The Brunel Museum is one of London’s most atmospheric and versatile filming locations, offering a unique combination of industrial history and striking architecture.
Located in Rotherhithe, just minutes from the Thames, the former Victorian engine house is home to the historic Thames Tunnel Shaft, a vast underground cylindrical space with exposed brickwork, ironwork features, and a dramatic ambience that has made it a favourite for directors, photographers, and creatives. This Grade II* listed structure is the world’s first caisson. Its chamber is half the size of Shakespeare’s Globe – approximately 50ft. in diameter and 50ft. deep. The ingenious ‘ship-in-a-bottle’ design of the staircase means it is completely independent of the historic fabric of the structure.
Above ground, the museum offers a hidden rooftop garden, providing a secluded and characterful outdoor setting ideal for interviews, fashion shoots, or open-air scenes. The gallery space inside the Engine House offers a flexible backdrop for smaller set-ups, production offices, or behind-the-scenes needs.
The museum is set in attractive landscaped grounds on three levels, circling Brunel’s original shaft, and overlooking a quiet and pretty section of the river.