Aldenham is a quaint village surrounded by renowned schools, just 15 miles from central London.
It lies a few miles north-east of Watford and two miles south-west of Radlett.
Mentioned in the Domesday Book, it has a church, St John the Baptist, dating back to the 13th century and is one of Hertsmere’s 14 conservation areas.
One of the parish’s charms is that it remains largely unchanged – with some buildings rebuilt – since Saxon times, when most of the land there was owned by Westminster Abbey abbots.
It is one of the most privileged places you can live, with Aldenham East named as the least deprived ward in England in the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000.
Aldenham is often used in films and on TV, due to its close proximity to Elstree Studios and the Coldplay music video for Life In Technicolor II was made there.
Property
Homes don’t come cheap in this part of Herts: the most affordable property currently on the market in Aldenham is a one-bed barn conversion, which is for sale for offers in excess of £350,000.
At the other end of the spectrum is a Victorian six-bed detached house for £1,800,000.
According to Rightmove, the average selling price for property in Aldenham last year was £756,958, down 14 per cent on 2016.
Schools
The Aldenham area is home to some of the most prestigious fee-paying schools in the country. Aldenham School, for secondary school age pupils, and Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School, which has a girls’ school linked to it – are within a few miles of the village. Haberdashers’ was named the Sunday Times Independent Secondary School of the Year in 2017, and its prep school picked up the Boys Preparatory School prize.
State primaries based in neighbouring Bushey include Highwood and Little Reddings, while Queens’ School is a popular secondary option.
All were rated ‘good’ by Ofsted at their last inspections.
Transport links
Aldenham is close to the M25, M1 and A1. Radlett station is not far and has trains that reach London St Pancras in half an hour. Elstree & Borehamwood and several Watford stations are also close by.
Sport and leisure
Aldenham Golf and Country Club is set in beautiful parkland. The clubhouse – a converted dairy cattle barn – has a warm and inviting atmosphere and friendly staff.
Aldenham Country Park is a very popular visitor attraction for families and dog-walkers. Located just outside the village, its 100 acres of countryside include a lake, woods and meadowland, a snack bar, a play area for children and farm area where you can see small animals. The 100 Aker Wood – home of Pooh Bear – is also popular with families.
Aldenham Adventure Playground, based in the country park, is an outdoor and indoor play area with soft play, sand and water pumps, a tree house slide, zip wire and sensory equipment. It is well equipped for visitors with special educational needs and disabilities.
Aldenham Sailing Club offers dinghy sailing to members of all abilities from the park’s a 60-acre lake.
Food and drink
Locals have a couple of lovely, characterful pubs to choose from. The Round Bush is a traditional village pub serving generous portions of food at fair prices and a selection of ales. They are happy for dogs and children to visit and have a large enclosed garden with play area.
The Three Compasses offers an eclectic menu from its welcoming premises, which has timber beams, an open fire and outdoor seating.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here