Welwyn - not to be confused with the neighbouring town of Welwyn Garden City - is one of Hertfordshire's most expensive villages. We found out more about this affluent area...
To distinguish it from WGC, this pretty place is sometimes referred to as 'Old Welwyn' or 'Welwyn Village', and is much sought after.
Of course living somewhere this lovely doesn't come cheap - in 2013 Welwyn was named the 10th most expensive place to buy property outside London by Zoopla.
According to Rightmove Welwyn had an overall average price of £597,411 over the last year.
Homes currently on the market in the village include a £1.5m detached five-bedroom house on New Road, a £850,000 three-bedroom bungalow on Fulling Mill Lane and £495,000 for a two-bedroom house on Mimram Road.
History
The village's name derives from 'welig', which is an Old English word meaning 'willow'. This refers to the trees that border the banks of the River Mimram, which flows through the village.
Historically Welwyn was a major coaching route stop, and was a town on par with Hatfield and Stevenage. However it gradually lost its importance after the Great Northern Railway, which bypasses the village, was constructed.
Schools
Schools in the village include Welwyn St Mary's Church of England Primary School, off London Road, which serves children between the ages of four and 11.
While the school itself dates back to 1749, its current site is relatively new - having been built as a secondary modern school in 1940. It received an 'outstanding' rating at its latest Ofsted inspection.
There are nearby secondary state schools in surrounding town, including Monk's Walk and Stanborough schools in Welwyn Garden City, both of which are rated 'good'.
Another option on the outskirts of Welwyn is independent co-educational school Sherrardswood, which caters for students aged from two to 18 years.
Transport links
The nearest railway station to the village is Welwyn North, which is in the neighbouring village of Digswell.
Trains run from Welwyn North every 30 minutes to London and to Hitchin and Stevenage, with an hourly connection to Letchworth, Cambridge and Peterborough.
Buses also provide a regular service to Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage, St Albans, Hemel Hempstead and Hatfield.
Welwyn is also easily accessible by car, due to its location just off the A1(M).
Food and drink
Welwyn is home to an excellent range of restaurants and pubs. These include popular gastropubs The White Horse and Red Lion. There is also the Grade II* listed Rose and Crown, which includes a sports bar and heated garden pods.
For a more traditional setting there is The Wellington - also known as 'The Welly' - a former coaching inn dating back to the 14th century, which now doubles up as a hotel and restaurant.
The Steamer pub has also reopened in the village.
For Italian food try Vita Ristorante - a sleek, family-run restaurant in the heart of the village, which offers an authentic selection of pizzas and pastas.
Sport and leisure
Welwyn has a lot to offer in terms of sporting facilities for a small village, including a tennis club, sports and social club, bowls club, and cricket pitch.
The Civic Centre is a popular venue available to hire for events, and has a stage and lighting system in the main hall. There's also an additional smaller hall suitable for more intimate gatherings.
Meanwhile the Welwyn Roman Baths date back to the 3rd century, and offer a fascinating insight into the history of the area.
The ruins were discovered by local archaeologist Tony Rook in the 1960s, and were uncovered following a decade of excavation work.
Today the Welwyn Roman Baths are located beneath the A1(M), and are open to the public every Saturday between 10am and 4pm.
Welwyn Festival Week is held annually each June, and has been since 1974 (pandemics permitting).
The week features 10 days of fun activities, including a street market, an art exhibition and a costume parade.
The festival brings residents of all ages together to celebrate the village's heritage while raising money for local good causes.
