While Leavesden Studios is obviously the hub of Watford filming, a new industry website shows 12 other locations on crews’ radar.
Hertfordshire Film Office officially launched as a “gateway” for productions looking to film in the county this week and offers lists of places in each town that can be booked as sets.
Watford mayor Peter Taylor said: “Hertfordshire’s world-leading film and TV studios are driving an appetite to invest.
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“This creates huge opportunities for young people to enter the screen industry and those with transferable skills in, for example, carpentry, hairdressing, or digital artistry to retrain.
“The Film Office is a great example of how local government is working hand-in-hand with industry to make a real and tangible impact.”
These are the locations being advertised in Watford:
Watford Market:
Boasting a “unique and innovative design”, the town centre location is also a sheltered environment removed from the hustle and bustle.
Watford market's shipping container layout could even lend a futuristic feel to a scene.
Cheslyn House and Gardens:
Described as “Watford's best kept secret”, Cheslyn House offers the opportunity for productions to film in an Edwardian period location designed by architect Henry Colbeck and his wife, Daisy.
It is accessed via Nascot Wood Road.
Cress Lands:
Set within Cassiobury Park, Cress Lands is described as “a green oasis of lakes and natural landscape” and features a wildlife sanctuary home to exotic animals.
Leonardo Hotel Watford:
Formerly the Jurys Inn, the 216-room hotel is available to book for hotel scenes in the town.
An industrial estate basement brewery in Watford doubles as a filming location.
As it is partly unrenovated with exposed brickwork and gets no daylight it can serve modern, Victorian, Edwardian, and steampunk underground productions.
Vicarage Road Cemetery:
Cemeteries have featured in some iconic movie scenes and Vicarage Road Cemetery, opening in 1858, is available for companies to book.
North Watford Cemetery:
The A41 cemetery in North Watford is also advertised for filming and features chapel and mausoleum locations that could be used.
Callowland Recreation Ground:
Several parks around town are on the list, with their wide-open spaces, activities, and wildlife.
The listing for Callowland Recreation Ground, off Gammons Lane and Ashby Road, highlights its sports facilities and children’s playground.
Oxhey Activity Park (skatepark):
It is easy to imagine why a film crew might want to use the skate park at Oxhey Park, one of the biggest outdoor skateparks in the UK.
Oxhey Park:
The rest of Oxhey Park’s 14-hectares of parkland is also available to book.
Harwoods Adventurous Playground:
Another park, Harwoods Adventurous Playground boasts more advanced play equipment including a double zip-wire.
Harebreaks Adventurous Playground:
The primary selling point of Harebreaks Adventurous Playground is its climbable tower.
It stretches more than 12 metres into the air.
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