The busy village of Abbots Langley is perhaps best known for its proximity to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter.
The village is also ideally situated for access to St Albans, Watford and Hemel Hempstead. We found out more about what the area has to offer...
Abbots Langley is an old settlement with a rich history, dating back to 1045.
The village was mentioned under the name 'Langelai' in the Domesday Book, and at the time was inhabited by just 19 families and valued at only £10!
Leisure
The village is the perfect haven for Harry Potter fans, as it is just a five-minute drive away from the incredibly popular Leavesden studio tour.
The tourist attraction offers a behind-the-scenes look at the film sets, concept art, costumes and props used in the making of the movies, with a chance to buy merchandise and sample butterbeer.
For those looking for green space, the area is also home to Leavesden Country Park, which has more than 27 hectares to explore.
The park includes a football pitch, tennis courts, a children's 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
Kings Langley station, at the edge of the village, has regular train services into London - 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.
Abbots Langley also has 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 for sale in Abbots Langley on Rightmove.
These include a detached five-bedroom property on Abbots Road for £1,375,000, a four-bedroom grade II listed cottage on High Street for £1,100,000 and a two-bedroom terraced property at Furtherfield for £400,000.
Eating and drinking
The High Street is lined with a diverse selection of food outlets. These includie three highly regarded Indian restaurants – The Noor Mahal, Abbots Tandoori and Village Tandoori.
The Royal Oak in Kitters Green is a family-friendly pub which offers 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
Abbots Langley has been home to a number of famous faces, including Nicholas Breakspear, who would later become Pope Adrian IV - the only Englishman to ever be Pope.
Breakspear was born in neighbouring Bedmond in 1100, and the site where his home stood, on Breakspear Farm, is marked by a plaque.
The village also contains several roads named after him, including Breakspeare School in Gallows Hill Lane.
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, with the four lead characters' homes situated on Edinburgh Drive, Cardiff Way and Whitley Close.
Schools
Pupils have a choice of popular primary schools in the village, including Abbots Langley School and Tanners Wood Junior Mixed and Infant School (both rated ‘good’ at their most recent Ofsted inspections).
Nearby secondary options include the hugely popular Parmiter’s School in Watford (rated ‘outstanding’), Kings Langley School (rated ‘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, which is a co-educational Montessori prep school.
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