Radlett
The Town
Leafy, affluent Radlett is ideally located for property buyers requiring access to central London, London airports, and major transport routes. Tucked in between Elstree and St Albans, and inside the M25 orbital motorway, Radlett lies entirely within the Metropolitan “Green Belt”. The area that can be built on is, therefore, limited – ask your buying agent for details.
Watling Street is the main road, with a variety of local shops and national chain stores to meet the shopping needs of all property buyers. Radlett has a post office, 300-seat auditorium, and public library, as well as several churches and synagogues. Aldenham civil parish became part of Radlett in 1865, and property finders can confirm that Radlett remains an exceptionally pleasant, family-friendly location, with a population of under 9,000.
Travel
The M25 and M1 motorways and the A1 trunk road to the north are all very close. Since the 1860s, rail links have also been strong. Check with your buying agent on exact times, but typical journeys to St Pancras International take under 30 minutes. Services also run to Gatwick and Luton airports, while car journeys to Heathrow take around 40 minutes, depending on traffic. Two major bus routes run through Radlett, one route linking to Hatfield, St Albans and Watford and the other to Borehamwood, Hatfield and St Albans.
The History
It’s always fascinating to learn about an area’s history as part of a property search: Watling Street is built on top of a trackway used by ancient Britons for transport and travel. In about 47AD, Roman engineering skills transformed it into a paved road. It’s thought that “Radlett” derives from an Old English term for a junction of the roads; the name was first noted in the 1450s. The land surrounding Radlett was heavily wooded until the Middle Ages. In the eleventh century, much of the land belonged to the Abbey of Westminster.
Radlett property buyers can choose from a pleasant mix of large detached houses with extensive gardens, and some semi-detached and terraced houses, mainly Victorian. Local knowledge is key, and your property finder can help locate the best property to meet your needs.
Leisure and Events
Sporting activities include football, rugby, and cricket. Middlesex County Cricket Club plays at the ground here, and the rugby club has both men’s and women’s teams. There is a bowls club during the season (April to September). There are also junior sections at several of the sporting clubs, including lawn tennis and squash.
Your buying agent will be able to supply information on other activities, including art, choir, musical theatre, and amateur dramatics, music, horticulture, University of the Third Age events, and scout ad girl guide groups. The Radlett Centre, which hosts regular musical and dramatic shows throughout the year and the area has an active Rotary club.
While Watling Street has a range of high street shops and local retailers, ask your property finder about local gems. Battlers Green Farm Rural Shopping Village and Tearooms, on the outskirts, has a salon, spa and pilates and cycling studio, and around twenty specialised retail units.
If you need a breather from your property search, nearby Aldenham Country Park is a not-for-profit education and rural care enterprise, open daily. Visitors can enjoy the playgrounds, animal farm, pony rides, and the 100 Aker Wood (home to a certain honey-loving bear called Pooh).
Education
Radlett has several state and independent schools, including a dedicated independent school for pupils between 4 and 19 with autism. Several schools are rated “outstanding” by Ofsted. Most secondary school-aged children travel elsewhere for education from the age of 11, although Edge Grove in Aldenham takes children from 3 to 13. The nearest university is the University of Hertfordshire.
Celebrity Connections
Celebrities who have lived here include musician Jeff Wayne and Shadows Brian Bennett and Hank Marvin. Other well-known residents include EastEnders actors Pam St Clement and Lacey Turner. Arsenal and Chelsea football players also favour the location.
Foodies’ Corner
Fine dining and international cuisine are readily available in Radlett: choose from European, Eastern European, Indian, Italian, fish and chips, afternoon tea or steakhouse, in surroundings ranging from manor houses to corner cafes. If you need to mull over the results of your property search, another alternative is a hearty pub meal. Local hostelries include the Broadwick, the Cat and Fiddle, the Red Lion, rural style gastropub the White House and The Office Bar.
Fun Fact
Entertainment maestro Simon Cowell was once a pupil at Radlett Preparatory School.