Elstree: Britain's Hollywood

At its height Elstree boasted six film studios. It launched the careers of Alfred Hitchcock, Charles Laughton, Audrey Hepburn and many others. It hosted the first British sound picture and also Star Wars.

Today only two of the original six studios remain. One makes films; the other television programmes, notably EastEnders. The story of Elstree's rise and decline mirrors that of the industry as a whole.