Harpenden, Hertfordshire
Harpenden is a picturesque and thriving Hertfordshire town situated 5 miles north of the historic town of St Albans.
Harpenden War Memorial
The excellent, high-performing schools and fast train links to London and international airports have made Harpenden a popular and affluent commuter town; the town was listed as 8th on the ‘Richest Town’ list in May 2008. (Source: The Daily Telegraph). With average house prices of around £500,000 and many properties selling for substantially more, it is one of the most expensive places to live in the UK. Harpenden is also home to the internationally recognised Rothamsted Research centre. The centre carries out scientific research based on sustainable land management and its environmental impacts.
The attractive town, classified as a conservation area, retains its charm with a leafy, tree-lined High Street formed of many listed 17th and 18th century buildings. Many streets in Harpenden are named after English literary figures, particularly on the east side of town (know as Poets Corner). Examples include; Byron Road, Kipling Way, Milton Road, Shakespeare Road, Spenser Road, Shelley Court, Tennyson Road, Townsend Road and Wordsworth Road.
Leisure and entertainment
Whilst not a major shopping centre, the town centre offers a selection of interesting shops; a mixture of independent boutique and specialist retailers with some well known high street stores.
For leisure and entertainment, Harpenden has a wide range of excellent public houses and restaurants. All tastes are catered for, with restaurants and pubs offering; Traditional British, fine dining, gastro pubs, Chinese, Thai, Indian, Greek, Italian, French, Mediterranean and Spanish.
Rothamsted Park
Harpenden, known locally as ‘the village’ has many green and open spaces, most notably the award winning (Green flag) Common. The large Common, which extends for over a mile south from the centre, is a popular area for walking and recreational sport with a nature trail and picnic area. A number of greens around the village; Church Green, Leyton Green and the High Street Greens add to the provincial feel. Further public spaces include; Rothamsted Park, Lydekker Park, Kinsbourne Green and Batford Park. The Nicky Line, a disused railway line, is now part of the National Cycle Network and runs from Harpenden to Hemel Hempstead via the village of Redbourn.
There are many golf courses on the outskirts of the town including Luton Hoo. A magnificent mansion, now a 5 star hotel, with gardens created by the world renowned landscape gardener Capability Brown. Facilities include; an 18 hole golf course, a selection of restaurants and a top class spa. Famous former visitors to the private Mansion have included; Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth II, Sir Winston Churchill and Lord Mountbatten.
