London Colney is a large village on the outskirts of St Albans, which is known for its retail park, aircraft museum and kids' activity farm.
We found out more about the village...
The name London Colney, which was first recorded in 1555, takes its name from the River Colne. The full name means 'Colney on the road to London'.
London Colney's High Street used to be one of the main routes to the capital, and its range of inns were a popular stopover for travellers.
With a population of around 10,000 residents, London Colney offers a great balance as a cosmopolitan area with access to London along with many opportunities to appreciate nature.
There are a number of walks for people to enjoy near the village, as well as several open-water fishing areas in and around the River Colne - notably Broad Colney Lakes.
The village offers a wide range of amenities, including supermarkets, hairdressers, several takeaways and a mix of businesses - including several estate agents and a tattooist.
There are also doctors' practices and a handful of pubs, as well as popular local café Carmelo's.
The village has a public library attached to Caledon Community Centre with free computers and Wi-Fi, and children can take part in the library's summer reading challenge.
There is a selection of supermarkets and stores at Colney Fields retail park, including a Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer, Boots and Next.
History
London Colney is steeped in history, as the village is where the Romans captured Alban before executing him at Verulamium.
In more recent history, London Colney was the landing site of German spy Karel Richter on May 12, 1941.
After landing, Richter hid in a forest as he was too nervous to travel to London. When he eventually came out of hiding, he was approached by a lorry driver asking for direction towards London.
When he was unable to give directions, the driver became suspicious and reported him to a police officer, who took him to the local police station.
When he was unable to give directions, the drivers became suspicious and reported him to a police officer, who took him to the local police station.
Eventually, Richter confessed to the true purpose of his spy mission, and he was executed in December 1941.
Visitor attractions
Although there is a lot more to London Colney than aircraft and animals, these nonetheless form the key components of the village's most popular attractions.
The de Havilland Aircraft Museum is the UK's oldest aviation museum, and was established in 1959 to preserve the de Havilland aviation heritage.
The museum is located in Salisbury Hall on the south side of the M25 motorway.
Another popular attraction is Willows Activity Farm, which is the perfect place to visit with young children.
The farm offers a range of activities including cow-milking demonstrations, funfair rides, JCB ride-ons, indoor soft play and farm animals.
The village also has a thriving scout group, with sections for four to five-year-olds (squirrels), through to 14 to 18-year-olds (explorers), with beavers, cubs and scouts in between.
Sport
Football enthusiasts can watch non-league team London Colney FC play at Cotlandswick Playing Fields.
London Colney is also home to the training grounds of both Arsenal FC and Watford FC, which are next door to each other on Bell Lane, on the south side of the M25.
Transport links
London Colney is situated to the south of St Albans and has excellent transport links.
For drivers the village is close to Junction 22 of the M25, and bus routes connect the village to a range of destinations, including St Albans, Barnet, Watford and Borehamwood.
Commuters can catch Thameslink trains into London from both St Albans and Borehamwood.
Property
House prices in London Colney are marginally more affordable than in neighbouring St Albans.
Homes currently on the market in the village include a three-bedroom terrace property at Telford Road for £720,000 and a five-bedroom semi-detached property for £775,000.
Schools
London Colney is home to three primary schools, which have all been given a 'good' rating by Ofsted. These are Saint Bernadette Catholic Primary School, London Colney Primary & Nursey School and Bowmansgreen Primary School.
Students from London Colney often attend secondary schools in neighbouring St Albans, including St Albans Girls’ School (rated ‘outstanding’), Samuel Ryder Academy and Verulam School (both rated 'good’).
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