Villages in Hertfordshire
There are many desirable villages in Hertfordshire that combine rural charm and modern convenience.
Hertfordshire is home to a range of villages that will suit families, professionals, and those looking to enjoy a quieter pace of life.
Continue reading to discover more about some of the most sought-after villages in Hertfordshire.
Abbots Langley and Kings Langley
The neighbouring villages of Abbots Langley and Kings Langley are just north of Watford.
Abbots Langley is a large, thriving village of around 22,000 people, situated just inside the M25 motorway. With a strong community and bustling village centre it has a variety of shops, cafés, and pubs, meeting everyday needs.
On the edge of the village is the 66-acre Leavesden Country Park.
The park includes walking and cycling pathways, sports pitches, tennis courts, and a children’s play area.
Kings Langley, a smaller village with a population of around 5,000, is situated just outside the M25 motorway. The village has a vibrant centre with many shops and amenities. It also benefits from the 30-acre Kings Langley Common at its heart.
Both villages boast highly regarded schooling and are considered among the best places to live in Hertfordshire.
Kings Langley Railway Station provides a direct service into London Euston. Access to the London Underground Metropolitan Line is in nearby Watford, and there is easy access by car to the M25, M1, and A41.
Redbourn
Another of the most sought-after villages in Hertfordshire is Redbourn. This attractive village has around 5,000 residents and is conveniently located close to the larger towns of Harpenden and St Albans.
The village’s High Street is particularly characterful with many period and listed buildings. Day-to-day conveniences include a variety of shops, pubs and cafes, health care providers, and a leisure centre. Additionally, there is a primary school and a school for special educational needs.
There is an active community with many clubs and societies and regular events are held on Redbourn Common or in the village hall.
The heart of the village is protected by a designated conservation area ensuring it retains its charm.
Most of the older buildings are red brick with clay tiles, and more modern houses have been built on the outskirts of the village providing homes in a variety of styles and sizes,
Redbourn is very well connected, with easy access to the M1 motorway. Also, rail links to central London are available from Harpenden and St Albans known for their excellent schools, both state and private.
Chorleywood
Chorleywood is a large, affluent village, of approximately 12,000 residents, situated between Rickmansworth and Amersham.
The village has an active centre with a good selection of local suppliers and a variety of shops, cafés, and restaurants.
The 200-acre Chorleywood Common offers beautiful country walks, a nine-hole golf course, and a cricket club.
Housing options vary in age and style with substantial family homes available in the more prestigious roads such as Chalfont Lane and Shire Lane.
Chorleywood is well-served by both state and private schools placing it among the most popular villages in Hertfordshire for families. Chorleywood Railway Station provides a direct line into London Marylebone and is also on the London Underground Metropolitan Line.
London Colney
London Colney, a village with a population of around 10,000, is conveniently located on the southern outskirts of the city of St Albans.
The village high street meets residents’ day-to-day needs. It offers a selection of shops, restaurants, and pubs. Additional amenities include a library, doctors, dentists, and primary schools.
Colney Fields Shopping Park on the edge of the village includes larger stores, such as Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer, and Boots.
St Albans City Railway Station has a fast and direct service to London St Pancras, and the M25 and A1(M) motorways are nearby.
Radlett
Radlett is a prosperous and sought-after village of 8.000 people situated three miles northeast of Watford.
The village’s shopping area on Watling Street features independent shops, cafés, the highly regarded Red Lion pub, and restaurants.
There are many sports clubs and activities. The Radlett Centre features a performing arts auditorium and conference venue. Additionally, Battlers Green Farm, a working farm with a range of shops, offers farm produce, lifestyle boutiques, and tea rooms.
For those considering the villages in Hertfordshire, Radlett offers a range of property types comprising many varying styles and sizes.
Prestigious residential roads, such as Loom Lane and Newlands Avenue, provide substantial family homes in both traditional and contemporary designs.
The area is well-known for its exceptional schools, which include Radlett Prep, Edge Grove, Parmiter’s, and Haberdashers’ Boys’ and Girls’ schools.
Radlett Railway Station provides a direct line to London St Pancras and rail services to Gatwick and Luton airports. The M1, M25, and A41 major roads are nearby.
Bovingdon
Bovingdon is a pretty village on the western edge of Hertfordshire close to the Chiltern Hills. With a population of just over 5,000 people, the village offers a range of amenities. These include shops, restaurants, pubs, a village hall, a village green, healthcare surgeries, and a primary school.
There is a mixture of property styles and ages and a small number of listed properties within the conservation area, which is centred around High Street and St Lawrence Church.
For more comprehensive amenities and schooling, the towns of Berkhamsted, Hemel Hempstead, and Chesham are nearby. The nearest railway station is at Hemel Hempstead with direct services into London Euston. The A41, M25, and M1 major roads are easily accessible.
Essendon
Essendon is one of the smaller villages in Hertfordshire. It is highly sought-after in a rural setting overlooking the Lea Valley and surrounded by beautiful countryside. It is situated between Hatfield and Hertford and has a population of approximately 650.
Essendon’s amenities include the highly rated Rose and Crown pub and restaurant, and a primary school. Additionally, the village hall serves as a community hub and venue. On the outskirts of the village is Essendon Country Club, which has two 18-hole golf courses and is a popular venue for weddings.
The village provides a mix of property ages and sizes with a large proportion of substantial family houses available.
Excellent schooling options are nearby and the nearest railway service to London is via Hatfield Railway Station.
Little Gaddesden
Little Gaddesden, five miles north of Berkhamsted, is a pretty village situated on a hilltop in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty affording some wonderful views. It is adjacent to the 5,000-acre Ashridge Estate, owned by the National Trust.
This rural village of around 650 residents has a good range of amenities. These comprise a village shop and post office, the popular Bridgewater Arms pub and restaurant, and a primary school.
There is access to the many footpaths and bridleways within the Ashridge Estate.
There are several 19th-century houses and listed properties in Little Gaddesden, and much of the village is protected by a conservation area.
The area is a popular location for film and television and is featured in the Harry Potter films, The Crown, and Midsomer Murders amongst others.
A wider choice of amenities and excellent schooling can be found in the thriving market town of Berkhamsted and the much larger Hemel Hempstead. Berkhamsted Railway Station provides frequent trains to London Euston, and there is convenient road access to the A41 and M25.
Much Hadham
Much Hadham is a highly desirable and picturesque village in East Hertfordshire. Positioned between Bishop’s Stortford and Ware, it has a population approaching 2,200,
The village benefits from a convenience store and post office, a pub and restaurant, a health centre, a village hall, and a well-regarded primary school.
Much Hadham presents an attractive and aesthetically pleasing range of property styles.
These include modern-day family homes, villas from the Victorian era, large Georgian houses, and cottages from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Materials and construction vary from half-timber framed cottages, red or buff brick, sometimes painted, and rendered finishes. Roofs are slate or tile and the occasional thatched roof can be found.
The village has many listed properties, and a large area is a designated conservation area.
Much Hadham’s proximity to the M11 and A10 roads, and the railway stations in Harlow, Bishop’s Stortford, and Ware providing direct services to London Liverpool Street and Cambridge, makes it convenient for commuters.
Aldbury
Another of the favoured villages in Hertfordshire is Aldbury. Just west of Little Gaddesden, it is a charming, rural village with a population close to 1000. Aldbury is within the Chiltern AONB and most of the village is protected by a designated conservation area.
There are many characterful period and listed properties in the village ranging from small terraces to large, detached family homes.
The properties are predominantly red brick with tiled roofs, but there are a few thatched cottages, half-timbered ‘black and white’’, rendered, and painted houses.
Tring and Berkhamsted provide a wider range of amenities and both have railway stations with direct services into London Euston.
Wheathampstead
Wheathampstead is a vibrant village of around 6,500 residents with a close-knit community, situated between Harpenden and Welwyn Garden City.
The village offers excellent local amenities including convenience shops and a post office, pubs and restaurants, butchers, a bakery, health care, two primary schools, and St Alban’s High School Prep for girls. It is surrounded by beautiful countryside perfect for scenic country walks and outdoor activities.
The village is within easy access to St Albans and Harpenden, which both provide a more comprehensive range of shopping and leisure options, and railway stations with Thameslink train services into London St Pancras International and Kings Cross. The M25, A1(M), and the M1 motorways are nearby.
Property in Hertfordshire?
Whether you’re drawn to the historical appeal of places like Aldbury or the convenience of commuter hubs like Radlett, there are beautiful locations to suit a range of preferences among the villages in Hertfordshire.
For those considering a move, the property market in these villages can be competitive, and expert advice is key.
To ensure you find the perfect home, contact Garrington for tailored guidance on buying in this desirable area and making the most of what the villages in Hertfordshire have to offer.
