Blank canvas and clean slate might be event industry buzzwords but in the world of film, they’re pure gold.
Exhibition venues across the UK often market themselves as adaptable, open spaces ready to become whatever a client envisions. It turns out, the film industry feels exactly the same way. From gritty car chases to grand royal dramas, these versatile spaces have quietly taken centre stage in blockbuster productions.
You’ve likely walked through some of these halls yourself, attending trade shows or exhibitions without ever realising you were stepping onto a film set. So, next time a venue boasts about its blank canvas, just remember: that same space might have been a battlefield, a concert arena, or the setting of a pivotal movie moment.
Here are five UK exhibition venues that swapped roll-ups and lanyards for lighting rigs and film crews.
Farnborough International
Arguably no exhibition venue site in the UK has hosted more film productions in recent years than Farnborough International. Alongside its expansive indoor and outdoor venue offering for exhibitions, conferences and events, Farnborough International has fast become a hub for producers and filmmakers hosting productions for Hollywood blockbusters and TV streaming hits to music videos and advertising commercials.
Its filming offering started in 2020 during the COVID pandemic when its 12,332 sqm Hall 1 hosted a five-month shoot for Fast and Furious: Hobbs and Shaw and Tom Cruise with Mission Impossible: Fallout in its 3,150sqm Hall 5, as well as utilising its vast outdoor space for a full street-build standing set for Belfast.
The Farnborough International site has since expanded its filming and production offering with two dedicated 22,000 sq ft semi-permanent sound stages, workshops, production offices and unit base space which has now formed Farnborough International Studios.
The wider studios site has hosted productions and unit bases for multi-million-dollar films including Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Kraven The Hunter and most recently We Live in Time, to high-end TV series The Six Triple Eight (Netflix), The Sidemen Story (YouTube and Netflix), Rogue Heroes (BBC and Netflix), Inside Man (BBC and Netflix), The Devil’s Hour (Prime Video) and this year’s Paramount+ hit gangster series MobLand.
Excel London
Excel London has also served as the backdrop for several high-profile films often unbeknown to viewers who may not realise they’re watching scenes filmed inside an exhibition hall. But in fact, Excel London was used for the popular film franchise, Fast and Furious 6 (2013).
In this instalment of the action-packed franchise, scenes were filmed around Canary Wharf, including Admirals Way and Marsh Wall, showcasing London’s modern skyline and infrastructure. While specific interior spaces of Excel were not prominently featured, the surrounding areas provided the sleek, urban environment suitable for the film’s high-octane sequences.
The film starred Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, and Dwayne Johnson, who brought their characters to London’s streets, adding a British flair to the global series. Excel’s proximity to these locations made it a logistical hub during production, offering space for crew operations and equipment storage.
Additionally, Excel London was also used for Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation (2015) as a parking garage in the scene where Hunt, Brandt, and Stickell chase after the van that is taking away Benji.
Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace, a historic entertainment venue in North London has graced the silver screen in films like The King’s Speech (2010).
This Oscar-winning film, starring Colin Firth as King George VI, utilised the palace’s Victorian architecture to depict various royal settings. Notably, scenes representing the BBC’s broadcasting studios were filmed here, paying homage to the venue’s real-life history as the birthplace of television broadcasting.
Manchester Central
Manchester Central, formerly known as the G-Mex Centre, is a convention complex housed in a former railway station. Its distinctive architecture and spacious interiors have made it a sought-after location for film and television productions. Notably, the venue and surrounding areas were used in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), where parts of Manchester doubled for 1940s Brooklyn.
The film’s production team transformed Dale Street and other nearby locations to recreate the period setting, with Manchester Central serving as a logistical hub. The venue’s historical features, including its arched roof and ironwork, provided an authentic backdrop for the film’s wartime scenes.
Scottish Event Campus (SEC), Glasgow
The Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow has been featured in major films like World War Z (2013) and The Batman (2022).
In World War Z, Glasgow’s George Square and surrounding areas were transformed to represent Philadelphia during a zombie outbreak, with the SEC’s proximity facilitating production logistics.
Similarly, The Batman utilised parts of Glasgow to depict Gotham City, capitalising on the city’s gothic architecture and atmospheric streetscapes.
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