Just 15 minutes north of the capital and boasting excellent schools, an emphasis on arts and culture and picturesque country parks, this thriving town offers a lifestyle of perfect balance
Under the spotlight
The Hertfordshire town of Watford, known for its superb rail links to London and leafy, family friendly neighbourhoods, has become a firm favourite with homebuyers. In 2021, Hamptons estate agent named the area in the top 10 destination for those leaving London.
At around 15 miles north of London’s centre, the excellent rail links (15 minutes to London Euston) are a large part of the appeal for commuters. Meanwhile, easy access to the M1 makes for excellent connections to the North.
London leavers can upgrade to bigger, better value homes alongside a more balanced lifestyle, with country pursuits, historic sights and green open spaces on the doorstep. And with excellent schools, pretty parks and great shopping options, it’s a sure-fire hit with young families and young professionals alike.
Watford began as a settlement by the River Cole and developed into a market town. As the Grand Union Canal expanded it brought mills, factories and breweries to the area and it became a hub for business. Today there are 90 listed buildings and 10 conservation areas in the town and the centre is home to thriving businesses and a decent entertainment and shopping offering. Meanwhile, huge investment in the area is seen in the major new developments including the Town Hall and Business Park as well as in housing projects.
There are some very desirable neighbourhoods in and around Watford, with Bushey, Cassiobury and Nascot Wood providing some of the more aspirational addresses.
Cassiobury is where you’ll find large period homes, spacious tree-lined avenues and lots of green space. Though a residential area, its proper name is The Cassiobury Estate, as the land was part of the Earl of Essex’s estate. The neighbourhood is bordered by Cassiobury Park, an impressive, sprawling green space.
Regeneration in the town has brought a number of impressive housing developments. The council pledged to build 14,000 new homes over the next decade, along with new amenities including a primary school. Prospective buyers can choose from luxury riverside apartments and commuter-focused homes within seconds of the speedy rail links.
In 2021, Census figures showed that population growth had been more than double the national average from 2011. The figures speak for its rise in popularity.
Fact File
- Average property price in Watford (October 2024) – £400,000
- Property breakdown*
- Detatched – £915,000
- Semi-detached – £529,000
- Terraced – £422,000
- Flat – £292,000
*According to the Land Registry House Price Index
5 reasons we love Watford
Out and About
There is a strong arts and entertainment scene in the town. The month-long Watford Fringe Festival, now in its eighth year, sees over 120 performances take place in a range of venues – and includes pre-Edinburgh shows and premieres. Watford Palace Theatre and Pump House draw big-name tours, niche acts and interesting performances throughout the year.
Eating out? It’s easy to find quality cuisine, from chain restaurants to popular independent eateries. If you’re looking to impress, go for Dolce Caffè and Restaurant in Rickmansworth, Dojo in Hatch End or The Three Horseshoes in Radlett. For relaxed Sunday lunches, try the Prince George, King Stag and Royal Oak.
There are opportunities for big family days out here: the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, home to The Making of Harry Potter, makes for a unforgettable trip and is a superb place to take visiting friends and family. Bhaktivedanta Manor, country home and Hare Krishna temple donated by Beatle George Harrison, is interesting and tranquil, with farmland, beautiful gardens and a temple. Other day-trips include Cheslyn House and Gardens, and Watford Museum.
For active experiences visit Rock Up indoor climbing centre, or head to the many green spaces. Cassiobury Park is a crowd pleaser: in summer, locals and Londoners flock to enjoy its impressive series of splash pads and pools. It’s a unique day out for families and tickets for spaces sell out exceptionally quickly in the hotter weather. The park itself is huge and features a miniature railway, cafe and plenty of chance for nature spotting. Other notable parks and woodland include Oxhey Woods and Whippendell Wood, while King George recreation ground in Bushey is great for kids, with its cafe, splash pads and play equipment. Cyclists and walkers will love exploring Ebury Way, a former railway route that now provides a traffic-free track between Watford and Rickmansworth.
The town centre is home to Atria shopping mall, with 145 stores. There are also Waterfields, Century and Watford Arches retail parks. Nearby Berkhampstead and St Albans, both under a 20-minute drive north, offer great alternatives for shopping.
Watford is served by tube, Overground and mainline trains, facilitating direct travel to London Euston, Harrow, Milton Keynes, Northampton and Birmingham. Trains from Watford Junction to Euston take as little as 15 minutes, and West Coast Mainline offers rail connections through Manchester as far as Edinburgh. That’s not to mention the road links to the M1.
Homes on the market…
WATFORD – Parkside From £93,000*
*Based on a 30% share with a full market value of £310,000
Ready to move into now, Parkside is a modern collection of one, two and three bedroom shared ownership homes from Thrive Homes. Situated in the Watford suburb of Garston, the development offers a great balanced lifestyle option for buyers. Perfectly described as “nature’s neighbour”, the development is made up of a number of smaller blocks set in landscaped communal gardens and backs on to 6.4 hectares of open space in Garston Park, which offers walking routes, playing fields, an outdoor gym and children’s play area.
These contemporary, stylish apartments make the most of the natural light flowing into the open-plan living area and include flooring throughout and carpets in the bedrooms. The stylish kitchens include integrated appliances plus a fridge-freezer and washer-dryer. All homes have their own balconies or outside space, together with access to communal gardens and allotments. Parking is available (subject to availability) with an allocation of EV charging points also available.
Parkside has been built with energy efficiency in mind and all homes have an EPC-B rating, meaning they will be very economical to run.
The development is well placed for both work and play, with Garston railway station a short walk away and Watford Junction station accessible within 15 minutes for direct, fast services into London Euston in just 17 minutes. Access to both the M1 and M25 motorway is also just a five-minute drive from the development. For all your social requirements, Watford town centre offers a wide range of restaurants and entertainment options.
Properties are available to move into straight away. Call Thrive on 07514 894 582 or email parkside@thrivehomes.org.uk to a book a convenient time to visit the show home.
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First Time Buyer is an exciting bi-monthly glossy which takes a stylish and comprehensive look at all the options available, setting them out in an entertaining and informative way, and helping potential customers navigate their way through what is often a daunting and complex process. We dispel the myths, reinforce the facts and arm the reader with the tools necessary to make their homeownership dreams a reality.
