Abbots Langley is a busy village - which is perhaps lately best known for its proximity to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter. The village is also in an ideal location for access to St Albans, Watford and Hemel Hempstead. We found out more...
The village is an old settlement with a rich history, dating back to 1045.
It was mentioned in the Domesday Book under the name ‘Langelai’, and at the time was inhabited by 19 families and valued at only £10!
Leisure
The village is a haven for Harry Potter fans, as it is just a five-minute drive away from the Leavesden studio tour - one of the country's most popular tourist attractions.
It includes a behind-the-scenes tour of the film sets, concept art, costumes and props used in the making of the movies.
For those looking for green space, the area is also home to Leavesden Country Park, which has more than 27 hectares to explore, including a football pitch, tennis courts, a kids' play area and an outdoor gym for adults.
Abbots Langley is also home to a range of sports club, including cricket, football and bowls.
Transport
There are regular services into London from Kings Langley station at the edge of the village, which take about half an hour.
The village also has excellent motorway links - with the M25 passing directly through the parish, and the M1 very close by to the east side.
There are also great water connections to major UK cities, such as Leicester, Birmingham and Nottingham, via the Grand Union Canal which runs through the village.
Property
There are currently several properties on sale in Abbots Langley on Rightmove, ranging from four and five-bed detached and semi-detached houses to two-bed cottages.
These include the semi-detached four-bed Tithe Barn Court in Dairy Way, converted from a cow shed, for £900,000.
Among the most expensive properties on the market is a four-bed house in Abbots Road for £1,200,000, which features large southerly gardens and a garden cabin.
On the cheaper end, a two-bedroom home is available at Church View Cottages in High Street, for £695,000.
Eating and drinking
The High Street is lined with a diverse selection of food outlets, including three highly regarded Indian restaurants – The Noor Mahal, Abbots Tandoori and Village Tandoori –plus the popular Pin Wei Chinese restaurant.
The Royal Oak is a family-friendly pub with a wide range of food and a children's play area, while The Swan in College Road offers a range of meals and a warm welcome.
The Compasses is a traditional, family-owned pub with a large beer garden, serving British pub fare. It's also the closest pub or restaurant to the Harry Potter studio tour.
Finally, The Unicorn, which is located next to Kings Langley train station, offers live music, opens fires and an eclectic menu.
Famous faces
Nicholas Breakspear, who would later become Pope Adrian IV – the only Englishman to ever be Pope – was born in neighbouring Bedmond in 1100. The site where his home stood, on Breakspear Farm, is marked by a plaque. The village also contains several roads named after him, as well as Breakspeare School.
Entertainer and former Doctor Who companion Bradley Walsh grew up in Abbots Langley and attended what is now Francis Combe Academy.
Abbots Langley also featured in hit Channel 4 comedy The Inbetweeners; the four lead characters' homes are on Edinburgh Drive, Cardiff Way and Whitley Close.
Schools
There is a choice of popular primary schools in the village, including Abbots Langley School and Tanners Wood Junior Mixed and Infant School (both rated ‘good’ by Ofsted).
Nearby secondary options include the hugely popular Parmiter’s School in Watford (‘outstanding’), Kings Langley School (‘good’), Francis Combe Academy ('requires improvement') and St Michael's Catholic High School ('outstanding').
Breakspeare School (‘outstanding’) is an excellent option for children aged three to 19 with severe learning difficulties, and offers a highly individualised curriculum for all its students.
Local independent options include Abbot's Hill, which accepts girls up to age 16 and boys in its nursery, and High Elms Manor, a co-educational Montessori prep school.
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