Borehamwood facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Borehamwood
All Saints church, Borehamwood
Borehamwood
Population	36,322
OS grid reference	TQ195975
Civil parish	Elstree and Borehamwood
District	Hertsmere
Shire county	Hertfordshire
Region	East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BOREHAMWOOD
Postcode district	WD6
Dialling code	020
Police	Hertfordshire
Fire	Hertfordshire
Ambulance	East of England
EU Parliament	East of England
UK Parliament	Hertsmere
List of places UK England Hertfordshire 51°39′28″N 0°16′20″W / 51.65778°N 0.27222°W / 51.65778; -0.27222

Borehamwood is a town in southern Hertfordshire, England. It's about 12 miles (19 km) from the center of London. Borehamwood has a population of over 36,000 people and is part of the area where many people live and travel to London for work. The town is famous for its film and TV studios, often called Elstree Studios.

A Look Back: Borehamwood's History

Borehamwood has a long history. One of the first times it was mentioned was in 1188. Back then, it was called "Bosci de Boreham," which means "Wood of Boreham." It was known for its forests where pigs could find food.

In 1776, a special law was passed to divide up the common land in Borehamwood. This changed how the land was used.

How Borehamwood Grew

Borehamwood used to be part of a nearby village called Elstree. Over time, Borehamwood grew bigger. In 1909, it got its own church area. Later, in 1982, the whole local area was officially named Elstree and Borehamwood.

After the Second World War, many people moved to Borehamwood. Lots of new homes were built for families from London. Today, it's a popular place to live because it's easy to travel to central London by train.

Borehamwood is always changing. In recent years, many new homes have been built, and more are planned.

Getting Around: Transport in Borehamwood

Borehamwood has good transport links, making it easy to travel to and from the town.

Train Travel

The town has its own train station called Elstree & Borehamwood railway station. It's in Zone 6 for London travel. Trains from here can take you to many places on the Thameslink route.

Bus Services

Several bus routes serve Borehamwood. London buses like the 107 and 292 connect the town to places like New Barnet, Edgware, and Colindale. There are also other bus services that go to nearby towns in Hertfordshire, such as St Albans and Welwyn Garden City.

Road Connections

The A1 road runs just east of Borehamwood, and the M25 motorway is only about 2 miles (3 km) north. These major roads make it easy to drive to other parts of the country.

Who Lives Here: Demographics

Borehamwood is a growing town with a diverse population.

In 2011, about 31,955 people lived in Borehamwood. By 2021, this number grew to 36,322, which is a big increase! It's now the most populated town in the Hertsmere area.

The town is home to many different communities. For example, the Jewish community has grown quite a lot, with over 6,100 people living in Borehamwood and around 8,000 when you include nearby Elstree.

Lights, Camera, Action! The Film Industry

Borehamwood is famous for its film and TV studios. Since 1914, many movies and TV shows have been made here. Because of this, it's sometimes called the "British Hollywood". While some studios have closed, two important ones are still open.

Elstree Film Studios

Famous Films and TV Shows

Many famous films were shot at the studios on Shenley Road. These include The Dam Busters (1955), Star Wars (1977), Moby Dick (1956), Summer Holiday (1963), and The Shining (1980). Some of the Indiana Jones films were also made here.

Later, these studios were used for popular TV shows like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and Big Brother. Even though the TV series Inspector Morse was set in Oxford, some outdoor scenes were filmed on the streets of Borehamwood.

BBC Elstree Centre

The former British National Studios, also known as "The Douglas Fairbanks studios," are now the BBC Elstree Centre. This studio has a rich history. Alfred Hitchcock's film Blackmail was made here. Jim Henson's The Muppet Show was also produced at these studios. Today, the BBC's popular soap opera EastEnders and medical drama Holby City are filmed there.

Other Studios

Other studios in the area, like the Gate Studios and the Danziger Studios, have been taken down. The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British Studios made many films, including 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and Where Eagles Dare (1968). They also produced TV series like The Prisoner.

Big Names: Notable Companies

Borehamwood is home to the UK headquarters of several well-known companies.

Pizza Hut restaurants have their main UK office in the town. The takeaway company Just Eat also has an office here. Since 2015, the UK office for the olive oil brand Filippo Berio has been in Borehamwood too.

Fun and Games: Sport and Recreation

Borehamwood offers many ways to enjoy sports and outdoor activities.

Parks and Green Spaces

The Watling Chase Timberland Trail starts near Elstree & Borehamwood railway station and goes up to Shenley. South of the town, you'll find Woodcock Hill Village Green, a large area with grass and trees. Part of the London Outer Orbital Path (London Loop) also runs next to the town.

Borehamwood has several parks. Aberford Park has a stream that looks like a lake. Meadow Park has a big playing field, tennis courts, and basketball courts.

Football in Borehamwood

Borehamwood is home to Boreham Wood FC and Watford FC Reserves. Both teams play their home games at Meadow Park. Arsenal women's team used to play there too before moving to Emirates Stadium in 2024.

Shopping

The town has a large shopping area called Borehamwood Shopping Park, with many big shops.

News and Sounds: Media

Borehamwood is covered by BBC London and ITV London for television. You can also listen to local radio stations like BBC Radio London and BBC Three Counties Radio, as well as Heart Hertfordshire and Radio Verulam.

The local news is covered by the Borehamwood & Elstree Times, which is an online newspaper. The local council also publishes a community magazine called The Town Crier for residents.

Learning and Schools: Education

Borehamwood has many schools for different age groups.

Primary Schools

Some of the primary schools in Borehamwood include Cowley Hill Primary School, Woodlands Primary School, Parkside Primary School, Yavneh Primary School, and Meryfield Primary School.

Secondary Schools

For older students, there are secondary schools like Hertswood Academy, Elstree Screen Arts Academy, and Yavneh College. There are also independent schools nearby, such as Haberdashers' Aske's Boys', Girls' and Aldenham schools.

Oaklands College has a campus in Borehamwood where it offers various courses.

Did you know? The TV series Grange Hill was filmed at Hillside School in Borehamwood from 1985 to 1990!

Nearby Places to Explore

Friends Around the World: Twin Towns

Borehamwood is twinned with several towns in other countries, which means they have special friendly relationships:

• Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
• Offenburg, Germany
• Shoham, Israel

What's the Weather Like? Climate

Borehamwood has a climate similar to most of the United Kingdom. This means it has mild summers and cool winters, with rain throughout the year.

Images for kids

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  The War Memorial

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  Elstree & Borehamwood Station

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  London Buses route 292

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  Meadow Park stadium

See also

In Spanish: Borehamwood para niños