A cave filming location near London
A historic sandstone cave and private woodland in the Wey Valley — about 50 minutes from London and under an hour from the studios at Shepperton, Longcross and Pinewood. Quiet, controllable and production-friendly.
- From London
- ~50 minutes by road; 45–60 minutes from Shepperton, Longcross and Pinewood
- The hire
- Both caves and our private woodland above them, on one booking; controlled access on private land
- Parking
- 15 vehicles on site, public parking 2 minutes away; short, flat walk-in
- Power
- None on site — battery power or a pre-approved silent generator
- Season
- February to November; closed December and January
- Rates
- Professional from £2,000 half day; non-professional from £700 half day; no VAT
- Crew base
- Our Shepherd’s Hut, with Wi-Fi, a basic kitchen and sofas: £150 a day
- Toilets
- Our private toilets, 2 minutes’ walk from the cave, by arrangement
A cave filming location 50 minutes from London
Mother Ludlam’s Cave is a historic sandstone cave filming location in Moor Park, Farnham, Surrey, about 50 minutes from London and under an hour from the main studio belt. The hire covers two caves and the private woodland above them, on private land with controlled access and low ambient noise. Professional location hire starts from £2,000 for a half day, and the site suits TV and film drama, documentary, commercials, music videos and photoshoots.
The cave is privately maintained and was restored after years of unauthorised access and fire damage. Hiring it supports its ongoing protection, and the same care we take of the cave we take of the productions that film here.
Filming here brings real texture and practical calm in one place. The sandstone mouth and the river light beyond give instant atmosphere, and the setting reads beautifully on camera — a real cave, not a set build, first recorded in 1216. The caves work as a film set for drama, documentary and stills: you can frame the arched entrance, the chambers of both caves, the tunnel-like passage into the rock, and tighter details on stone and roots in our woodland above. Night, dawn and seasonal variations read well here, and there are safe positions for lamps and light rigs; lighting plans are approved in advance, and smoke, haze and drones need our prior written approval. Sound is manageable, with little traffic and shelter from wind along the valley.
Our hire covers the caves and our woodland above them. The land in front of the cave, the riverside path and the surrounding woods are outside our ownership — separate permission is needed for filming there, and a public footpath passes the cave mouth and must remain open.
Before you visit, explore the Gallery for stills that show scale, angles and approach routes, the filming FAQ for rates, rules and what the hire covers, and why a real cave beats a set build if you’re weighing unusual locations. When you’re ready to plan, use the enquiry form below to outline dates and crew size, then book a recce to walk the route, confirm positions and lock the call sheet.
A woodland filming location, on the same booking
The hire doesn’t stop at the cave mouth. Above Mother Ludlam’s Cave, our private woodland gives you a second location without a unit move: roots gripping sandstone banks, deep leaf litter, dappled light through the canopy, and Father Foote’s Cave tucked into the slope a short walk up.
It reads as anything from fairy-tale forest to folk horror, and it changes through the year, from bare branches and low winter sun to full summer green and the rust of autumn. It works for exteriors, walk-and-talks, chases, establishing shots and transitions into the cave, and for portrait and editorial photography.
Because it’s our own land, the woodland is covered by the same booking, the same controlled access and the same rules as the caves.
Filming gallery
Stills chosen for productions: the arch, the chambers, the light and the textures you can frame. Click any image to see it larger.
Recently filmed hereLADbible × The Open University: watch the trailer
Access, parking and power
Quiet valley
Low ambient noise, little traffic, and shelter from wind along the valley; sound is manageable all day.
Access & parking
Parking for 15 vehicles at our property, a 3-minute walk from the cave, with public parking 2 minutes away. Luton vans and small trucks supported; parking plans provided on booking.
No power on site
Productions must be battery-powered or bring their own silent generator, approved in advance and never inside the cave (send make, model and dB rating). No toilets or running water at the cave itself, though our private toilets are 2 minutes’ walk away, by arrangement.
Controlled access
Private land with clear permissions. The public footpath past the cave mouth stays open; schedules easier to keep.
Safety handled cleanly
Public liability insurance (minimum £5m) plus a written risk assessment, both required at least 7 days before any shoot. Smoke, haze and drones only with our prior written approval.
Protecting the fabric
Advice on protection for historic fabric, ground protection where needed, and reinstatement after shoots.
Rates
Every hire is quoted to your brief; rates are set by crew size, timing and scope. The figures below are indicative starting points only; there is nothing to book online. Tell us what you’re planning and we’ll shape it together. Prices are not subject to VAT. Bookings made within 60 days of the shoot date carry a non-refundable deposit. Our Shepherd’s Hut can be added to any filming booking as a crew base for £150 a day.
Professional filming
Location hire for TV and film production, commercials, music videos and branded content, with parking plans and controlled access, plus liaison. Strong visuals and low ambient noise, with clear zones for staging and good control of light and sound — a production-friendly location near the Shepperton and Longcross studios.
Enquire
Photography
A commercial shoot location for portrait, editorial and fine-art photography in the caves and our woodland above. Quoted to scope, on the same non-professional and professional basis as filming.
EnquireNon-professional filming
A student film location and a home for personal projects: small, low-impact shoots with simple access and light kit support, guidance, and permissions, from recce to wrap.
EnquireContact us about filming
Interested in working together? Outline your dates and crew size and we’ll be in touch shortly, usually within 24 hours. A recce can be arranged to walk the route, confirm rig positions and lock the call sheet.
Public liability insurance (minimum £5m) and a written risk assessment are required at least 7 days before any shoot.