Visitors will soon be able to dive into movie history with all their senses at Elstree Studios, where movies such as The Shining and Wicked were filmed in the past. The opening of the immersive museum is planned for December 2026.
While Elstree Studios in the English county of Hertfordshire might not be as famous as some of its American counterparts, the production centre has played – and still does – an important role in the worldwide movie industry. With famous movies and series such as EastEnders, Star Wars, and Strictly Come Dancing filmed in the studio, many are unknowingly acquainted with Elstree’s work.
Now, in order to celebrate Elstree Studios’ 100th anniversary with a grand gesture, the studios are planning to build an immersive visitor experience. After a £2 million funding from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) was approved by the Hertsmere Borough Council on 26 November 2025, the green light has officially been given for the project to go ahead. The £2 million will be combined with direct funding from the council and national innovation funding from the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology.
“As we celebrate more than a century of world-leading film and television production at Elstree Studios, this project honours our heritage while building a new engine for local prosperity. It reinforces Hertsmere’s position as a global centre for storytelling and screen production. We are proud to back an initiative that will deliver such immense cultural, educational, and economic value both now and for future generations”, Councillor Jeremy Newmark, leader of Hertsmere Borough Council and chairman of Elstree Film Studios, told the British newspaper The Independent.
📣 🎥 Council recently approved £2 million to support the development of the Elstree Film Studios ‘Immersive Experience’ – a new attraction that will celebrate the area’s rich film and television heritage. It looks like it’s going to be fantastic! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/UwYICcLUuQ
— Hertsmere BC (@HertsmereBC) December 8, 2025
All the senses involved
While a traditional approach could have been chosen by opening a classic museum, it will instead be a walk-through experience combining sound, visuals, smells, and physical objects. Live performances, immersive worlds, and interactive storytelling will be combined in order to give visitors a peek behind the curtain.
“The Elstree Immersive Experience (EIE) will be a ground-breaking, multi-sensory and interactive visitor attraction, designed to celebrate Elstree’s world-famous film and TV heritage. Its core purpose is to celebrate Elstree’s century-long cinematic legacy through the integration of cutting-edge immersive technologies. The Elstree Immersive Experience is needed to celebrate, protect and showcase Elstree’s world-famous film and TV heritage, while driving skills, education and economic growth for the region”, Elstree Studios explain.
The goal is to make the experience accessible for all ages and abilities, with special attention to programmes for school youth groups and priority wards. 60 direct jobs are expected to be created, while up to 150 indirect opportunities within the local area should open up.
The immersive experience is set to have a soft launch in September 2026, while the official opening will take place in December 2026. The opening will also include the launch of a borough-wide heritage walking trail, which will link studio spaces, filming locations, and cultural landmarks.
The visitor center will be located on a vacant former Sky Studios space in Panattoni Park, 20 minutes down the road from the Making of Harry Potter experience in Watford. For those visiting from London, the Elstree & Borehamwood Station is just a 25-minute train ride away from St Pancras Station.
