Borehamwood between film history and the Green Belt

Borehamwood combines a film and television heritage with varied green spaces. The town is surrounded by sections of attractive Green Belt landscape, while the film industry has had a major influence on its development. This creates an interesting combination for planning your trip: you can bring together cultural discoveries, virtual studio insights, walking routes and activities for different age groups.

Between the Green Belt and urban development

The Green Belt landscape separates Borehamwood from Elstree, Bushey, Radlett and Shenley. This geographical setting also makes the town interesting for travellers who want to include open landscapes in their days alongside visits to cultural attractions. At the same time, Borehamwood’s development tells a story of growth: the opening of Elstree station in 1868 contributed to the town’s expansion.

A specific starting point for a walking experience can be found at Allum Lane. The walk Parkfields and beyond can be started there; Allum Lane is a two-minute walk from Elstree & Borehamwood station. Travellers with different interests can take this starting point into account alongside the cultural attractions when planning their trip.

Experience film and television heritage

The film industry is one of Borehamwood’s defining themes. At the Elstree and Borehamwood Museum, the collections focus in particular on the region’s film and television heritage. The museum presents interactive exhibitions that change every six months. This makes it a worthwhile place to visit if you want to learn about the town’s development not only through its landscape and urban history, but also through its media history.

In addition, visitors can use interactive 360° views to look around the individual rooms of Elstree Studios and experience the scale of the stages where internationally recognised film and television productions were created. Major blockbuster films and popular television programmes are still produced at Elstree Film Studios today. Anyone interested in how such productions are made will therefore find several different ways to explore the subject in Borehamwood: museum collections, changing interactive exhibitions and virtual studio views.

Parks, water and routes for active days

For a trip with children, Meadow Park offers specific experiences. The park has two easily accessible play areas for users of all ages and with different abilities. These include the 8 m-high Planet Meadow slide and trampoline hills. The Splash Zone opened in 2022 and comprises 23 ground-level jets. These include arch-shaped elements to crawl underneath, as well as large columns of water to run or jump through.

Quieter discoveries can also be included in your plans. The Heritage Trail now includes 27 information boards about the area’s heritage. Studio Way Woodland and Potterswood Park is a 5.8-hectare (14-acre) open space in a residential area on the north-eastern edge of Borehamwood. The Tykes Water Greenway runs through Aberford Park; it connects Borehamwood town centre with the north of the town and beyond. The lakes in Aberford Park provide a habitat for a variety of wildlife, including breeding swans.

The right accommodation for planning your trip

When looking for a holiday apartment in Borehamwood, you can first decide what kind of days you prefer. The film and television heritage, the museum and Elstree Studios favour a culture-focused stay. Parks, Green Belt landscape, the walking route and the lakes in Aberford Park offer a different focus. Meadow Park adds play and water experiences for different age groups to this selection.

An accommodation in Borehamwood can therefore be chosen according to the desired mix of activities without limiting the trip to just one theme. When planning, consider whether you want to focus on media history, observing nature, walks or shared activities in Meadow Park. This keeps your choice of holiday apartment aligned with the actual interests of your travel group.

More destinations for your planning

For further trip planning, you can also visit Berkhamsted, Royston, Saint Albans, Radlett, Ardeley, Boxmoor, Hailey and Letchworth.

Return to the main travel overview: Hertfordshire.