Hertfordshire Towns
Hertfordshire is a county in south-east England whose southern border is just 12 miles from the centre of London. From some towns in south Hertfordshire, central London is less than 20 minutes away by train. The county has a population of about 1,000,000 residents. Other counties that surround Hertfordshire are London (south), Buckinghamshire (west), Bedfordshire (north), Cambridgeshire (north-east) and Essex (east). Hertfordshire is well served by London Luton Airport and London Stansted Airport, both of which are situated a few miles outside the county, while London Heathrow Airport is less than 1 hour away.
The county is full of contrasts which blend together to create a superb quality of life for residents and visitors. Thriving modern towns have developed amongst historic market towns. Country lanes and sleepy, picturesque villages are never far away. The close proximity of London provides employment opportunities with commuters making the most of the fast train links into central London.
The largest town in Hertfordshire is Watford, situated within the M25 motorway and has a thriving shopping centre and business parks. Other large, historic towns include St Albans, Hitchin and Hertford. New towns include Letchworth and Welwyn Garden City.
Hertfordshire is a green county, with half of the county designated by the government as Green Belt. Picturesque woodland, river valleys, and open farmland make up a beautiful and varied landscape. The Chiltern Hills to the west and north-west of the county are designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The county has more than 1,800 miles (3,000 km) of public paths and rights of way, including The Hertfordshire Way, a 166 mile (265 km) circular footpath. The county also has a number of designated cycle paths. For the more adventurous the countyscanals, rivers and lakes provide opportunities for a number of water sports such as sailing and canoeing as well as the more gentle boat cruises that depart from various points through Hertfordshire.
Hertfordshire has a fine selection of historic houses, museums and other tourist attractions, along with modern recreation and leisure facilities. For tourists and visitors there is a large selection of hotels, guest houses and bed & breakfast accommodation. For commerce and industry, the county has strengths in financial services, computer-related industry and pharmaceuticals.