<p>Corrosion is a persistent challenge in engineering, causing significant degradation of metallic materials across industries. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs), a versatile class of two-dimensional materials, offer promising solutions for corrosion protection owing to their exceptional properties, such as anion capacity, anion exchangeability, and barrier resistance. Despite comprehensive reviews on the preparation of LDH powders or films and their applications in various corrosive environments, there has been no thorough examination of corrosion protection enhancement measures taken to address the deficiencies of LDH films grown in situ on metal surfaces. This review fills that gap by introducing the fundamental approaches and methodologies for growing LDH films directly on metal substrates, including strategies for structural design and surface modification to optimize protective performance. We identify the key challenges and issues that currently limit the long-term protective performance of these films. Subsequently, we examine advanced structural regulation and surface engineering techniques, including parallel growth, pore sealing, surface wettability regulation, active protection, and integrated methods, to enhance their durability and overall corrosion resistance. Finally, we highlight emerging research directions for translating these concepts into innovative and robust LDH-based films. By consolidating current knowledge on the structure and surface engineering of in-situ grown LDH films, this review aims to guide the rational design and development of pioneering corrosion protection materials.</p>