Neptune House
Neptune House is an office block situated in the grounds of BBC Elstree Centre in Clarendon Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.
The imposing office block dates from the 1960s and is distinctive by its glass-fronted entrance. Neptune House has featured in several popular television series, most notably as the school in Grange Hill, and since 1999, the hospital reception for Holby City. In 1989 a purpose-built set was constructed for Grange Hill at the back of the building, but was torn down in 2002 when the series left Elstree.
Prior to 1984, the Clarendon Road studios were owned by defunct ITV franchise holder ATV as their main production centre, then for a time by ATV's successor Central Independent Television. Neptune House could be seen in the opening titles to Gerry Anderson's 1970 sci-fi series UFO as Harlington - Straker Film Studios, the (literal) cover for the secret and below ground headquarters of SHADO.
The hospital "wards" in Holby City are actually the top floor of Neptune House, fully kitted out allowing genuine outside views from the windows. The building's staircases are seen almost constantly in the series.
With the BBC currently considering plans which could see EastEnders moved to a new set at Pinewood studios, a question mark hangs over the long-term future of its Elstree site and with it, Neptune House.
Coordinates: 51°39′35″N 0°16′29″W / 51.65972°N 0.27472°W