Harpenden: Hertfordshire Commuter Town With a Common, a Research Station, and Some of England's Priciest Streets
Harpenden sits in the St Albans district of Hertfordshire, about 25 miles north of central London. The population is around 30,000. The town regularly appears in surveys of the most desirable places to live in England, which is reflected in property prices well above the national average. Harpenden Common, a large open grassland in the centre of the town, gives it an unusual spacious quality for a commuter settlement. Rothamsted Research, on the southern edge of town, is the longest-running agricultural research station in the world, founded in 1843 by John Bennet Lawes. The Broadbalk experiment there, studying wheat yields under different conditions, has been running continuously since 1843 and is one of the longest-running scientific experiments anywhere.
The High Street has a strong independent retail mix alongside everyday shops and services. The Eric Morecambe Centre (the comedian lived in Harpenden from 1961 until his death in 1984) is a community venue. St Nicholas Church on the High Street dates to the 12th century. Harpenden station is on the Thameslink line, with trains to London St Pancras in about 30 minutes and northward to Luton and Bedford. The M1 is accessible at junction 9, about three miles to the east. St Albans is about five miles to the south. For those considering adult companionship in the Hertfordshire area, Harpenden's fast Thameslink service and M1 proximity make central London and the wider region accessible.
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Harpenden sits in the St Albans district of Hertfordshire, about 25 miles north of central London. The population is around 30,000. The town regularly appears in surveys of the most desirable places to live in England, which is reflected in property prices well above the national average. Harpenden Common, a large open grassland in the centre of the town, gives it an unusual spacious quality for a commuter settlement. Rothamsted Research, on the southern edge of town, is the longest-running agricultural research station in the world, founded in 1843 by John Bennet Lawes. The Broadbalk experiment there, studying wheat yields under different conditions, has been running continuously since 1843 and is one of the longest-running scientific experiments anywhere.
The High Street has a strong independent retail mix alongside everyday shops and services. The Eric Morecambe Centre (the comedian lived in Harpenden from 1961 until his death in 1984) is a community venue. St Nicholas Church on the High Street dates to the 12th century. Harpenden station is on the Thameslink line, with trains to London St Pancras in about 30 minutes and northward to Luton and Bedford. The M1 is accessible at junction 9, about three miles to the east. St Albans is about five miles to the south. For those considering adult companionship in the Hertfordshire area, Harpenden's fast Thameslink service and M1 proximity make central London and the wider region accessible.
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