Transport in Hertfordshire
Several of Hertfordshire’s towns and cities form part of the London commuter belt, with a number of its train stations offering services into London.
Towns like Stevenage sit on the line to London King’s Cross, while trains from Watford go to London Euston.
Commuters living in the likes of Rickmansworth and Chorleywood benefit from services going toward London Marylebone, while people living in Hertford can hop on trains heading towards London Liverpool Street.
It should also be noted that several areas in Hertfordshire enjoy access to the London Underground. These include Watford, Croxley, Rickmansworth, and Chorleywood, all of which are connected to London via the Metropolitan Line.
Both Stansted and Luton airports are within 10 miles of the county’s borders too.
Shopping in Hertfordshire
Watford, as one of Hertfordshire’s more urban areas, is home to some of the county’s larger shopping complexes, namely The Harlequin – which boasts not only the likes of John Lewis and Zara, but also houses a cinema and several restaurants.
Other prominent retail-friendly towns include the likes of Stevenage, with its Westgate Shopping Centre housing everything from Bonmarché to Moss Bros.
Stevenage is also known for being home to the Roaring Meg Retail Park – a retail park housing a number of large department stores, including M&S, Boots and Currys, as well as the likes of Sports Direct and Game.
There’s also The Galleria, in Hatfield, which counts the likes of Nike, TK Maxx and H&M amongst the many outlets it plays host to, with the shopping centre also offering a cinema and a number of eateries to choose from.
However, with the county’s many market towns, it’s a safe bet that most places one might choose to live in Hertfordshire will offer a healthy mix of popular favourites and eclectic independent retailers.
Things to do in Hertfordshire
Though one of the smaller counties in England, Hertfordshire boasts a number of cultural and rural landmarks.
Home to the famous Elstree Studios – where ITV and BBC shows, as well as several films, have been produced – Hertfordshire is also home to the UK’s Warner Brothers Studio; with those wishing to explore the world of Harry Potter only needing to visit the Hertfordshire town of Leavesden to see how the Wizarding World was brought to life.
Hertfordshire is also home to the Chiltern Hills – an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a must-explore for avid hikers.
For those interested in wildlife, there’s the Hertfordshire Zoo in Broxbourne as well as Ashridge Estate, a National Trust site in the Chiltern Hills.
Those with young children might enjoy visiting Willows Activity Farm, in St Albans, which offers a number of soft play areas and trampolines, as well as a petting zoo.
There’s also Aldenham Country Park, with its many Winnie the Pooh-themed trails and stunning lakeside walks.
Popular places to live in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire’s mix of urban and rural cities, towns and villages make it diverse enough that it offers growing families, first-time buyers and retirees alike ideal places to settle down.
Below are just a few of the places Hertfordshire has to offer.
St Albans
A cathedral city, St Albans has two railway stations, with the station near the city centre – St Albans City – offering express, non-stop services to London St Pancras that get you into the capital in as little as 20 minutes.
The city is known for its many theatres – with the Trestle Theatre Company calling St Albans home.
It’s also home to the popular independent, arthouse cinema – The Odyssey Cinema – and offers a number of state and independent primary schools.
Berkhamsted
A market town in the Bulbourne Valley, Berkhamsted is situated slightly further out from London although still less than 30 minutes by train from London Euston.
A particularly scenic part of Hertfordshire, Berkhamsted’s railway station overlooks Berkhamsted castle, with the town sitting on the edge of the Chiltern Hills.
The town is also famously home to The Rex – cited by several publications over the years as one of the most beautiful cinemas in the country.
Redbourn
Redbourn is a village that’s slightly more removed from the busier towns and cities in Hertfordshire.
The village is known for its wholesome community events, with Redbourn organising several village fairs throughout the year, with a popular family-friendly festival taking place every summer.
Although more of a laid-back village, those living in Redbourn enjoy easy access to several commuter towns, with Redbourn just 11 minutes’ drive from St Albans, 12 minutes’ drive from Harpenden and 13 minutes’ drive from Hemel Hampstead.
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