When a client’s brief calls for scale, texture or a space with built-in character, we often find ourselves heading straight for a warehouse. Something about these buildings—exposed beams, poured concrete, Crittall windows and cavernous ceilings- invites creativity.
Warehouses aren’t just a backdrop. They shape how a campaign feels, help define the story being told, and give the crew space—physically and creatively—to do what they do best.
The Creative Industry’s Quiet Favourite
We’ve supported fashion shoots, ad campaigns, product films, music videos, and editorials, all shot in warehouses across London. These spaces suit brands who want their visuals to feel bold, grounded and stripped back in all the right ways.
There’s a rawness to them, but also a blank slate quality. You can style them up or strip them back. Build a set or shoot as-is. The scale is useful, but its versatility makes it work.
Light is a big part of it. Many warehouse spaces have original skylights, tall windows, or mezzanine floors that allow natural light to spill in. This means your lighting plan starts strong from the off. The rest—props, colouramas, and sets—can be layered later.
For styling teams and directors, there’s less to fight against. Neutral walls, textured surfaces, and original features aren’t locations you need to wrestle into submission. They bring something of their own.
More Than Just Square Footage
One thing that separates warehouse spaces from other shoot locations is how easy they are to work in. Access tends to be better—large entrances, roller shutters, off-street parking. There’s often more room to breathe, more space to stage multiple looks, and fewer headaches regarding kit, client holding areas or crew numbers.
They’re often quietly well-equipped, too. Behind the raw visuals, you’ll usually find decent facilities: working kitchens, changing rooms, dedicated hair and makeup areas, green rooms, WiFi, blackout options, and three-phase power.
Unlike venues, where heritage rules or residential sensitivities limit you, warehouses tend to be flexible. They suit larger-scale projects and longer shoot days.
Spaces That Bring the Brief to Life
We’ve handpicked a few standout warehouse locations from our collection, each booked regularly by fashion brands, film crews and content teams looking to create work with weight and visual impact.
Clapton Warehouse
This 2,000+ sq ft converted warehouse has a clean, contemporary gallery feel with polished concrete floors, white walls and vaulted ceilings. A separate green room, open-plan kitchen and lobby make it ideal for longer shoots. Plus, there’s a street-facing entrance perfect for pop-ups or brand takeovers.
Limehouse Studio
Set over three floors in a Victorian factory, this canal-side studio offers 3,200 sq ft of light, drama and detail. From triple-height ceilings and cantilevered balconies to Crittall windows and clean industrial finishes, this one’s as cinematic as it is shoot-friendly.
Spratts Factory
With double-height ceilings and an innovative architectural layout, this East London spot mixes history with modern updates. The space works particularly well for fashion shoots, interiors brands or smaller film setups that want a layered, loft-style backdrop.
Forest Hill Depot
This is a proper production-friendly warehouse with a fully fitted kitchen, movable furniture, three toilets, resin flooring, and blackout skylights. Drive-in access via bifold doors makes this one easy for car shoots or anything heavy on kit.
Dereliction
10,000 sq ft of gritty, flexible space just outside the congestion zone. Once a laundrette, now a three-unit location full of textured backdrops, atmospheric corners and production-ready features. There’s a green room, a wardrobe area, and plenty of space for larger crews.
The Depository
Steeped in texture, this four-floor warehouse combines industrial rawness with vintage charm. Think spiral staircases, crumbling walls, weathered timber, and curated props. There’s natural light throughout and the option to blackout as needed.
The Film Shed
Formerly part of the London Gaslight and Coke company, this unique space has lived many lives—from textile factory to theatre rehearsal venue. It’s now a popular shoot location with electric blackout blinds, a make-up room, client areas and even a secret entrance. Big shutter access makes it ideal for car or furniture shoots.
Warehouse Kitchen
A highly adaptable studio in SE18, featuring a fully equipped kitchen with movable islands, ideal for food shoots. The space also includes a full-height cyclorama with integrated lighting and blackout options, making it a versatile choice for photography and filming.
Campaigns That Used Warehouse Space to Great Effect
It’s not just small-scale editorials or low-fi brands that use these locations. We’ve had global fashion labels, drinks brands, tech products, and more shoot in our warehouses. Often, the blend of style and space draws them in, settings that hold character but still let the creative direction breathe.
We’ve seen beauty brands shoot soft, minimalist product shots against poured concrete, luxury campaigns that use loft-style open space to highlight textures and tone, and film crews that make full use of drive-in access and blackout options to control the mood frame by frame.
How The Location Guys Fit Into the Process
The Location Guys don’t produce the shoot, but ensure the space is right. If you’re searching for a location that balances logistics and looks, we’ll help narrow it down quickly.
Send us a mood board, reference shots, or a rough brief—we’ll send back warehouse options that match the tone, layout needs, and schedule. We’ll also flag anything practical you’ll need to know ahead of time.
Every space we recommend is one we know inside out, and everything we list is available for commercial photography and filming.
The Last Word
There’s a reason warehouse locations appear in so many of the best campaigns—they look real, scale up, and give creative teams the flexibility to get on with the job.
Whether building something polished or keeping it stripped-back and raw, these locations help shape the story before the camera starts rolling.
We’ve got plenty to show you. Let’s find the one that fits.
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