The Studios

Eight studio sites. One extraordinary filmmaking community.

Elstree and Borehamwood are known throughout the world for film and television production. Yet the name “Elstree Studios” is often used loosely, creating the impression that there has only ever been one studio in the area.

In fact, The Elstree Project documents the history of eight principal film and television studio sites across Elstree and Borehamwood. Each has its own distinct history, although several have operated under many different names and owners.

Together, these studios have helped create some of the most celebrated and widely watched films and television programmes ever made. Their shared history explains why Elstree and Borehamwood can rightly be described as Britain’s only studio town.

Here’s a list of the studios. Numbers relate to the location on the map below, from East to West.

Eldon Avenue (6)

The Eldon Avenue site began in 1914 as Neptune Studios and later became Ideal Film Studios, Blattner Studios, Joe Rock Studios, British National Studios, ATV Elstree Studios and BBC Elstree Centre.

Across its long history, the studios have been associated with film, variety, drama, children’s television, music and continuing television production. The site is now known as Fairbanks Studios.

Shenley Road (5)

The Shenley Road studios were established in 1926 by British National Pictures and became British International Pictures the following year. In 1936 it became the Associated British Picture Corporation.

The site later operated under owners and names including EMI, Thorn EMI, Cannon, Brent Walker (Goldcrest) and Elstree Studios. It continues to operate today as Elstree Studios.

Elstree Way (3)

The Elstree Way site was built as Amalgamated Studios in 1937 and became best known as MGM-British Studios.

For many years, it was home to major British and international film productions. The studio buildings were demolished after production ceased in 1970, although the history of the site remains central to Elstree and Borehamwood’s international filmmaking legacy. Universal Production Services, and ESA — a school dedicated to teaching media and arts — now both operate on parts of the former MGM site.

Imperial Studios (4)

British and Dominion’s Imperial Studios stood close to the Elstree Studios site, having purchased three stages from ABPC in 1930.

Although its working life was comparatively brief, it formed an important part of the rapid growth of film production in Elstree and Borehamwood during the early sound era. The studio closed after a fire in 1936.

Danziger’s New Elstree Studios (8)

Danziger’s New Elstree Studios were created by producers Edward and Harry Danziger in 1955.

The studios became known for the efficient production of feature films and television series, including programmes made for international audiences. The site was later redeveloped after the studio closed in 1961.

Station Road (7)

A single studio stage was built beside Elstree and Borehamwood railway station in 1928.

The site operated under several names, including Whitehall Studios, JH Studios, and Gate Studios, and was used for both film and television production before its eventual closure and redevelopment in 1954.

Millennium Studios (3)

Millennium Studios operated from Elstree Way from 1993 and provided production space for film, television, advertising and other screen work. It was renamed Studio 2000, and now exists as Lumiére Studios.

Although smaller than several of the area’s historic studio complexes, it forms part of the continuing story of production in Elstree and Borehamwood and is therefore included within the Project’s research.

Sky Studios Elstree (1)

Sky Studios Elstree opened in 2022 as a major new film and television production facility.

Its development represents the latest chapter in nearly a century of studio production in Elstree and Borehamwood, continuing the area’s role in creating work for audiences around the world.

A century of changing names

The history of the studios can sometimes appear confusing because individual sites have changed ownership and name many times.

“Elstree Studios” may be used informally to describe production across the wider area, but it is also the present name of the specific studio site on Shenley Road. The Elstree Project identifies productions and personal histories by their correct physical studio site wherever possible.

Of the eight sites documented by the Project, Elstree Studios at Shenley Road, Fairbanks Studios at Eldon Avenue and Sky Studios Elstree continue to operate as production facilities.

Explore the individual studio histories and production databases to discover more about the films, television programmes and people associated with each site.