London as a Backdrop: Navigating the Newest Filming Incentives and Locations in 2026

The UK’s screen tax relief system remains one of the most competitive globally, and recent updates have made it even more attractive for high-end television.

In short:

• • Eligible TV productions can access up to 34% payable tax credit on qualifying UK spend
  • Applies to scripted television, returning series, and limited series
  • Strong co-production frameworks with Europe, India, and North America
  • Clear certification process and predictable timelines

For international partners, this means:

• • Lower net production costs
  • Confidence for financiers and broadcasters
  • Flexibility to scale production up or down

Our team at Square Elephant handles the end-to-end tax credit workflow—from cultural test guidance and spend qualification to liaising with accountants and legal teams—so producers can stay focused on the creative.

Everyone knows Westminster, Piccadilly, and Tower Bridge. But the real production advantage in 2026 lies elsewhere.

London offers an extraordinary range of under-filmed locations that bring a fresh visual language to TV drama:

• • Outer East & South London – grounded, lived-in neighbourhoods ideal for contemporary realism
  • Brutalist estates & modernist interiors – increasingly popular for dystopian, political, and social dramas
  • Canal networks & industrial zones – flexible doubles for Europe, North America, or anonymous global cities
  • Night-time financial districts – sleek, cinematic backdrops with strong production control

Because Square Elephant is based in Soho but shoots across the UK, we help international teams unlock locations that feel new on screen—often with fewer restrictions and better value than overused landmarks.

London’s production ecosystem is one of its biggest strengths.

• • Highly skilled HODs and crews with global experience
  • Strong union frameworks known to international studios
  • Access to leading post-production, VFX, and sound facilities

Short travel times between locations, studios, and post

At Square Elephant Productions, we work as a London-based TV production and line production partner, helping international projects navigate incentives, locations, and logistics smoothly and transparently.

Square Elephant operates as a hands-on line production company, offering:

• • UK budgeting and scheduling
  • Crew sourcing and negotiations
  • Location management and permits
  • Production accounting and compliance
  • Multi-country coordination for international shoots

Whether you’re mounting a full UK shoot or using London to double for another territory, we act as an extension of your producing team.

For international producers, filming in London works best with a local partner who understands both creative ambition and financial reality.

At Square Elephant Productions, we bring:

• • Deep experience across TV drama, factual, and branded content
  • Proven delivery for broadcasters, streamers, and agencies
  • Clear communication, realistic budgeting, and calm problem-solving

A genuinely collaborative approach