London Media Centre at One Great George Street

The London Media Centre (LMC) will be located in the heart of London just a short distance from the Houses of Parliament and close to Horse Guards Parade, where the Beach Volleyball competition will take place.

The fabulous venue at One Great George Street will provide a rich mix of heritage and the latest technology to deliver a host of services to registered media.

Media registered to the LMC will be able to access assets via the LMC website, which will launch in May. Whether you will be in London in Games time or not, register to receive video, photos, stories and material from the LMC.

London Media Centre Facilities

The London Media Centre will house a main working room and smaller workrooms for media to use with office space available on a rentable basis. The main press conference room has capacity for over 200 people and there is an additional press conference space (capacity 100) available that can be linked to the main room when required.

Information desks around the centre will enable media to deal directly with staff from different London and UK agencies to get information on a range of areas including transport, business, events and entertainment. Information screens around the venue will update on the latest news happening during Olympic and Paralympic periods. There will also be a café and dining facilities.

Broadcast media will have access to rentable edit suites, play-out facilities and stand-up positions connected back to a master control room within the venue.

There will be content available for media to use across different formats to enhance their coverage. This material will be free and supplied via the service providers within the LMC.

London Media Centre: A Practical Guide for Broadcasters

This guide provides information for broadcasters wanting to film Olympic and Paralympic related preview and Games time content. The guide includes a list of boroughs and attractions working with the LMC to provide filming positions. This guide will be regularly updated.

A Practical Guide for Broadcasters [PDF 2.45MB]

Visa Information for Non-Accredited Media

If you are coming to the UK for the London 2012 Games, you may need a visa to enter the UK. The UK Border Agency will process visas for non-accredited journalists and media professionals who want to work in the UK for their overseas employer during the Games.

To find out how to come to the UK as a representative of an overseas media organisation (such as a newspaper, news agency or broadcaster), please visit the Representatives of Overseas Business section of the UK Border Agency website. Alternatively, you can use the Do You Need a Visa? questionnaire to find out if you need to apply for a visa.  

When you arrive in the UK, as with Games spectators, you should pass through passport control in the normal way, or by using the e-Passport gates if you are an EU/EEA national with a chipped passport.

If you are planning to import media equipment into the UK for the Games, please read the HM Revenue & Customs guide to importing goods into the UK.

Public Liability Insurance for Filming in London Prior To and During the 2012 Games

It is a legal requirement that film units and broadcasters have Public Liability Insurance to film on the streets, on private land and within both public and private buildings in the UK, including London. 

Any company working in the UK requires this insurance, which is part of the UK's employment law, under the Employers' Liability Act 1969 and Employers' Liability Regulations 1988.

London Boroughs have a statutory duty when allowing work in public spaces to ensure that companies are covered, as well as ensuring all Health and Safety rules are followed.

In most cases, a minimum of £5 million Public Liability Insurance is needed but we would suggest that £10 million will cover you more comprehensively as some private landlords require this level of cover.

You will require a scanned copy of your insurance certificate to add to your registration for the London Media Centre. 

If you have already been verified by the LMC, please email this to registration@londonmediacentre.co.uk and we will update your records accordingly. Failure to provide this document may prevent your access to the LMC.

More Information

For further information please contact:

• info@londonmediacentre.co.uk for general information
• editorialcontent@londonmediacentre.co.uk for information on LMC content during the Olympic and Paralympic Games period, and for preview content ideas and contacts