now a creative quarter with colourful walls, industrial textures and independent shops. Parts of it are private property, so check with the site before filming.
3. The Jewellery Quarter
Victorian terraces, wrought-iron shopfronts and narrow lanes give the Jewellery Quarter a completely different feel from the city centre. At night, with the street lights on, it’s perfect for moodier, cinematic videos.
4. St Paul’s Square
Right next to the Jewellery Quarter, this is Birmingham’s last remaining Georgian square. Elegant buildings and a church at the centre make it ideal for softer, more classic looks, such as R&B, soul and acoustic videos.
5. The canals and Gas Street Basin
Birmingham famously has more miles of canal than Venice. Towpaths, cast-iron bridges and reflections on the water look stunning, especially at golden hour. Just remember the canals are managed by the Canal & River Trust and filming needs their permission (more on that below).
6. The Library of Birmingham and Centenary Square
The library’s gold and silver lattice front is one of the most recognisable buildings in the country, and Centenary Square gives you open space and clean lines. Great for pop and anything that wants a modern, polished feel.
7. Spaghetti Junction
The huge concrete curves of Gravelly Hill Interchange have been in Hollywood films, including Ready Player One. Shooting from the surrounding streets and towpaths gives you dramatic, large-scale shots without going near the traffic.
8. The Bullring and Selfridges
The curved, disc-covered Selfridges building is instantly recognisable. Shooting it from the public streets around it can work well, but the Bullring itself is private property, so filming inside needs the centre’s permission.
9. Your own corner of the city
Some of the best videos are shot somewhere personal: the barbershop you’ve used for years, your local chicken shop, the park you grew up in. If it means something to you, it usually shows on screen.
Do you need permission to film in Birmingham?
Often, yes. Here’s the short version:
- Council land and city streets: Film Birmingham is the city council’s single point of contact for filming on council land. They handle filming permission, parking and road closures. They advise that a permit is needed for filming on busy city streets, whatever the size of the production.
- Canals: the Canal & River Trust requires permission for commercial filming on its waterways. You apply through their online system, need public liability insurance and a risk assessment, should allow at least five working days, and there are hourly location fees.
- Private property: shopping centres, the Custard Factory, venues and businesses all need the owner’s permission.
Rules and fees change, so always check directly with Film Birmingham or the location owner before your shoot. Sorting permission early also means no one can stop you halfway through a take.
Planning a music video in Birmingham?
I’m based in Coventry, just down the road, and I shoot music videos and events across Birmingham regularly, including the Zimma pop-up film above. I can help you choose locations that suit your song, plan the day and handle the permissions side with you.
See my Birmingham work and music videos, then tell me about your track.