Watch, create and experience film

Film and cinema

Did you know Hertfordshire is dubbed the UK’s Hollywood? A hub for many major movie studios – including Warner Bros. Studio Leavesden – where blockbusters including Star Wars, Harry Potter and Barbie were filmed, and where the popular Making of Harry Potter Experience is located, you couldn’t be in a better place to fully immerse yourself in all things film.

Film on campus

Herts is a top University for film and TV production, with high-quality production and post-production kits, and industry-mirroring studio spaces available to use by students.

You can join societies, such as the Film and TV Society, which create a welcoming community for students on related programmes or those with an interest in the subject or culture.

Hertfordshire Students’ Union also hosts outdoor cinema events, bringing students together to enjoy films in a relaxed open-air setting. Alongside this, indoor film nights and screenings are run in campus spaces such as our theatres, offering a comfortable cinema-style experience throughout the year.

Cinemas and film experiences nearby

For a big screen, chain cinema experience, simply pop across the road to the Odeon Luxe Hatfield in the Galleria shopping centre, between our two campuses. Cineworld in Stevenage, around 20 minutes away by train, offers another multi-screen option, alongside restaurants, bowling, trampolining and seasonal events in the surrounding leisure park.

The fully independent Odyssey Cinema in St Albans provides a more bespoke experience. A restored historic theatre, it hosts curated screenings of classic and new films in its luxurious single screen.

The independent Art Deco Broadway Cinema and Theatre in Letchworth is also a delight, with special event screenings of Broadway, National Theatre, Royal Ballet, opera and more, playing alongside new and old blockbuster favourites.

Film studios and behind-the-scenes experiences

Widely known as ‘the UK’s answer to Hollywood’ and the country’s second-largest film production economy after London, Hertfordshire sits at the heart of the UK film industry, with major studios and production sites located nearby.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of some of the world’s most iconic films, including the Harry Potter film series, Fantastic Beasts, and other major productions filmed at Leavesden Studios.

Join a guided 2-hour walking tour through the heart of London with the London Film Walk, exploring over 30 famous filming locations across the City of London. From St Paul’s Cathedral to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, you’ll discover how some of London’s most iconic sites have featured on screen in major productions including Harry Potter, Paddington, Mary Poppins, Spider-Man, Fantastic Beasts and many more.

London cinemas, premieres and film culture

London doesn’t just show films – it stages them. Across the capital, cinema becomes an experience, shifting seamlessly from intimate screenings to moments of global spectacle.

At BFI Southbank, film is treated as both art and industry, with a daily programme spanning international cinema, restored classics and experimental work, alongside premieres and filmmaker discussions. It’s a place where cinephiles linger – watching, debating and discovering by the River Thames.

Meanwhile, across the city, Leicester Square delivers cinema at its most theatrical. The capital’s most famous screen hub transforms into a red-carpet stage, drawing global stars, flashing cameras and crowds of fans. From blockbuster debuts to festival galas, it remains the focal point for major releases – where London confidently rivals Hollywood’s glamour.

Filming locations and cinematic history

From stately homes to city streets, Hertfordshire and London have long served as backdrops to some of the world’s most recognisable film and television productions, turning real places into cinematic landmarks.

In Hertfordshire, Hatfield House and Knebworth House bridge heritage and screen. Hatfield’s grand interiors and gardens have doubled for royal settings in The Crown and Bridgerton, as well as scenes in Batman, while Knebworth’s distinctive façade appears in The King’s Speech and Rocketman.

In London, the sense of familiarity continues. Iconic streets and hidden corners are woven into global storytelling, inviting visitors to step into scenes they know and experience the city through a cinematic lens.

Discover more

Looking for more ways to connect, get involved and make the most of your time at Herts? Explore other opportunities to build friendships, discover new interests and become part of the wider community.