Side Hustleslow risk
Film Location Walking Tours: £3K/Month London Side Hustle
Launch film location walking tours in London targeting Netflix/HBO fans. £200 startup, £3K monthly profit, 8-12 hrs/week.
Last verified: 4/8/2026
Launch film location walking tours in London targeting Netflix/HBO fans. £200 startup, £3K monthly profit, 8-12 hrs/week.
Capital Required
$200–$1,000
Time Commitment
8–12 hrs/week
Skill Level
beginner
Risk Level
low
London's film and TV tourism market is exploding, but most walking tour guides are stuck giving the same generic historical tours that TripAdvisor is flooded with. Meanwhile, Netflix series like The Crown, Bridgerton, and HBO's House of the Dragon have created a massive audience of tourists specifically hunting for filming locations — and almost no one is serving this market properly.
Here's the specific opportunity: Film location walking tours targeting fans of popular streaming shows, with routes focused on recently filmed series rather than decade-old movies everyone already knows about.
Streaming services spent £6 billion on UK productions in 2023, with London being the primary filming hub. Every major Netflix, HBO, and Amazon series films multiple scenes across London's neighborhoods. But here's the key insight: traditional tour operators are slow to adapt, still focused on Harry Potter and James Bond locations from years ago.
The arbitrage is timing. By staying current with newly released series and identifying their London filming locations within weeks of episodes airing, you can capture tourist demand while it's hot and before competitors catch up.
Startup costs: £200-400 total
Revenue model:
Timeline to profitability: 2-4 weeks. Your first paying customers can cover your entire startup cost.
Step 1: Choose Your Niche Series Focus on 2-3 currently popular series with extensive London filming. As of 2024, prime opportunities include:
Research filming locations using:
Step 2: Build Your Routes Create 2-3 walking routes of 2-3 hours each. Map them using Google My Maps, calculating walking times between locations. Each stop should have:
Example route: "Bridgerton's London" covering Grosvenor Square, Ranger's House Greenwich, Somerset House, and Hatfields (standing in for various ball scenes).
Step 3: Content Creation and Marketing Create Instagram and TikTok accounts showcasing before/after comparisons of filming locations. Post content like:
Key platforms:
Step 4: Legal Requirements In London, you don't need a license to give walking tours on public streets, but you do need:
Most tour guides are middle-aged locals giving historical tours. Your edge comes from:
Mistake 1: Choosing oversaturated locations Avoid Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes, or James Bond tours. The market is flooded, and you'll compete on price with established operators.
Mistake 2: Ignoring filming permits and accuracy Always verify locations through multiple sources. Some "filming locations" listed online are incorrect, and disappointing customers kills repeat business and reviews.
Mistake 3: Underpricing to compete Tourists expect to pay premium prices for unique experiences. Pricing at £15-18 per person signals low quality. Price at £22-25 and deliver exceptional value instead.
Mistake 4: Static routes Netflix releases new series constantly. Update your routes quarterly to stay current with trending shows, rather than sticking with the same three tours all year.
Mistake 5: Neglecting weather contingencies London weather is unpredictable. Have indoor backup locations (filming spots inside covered markets, museums with film connections, or cafes featured in shows) ready for rain days.
This business model has natural scaling limitations:
However, you can expand by:
Week 1 Actions:
Week 2 Actions:
This opportunity exists because:
The window will narrow as more operators recognize this niche, likely within 18-24 months. Early movers who establish strong social media presence and customer reviews will maintain advantages even as competition increases.
Low risks:
Medium risks:
High risks:
Q: Do I need tour guide qualifications in London? A: No official license is required for walking tours on public streets. However, Blue Badge qualification is required if you plan to guide inside attractions like Westminster Abbey or Tower of London. Most film location tours stay on public streets and don't require this.
Q: How do I find accurate filming locations? A: Cross-reference multiple sources: MovieMaps.org, AtlasofWonders.com, Reddit communities, and local film commission databases. Visit locations yourself to verify before including them in tours. Contact local film offices for official location lists when available.
Q: What insurance do I need? A: Public liability insurance covering £2-6 million is essential and costs £150-200 annually. This covers injuries to tour participants on your walks. Some platforms like GetYourGuide require proof of insurance before listing your tours.
Q: How do I handle group sizes and bookings? A: Optimal group size is 8-12 people for walking tours - large enough to be profitable but small enough to manage easily. Use booking platforms like GetYourGuide or Viator that handle payments and scheduling, or create a simple booking system using Calendly and PayPal for direct bookings.
Q: What happens when shows lose popularity? A: Stay current by monitoring Netflix trending lists, social media hashtags, and tourism forums. Plan to refresh your offerings every 3-4 months with new series locations. Having 2-3 different themed tours running simultaneously provides backup if one series loses popularity.
Series Selection and Research (Week 1): Choose 2-3 currently trending series with London filming locations. Research exact addresses, film production details, and behind-the-scenes trivia using multiple online sources and location scouting.
Route Development and Testing (Week 2): Create detailed walking routes connecting 6-8 filming locations per tour. Walk routes yourself, timing segments and identifying optimal photo spots. Test with friends/family for feedback.
Business Setup and Insurance (Week 2-3): Register business with Companies House (£12), secure public liability insurance (£150-200), set up business banking, and create professional social media profiles.
Platform Registration and Marketing (Week 3-4): List tours on GetYourGuide, Viator, and Airbnb Experiences. Create Instagram content showcasing location comparisons. Build initial social media following through hashtag research and engagement.
Launch and Customer Acquisition (Week 4-6): Run first official tours, collect customer reviews and testimonials, refine routes based on feedback, and scale marketing efforts through social media and platform optimization.
Optimization and Expansion (Month 2+): Analyze booking patterns, optimize pricing and scheduling, develop seasonal tour variations, and consider adding complementary services like food tours or private group experiences.
This information is for educational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Always conduct your own research and consider your personal financial situation before starting any business venture.
Series Selection and Research
Route Development and Testing
Business Setup and Insurance
Platform Registration and Marketing
Launch and Customer Acquisition
Optimization and Expansion
No official license is required for walking tours on public streets. However, Blue Badge qualification is required if you plan to guide inside attractions like Westminster Abbey or Tower of London. Most film location tours stay on public streets and don't require this.
Cross-reference multiple sources: MovieMaps.org, AtlasofWonders.com, Reddit communities, and local film commission databases. Visit locations yourself to verify before including them in tours. Contact local film offices for official location lists when available.
Public liability insurance covering £2-6 million is essential and costs £150-200 annually. This covers injuries to tour participants on your walks. Some platforms like GetYourGuide require proof of insurance before listing your tours.
Optimal group size is 8-12 people for walking tours - large enough to be profitable but small enough to manage easily. Use booking platforms like GetYourGuide or Viator that handle payments and scheduling, or create a simple booking system using Calendly and PayPal for direct bookings.
Stay current by monitoring Netflix trending lists, social media hashtags, and tourism forums. Plan to refresh your offerings every 3-4 months with new series locations. Having 2-3 different themed tours running simultaneously provides backup if one series loses popularity.