As the UK film industry continues its remarkable growth, London has emerged as a global cinematic powerhouse rivaling Hollywood. Recent figures show UK film and high-end TV production spending reached £5.6 billion in 2024, a significant 31% increase from the previous year. This surge has been driven by major Hollywood blockbusters, including “Barbie” and “Star Wars,” returning to British studios.
The infrastructure supporting this growth is expanding rapidly. Film studio space in the UK doubled over three years, growing from 297,000 square metres in 2019 to 492,000 square metres in 2023. Significant developments include Warner Bros. expanding its Leavesden film studio by 400,000 square feet with 10 new sound studios, and Sky opening a vast new studio space in Elstree, Hertfordshire, expected to generate £3 billion in movie productions over the next five years.
Streaming giants have also influenced London’s film industry landscape. Companies like Amazon and Netflix have purchased long leases at UK studio spaces such as Pinewood, creating block bookings that have raised costs. High-end TV production spending increased 18% during the 12-month period ending June 2025, with 82 productions beginning in the first half of 2025, representing a total UK spend of £2.1 billion. In the same period, a total of 66 films started principal photography with £1.09bn total spend. These impressive figures come despite planning setbacks for new studio developments, with both Holyport and Marlow Film Studio proposals being rejected due to greenbelt incompatibility concerns.
London’s position in global film rankings has strengthened considerably. The UK is on track to become second only to Hollywood in total available studio space by the end of 2025. The UK has established itself as the second largest exporter of television programming globally, further cementing its importance in international media markets. The Chilterns region has become comparable to Beverly Hills for film location shooting, and London consistently attracts international production crews and filmmaking talent.
This expansion extends beyond London itself. Crown Works Studios in Sunderland received £450 million investment approval to create one of Europe’s largest film studios, with construction planned to begin in 2025.
This regional growth creates jobs across the UK, contributing to the approximately 300,000 people working in the industry and cementing London’s status as a cinematic capital.
