Watford is home to just under 80,000 people. The town has a diverse community, with just under 21 per cent of the population classifying themselves as an ethnic group other than White British in the 2001 Census. Watford has a slightly younger population that the England and Wales average, with a smaller percentage of people aged 65 years and over.

Property in Watford
Watford is a compact town, covering just 21 square kilometres. There are over 34,000 households in the town. Because of its size, wherever possible, new properties are built on brownfield sites. The average property price in Watford is £220,521, which is above the UK average of £194, 585. Prices rose by 8.6% over the 12 month period to July – September 2005 (www.proviser.com).

Schools in Watford
There are four secondary schools in Watford – two single-sex grammar schools and two mixed schools. There are over 30 nursery, infant and junior schools. In addition, West Herts College provides further education opportunities for students on three sites in the town. Education standards in the town are generally very good. For more information on schools in Watford, click here and for more information on West Herts College please go to that section of our partners’ page

Shopping in Watford
Watford is a regional centre for shopping – around 400,000 people visit the The Harlequin shopping centre every week. The centre contains over 140 stores, including most High Street names and has ample parking spaces. There is also a playgroup available at The Harlequin where children can be looked after while their parents shop. The centre is accessible by wheelchair and contains adapted toilets. The Shopmobility scheme also runs in the Centre, providing wheelchairs and scooters for people with mobility difficulties. In addition to The Harlequin, there are retail outlets and restaurants, cafes, pubs and clubs situated along the High Street and in Charter Place, the smaller centre owned by Watford Borough Council. This site will be the subject of redevelopment in the coming years to improve the quality of retail and leisure facilities in this part of town (www.watford.gov.uk/ccm/content/planning-and-development/sites-and-special-projects.en#internalSection4). There are also a number of retail parks in the town catering for larger stores selling items such as furniture and electrical goods.

Leisure time in Watford

Watford is also a regional centre for leisure and recreation. Watford FC currently plays Championship level football, and the Saracens Rugby Union team play in the Premiership. Both teams play at Vicarage Road, which has a capacity of over 22,000, and is situated in the heart of the town.

Watford is home to the newly refurbished Palace Theatre – the only producing theatre in the region. The theatre produces nine shows a year, as well as a variety of one-off productions. In addition, the Pump House Theatre caters for fringe and amateur productions, as well as providing a local jazz music venue. The Watford Colosseum is a multi-purpose venue that attracts a broad range of events and functions and is home to the BBC Concert Orchestra for 90 days a year. A number of major film soundtracks, including those for the Lord of the Rings, have been recorded there.

One end of the town centre has been developed as a "café quarter", where there is a wide range of restaurants, bars and clubs, catering for a growing population at the weekend. There is a cinema on the outskirts of town, and plans are in development to build a town centre cinema as part of the wider plans for the town.

Although Watford is a predominantly urban area, it is home to Cassiobury Park, covering 190 acres of grassy areas and woodland. The park contains part of the River Gade and the Grand Union Canal, and also includes small sports pitches and a putting green, and children’s facilities such as a miniature railway and paddling pools. There are other open spaces in the town, such as Garston Park and Alban Wood, meaning that the town is lucky in having such a good combination of urban facilities and green spaces. Click here for more information.

As well as being a good place to watch sport, Watford has good sports facilities available for residents to use. There are a number of private gyms in the town, and there are also four leisure centres provided wholly or partly by Watford Borough Council - click here for more details. In addition, first class athletics facilities can be found at Woodside Stadium, which is one of the country's leading athletic stadiums and plays host to numerous high profile and prestigious events.