The Camp is a multicultural and largely residential neighbourhood - which was once visited by Harry Styles. We found out more about the area.

Within walking distance of St Albans City station, The Camp runs alongside Fleetville with Camp Road and its heart, and is unpretentious and relatively affordable.

The area is perhaps best known for when Harry Styles filmed a Gucci ad in The Camp Fish Shop in March 2018.

History  

The Camp is built on what was once the Beastney estate - land which is believed to have belonged to a butcher named William Beastney in the late 1600s.

Camp Road, which was named in 1940, runs through the middle of the area.

The Royal Mail sorting office is based at what is now Brick Knoll Park industrial estate, which was once Owen Brickworks. 

Property  

The bulk of housing stock in The Camp is made up of rows of period terraces and semis, alongside council and ex-council homes and new build flats - as well as some recent office conversions.

Properties in Camp Road had an overall average price of £558,840 over the last year.  

The majority of sales in The Camp over the last year were flats, which sold for an average price of £337,982.

Terraced properties sold for an average of £580,074, while semi-detached properties fetched £768,737. 

Amenities  

Camp Road is home to a mix of amenities, including a car repair garage and a convenience store.

There is also a Co-op supermarket and a newsagent at the parade of shops on Cell Barnes Lane, which is about a 20-minute walk from the city centre.

The area is named after a community pub called The Camp, which was sold to property developers in 2015 - much to residents' dismay. A block of apartments has since been built on the site.

Now the closest pubs to The Camp are both on Hatfield Road. The Crown is a five-minute walk from St Albans City Station and features a menu including burgers and traditional fish and chips.

Herts Advertiser: The Camp fish and chips shop on Sutton RoadThe Camp fish and chips shop on Sutton Road (Image: Google Maps)

The Rat's Castle in Fleetville has big screen sport, live music and more of a 'local' feel due to its distance from St Albans city centre.

Perhaps the area's greatest claim to fame is the legendary Camp fish and chip shop on Sutton Road, where Harry Styles' Gucci advert was filmed, which is considered by many to be the best chippie in town.

There is also a great mix of restaurants on offer in nearby Fleetville - including Greek food at Souvlaki City, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fare at The Oasis and Italian at Nonno's.

Schools  

Camp Primary and Nursery School is a one-form entry school which has been rated 'good' by Ofsted.

The school - which is oversubscribed - has been in existence since the late 1800s, and has large grounds and on-site allotments.  

Nearby there is also Windermere Primary (rated 'good'), as well as Fleetville Infant and Junior Schools, Cunningham Hill Infant and Junior Schools, which are all rated ‘outstanding’ - plus St Alban and St Stephen Catholic Primary School & Nursery - rated 'good'.

Samuel Ryder Academy - rated 'good' by Ofsted - is an all-through school, accommodating children from age four to 19, while Verulam, also rated 'good', is an academy for boys which admits girls in the sixth form. Herts Advertiser: The Convenience Store on the corner of Camp Road and Cell Barnes LaneThe Convenience Store on the corner of Camp Road and Cell Barnes Lane (Image: Archant)

Sport and leisure  

Nearby gyms include Nuffield Health on Highfield Park Drive, as well as the more affordable YMCA community gym on Russet Drive. 

A popular leisure venue is the Royston Club on College Road, which offers a range of entertainment from quiz nights and bingo to darts and karaoke. 

For outdoor exercise there is the popular Alban Way cycling and walking track, which spans the area and runs parallel to Dellfield and Campfield Road. 

Herts Advertiser: The museum is next door to Camp SchoolThe museum is next door to Camp School (Image: Archant)

Finally - and perhaps most beloved - is the St Albans Organ Theatre on Camp Road, where visitors can see and learn more about historic theatre organs and music boxes, which have been lovingly restored by enthusiasts.

Herts Advertiser: This area guide is sponsored by Frost's, who have offices in St Albans, Marshalswick, Wheathampstead and HarpendenThis area guide is sponsored by Frost's, who have offices in St Albans, Marshalswick, Wheathampstead and Harpenden (Image: Frost's)