The historic village of Kings Langley lies south of the Chiltern Hills, 21 miles north-west of central London.
Two miles south of Hemel Hempstead and two miles north of Watford, Kings Langley was once home to a royal palace of the Plantagenet kings of England. All Saints’ Church is the tomb site of Edmund of Langley (1341-1402), the first Duke of York. The Langley part of its name means ‘long wood or clearing’.
Amenities
Amenities include Three Villages Children’s Centre, Kings Langley Library and the Premier Inn hotel. There’s also a beauty salon, a physiotherapy centre and a range of shops including a pet store, a branch of Boots and a Spar. There’s a Budgens in Abbots Langley, plus larger supermarkets in Watford and Hemel Hempstead.
Schools
Kings Langley School in Love Lane is a ‘good’ (Ofsted) local comprehensive for secondary school pupils.
Kings Langley Primary School has a two-form entry, including a part-time nursery and was graded ‘good’ by Ofsted in 2014.
A Waldorf school – the Rudolf Steiner School – is built on the grounds of what was formerly the palace, but only a small basement part of a pillar remains. However, the 13th century school displays a cabinet of items found from the palace period in its foyer. It caters for children aged three to 19 years and is set in 10 acres of impressive grounds. It offers an alternative curriculum to state schools, featuring gardening, handwork, pottery, woodwork, metalwork and drawing.
Transport links
The M25 passes just south of the village on a viaduct across the River Gade valley. North of junction 20 with the A41, a dual-carriageway bypasses Kings Langley and goes to Tring. The old route through the village is now classified as the A4251.
There is a train station in Kings Langley, which runs services to Tring and London Euston, Birmingham, Crewe and Milton Keynes Central. Apsley and Garston train stations are close by.
London Luton Airport is the nearest airport, with London Heathrow Airport and London City Airport being relatively accessible to Kings Langley.
Sport and leisure
As of this year, Kings Langley FC plays in the Premier Division of the Southern Football League.
Kings Langley Cricket Club play in Divisions Two, Six, 10 and 14 of the Saracens Hertfordshire Cricket League.
Sportspace is a sports complex in Charter Court, Vicarage Lane, Kings Langley, offering golf and swimming facilities and timetabled classes including yoga.
Phasels Wood Scout Camp and Activity Centre on Rucklers Lane, is popular with youth groups and opened in 1937.
Food and drink
Places to eat in the village that are reportedly very good include The Unicorn pub, Fred & Ginger Coffee Shop, Oscars Pizza and tea and coffee shop Bean Here. Dalling & Co is a European café serving Spanish and British food with a wine bar and gluten-free options.
Other great eateries include Inspired Café Bar, The Rose & Crown pub and The Saracen’s Head, which serves Tring beers and has a traditional British pub atmosphere.
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