Film schools in London are among the best in the world, offering a variety of programmes that cater to multiple aspects of filmmaking, from directing and screenwriting to cinematography and production. Studying film in London arms students with:
- Industry connections: Many of these schools have strong ties with the film and television industry, offering students unparalleled opportunities for internships, networking, and mentorship.
- Facilities and resources: London’s leading schools have state-of-the-art facilities, including studios, sound stages, and editing suites, allowing students to gain hands-on experience using professional equipment.
- Prestigious qualifications: The schools on this list have strong reputations both in the UK and internationally, thanks in part to notable alumni who have gone on to achieve great success in the film industry.
Here are five of the top film schools in London, each of which offers a well-rounded curriculum that balances practical skills with theoretical knowledge and courses specialising in multiple types of filmmaking.
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Location: Beaconsfield (just outside London)
While it’s technically just outside London, around 40% of NFTS students travel to its campus from the city each day. NFTS is not just one of the best film schools in London; it’s regarded as one of the best globally. It offers specialised courses in almost every area of film and television – from a two-year master's degree in composing for the screen to a six-month certificate in producing your first feature. The school boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including studios, sound stages, and postproduction suites, and its postgraduate degrees are accredited by the Royal College of Art and recognised as the industry standard by ScreenSkills, the standardising body for the UK's screen industries​.
Many NFTS graduates have gone on to successful careers, with alumni including Oscar and BAFTA winners. The school’s strong industry connections provide students with exceptional opportunities for internships and networking. NFTS also has Dolby Atmos certification because of its industry-standard tools, which help ensure students are well-prepared for professional work in the film industry.
Notable alumni:
- Cinematographer Roger Deakins, who has won two Academy Awards, five BAFTA Awards, 16 Oscar nominations, and numerous other awards for his films, not least of which are Blade Runner 2049, 1917, and Skyfall.
- Director and Writer Lynne Ramsay, who's won a BAFTA and multiple Cannes Film Festival awards for her work, which includes We Need to Talk About Kevin and You Were Never Really Here.
Location: Covent Garden, London
LFS is the oldest film school in the UK and offers a rigorous, hands-on approach to filmmaking. The school is known for its collaborative environment and its focus on narrative storytelling.
LFS offers a host of courses, from short intensives to postgraduate qualifications. The MA Filmmaking and MA Screenwriting programmes are validated by the University of Warwick. The MA International Film Business, the new MA Documentary Filmmaking, and the PhD Film by Practice are offered jointly with the University of Exeter. LFS is also certified as an Avid Learning Partner.
A highlight of studying at LFS is access to its extensive facilities, including two studios; its own cinema; a camera department; and editing, sound, and design suites.
Notable alumni:
- Filmmaker Mike Leigh, who has spent over 50 years in the industry creating works like Secrets & Lies, Vera Drake, and Happy-Go-Lucky, winning BAFTAs and Palme d'Ors along the way.
- Producer Alison Owen, who has won multiple awards, including a BAFTA and a Primetime Emmy, for films including Elizabeth, Temple Grandin, and Saving Mr Banks.
Location: Elephant and Castle, London
Part of the University of the Arts London, LCC is ranked ninth in the Guardian’s 2024 table of UK universities for film production and photography, making it a desirable (and competitive) place to study. It offers a BA (Hons) Film and Television, a BA (Hons) Film Practice, and a BA (Hons) Film and Screen Studies, as well as a host of postgraduate courses and a couple of pre-university certificates.
The university has high-tech facilities, including broadcast-standard TV studios and postproduction facilities, with editing suites equipped with first-class software. The College is an Avid accredited partner, too, so you’ll leave as a certified user of its professional equipment.
Notable alumni:
- Director and artist Steve McQueen of 12 Years a Slave, Hunger, and Shame fame.
- Director Joe Wright, whose films include Anna Karenina, Atonement, and Darkest Hour, and is among the youngest directors to open the Venice Film Festival.
Location: Ealing, London
MetFilm School is situated within the famous Ealing Studios (the oldest continuously working film studio in the world, where parts of Downton Abbey were shot), providing students with a direct link to the heart of the film industry. MetFilm has a strong focus on employability, aiming to “minimise the difference between being a student and being in the industry.” It works to achieve this through its own careers department, MetFilm Futures, supporting students looking for work through events like master classes, mixers, and career surgeries.
The school offers a range of courses, from a four-week cinematography course through to degrees like the BA (Hons) Digital Film Practice – Post Production, and postgraduate courses such as the MA in Directing. The five MA courses on offer all have ScreenSkills accreditation.
MetFilm also has a connected production company, MetFilm Production, which makes “high-quality fiction and documentary films”. It is an independent commercial company, so access is not guaranteed for students, but it has employed more than 100 MetFilm students in professional, paid roles since MetFilm Production started.
Notable alumni:
- BAFTA-winning producer Lauren Dark, whose works include Beast, The Father, and Enys Men.
- BAFTA-winning writer and actor Adjani Salmon, who is known for Dreaming Whilst Black, Drunk History: Black Stories, and My Jerome.
Location: Central London and Egham
OK, so the Egham campus is 40 minutes by train from central London. But so is the NFTS and, as with the NFTS, many of Royal Holloway’s students commute. It’s ranked fifth in the UK by the Guardian for film production and photography, and it’s the highest-ranked London film school on that list. It’s also ranked 22nd in the UK for Media and Film Studies. It offers courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including BAs in Film Studies, Drama with Film, and Film, Television, and Digital Production. Royal Hollway is another Avid accredited partner, so you’ll leave a course there with industry-ready skills in editing.
Royal Holloway’s facilities include its own studio, which provides 70 square metres of filming space with green screen capability. It also offers editing suites and a 35-seat sound studio/teaching space.
Notable alumni:
- Screenwriter, comedian, and Comic Relief founder Sir Lenny Henry, whose long career has earned him a BAFTA Alan Clarke Award for Outstanding Contribution to Television and a Royal Television Society Fellowship Award.
- Producer and writer Simon Nye, known for the multi-award-winning hit series Men Behaving Badly, as well as The Durrells and Flushed Away.
Consider your career goals and be clear on what you hope to achieve by attending a film school in London. Then study the courses at each provider to find the best match for your aspirations. Look out for open days, too, as these are great opportunities to get behind-the-scenes access to studios, teachers, and students to really get a sense of what a school is all about.
