Rickmansworth high street 'on the up' - despite empty units

Rickmansworth town centre’s medieval origins and 19th century buildings make for a unique and characterful feel, but the test for any retail hub is always going to be having the businesses people want to visit.

Fortunately, despite some gripes, residents and visitors alike seem fairly pleased with the offering.

Things got off to a poor start as, while standing outside a restaurant unit with signs in the window stating that the landlord was repossessing the property, one shopper joked that it is “around 50/50” between occupied and empty units.

Empty units in Rickmansworth High Street (Image: Newsquest)

He was right that it is hard to miss the vacant spaces, although half was an exaggeration and he later added that overall “it’s on the up – but only just”.

Similarly, James, a 50-year-old graphic designer, said: “I think it’s improving, a few less empty shops here and there which is better.

“That market they do once a month, that brings a lot of people to the high street. The council cracked down on a couple of vape shops that were selling illegal stuff too.”

Some of the shoppers who have been in the area for two decades or more admitted the range is “definitely worse” than when they first arrived but acknowledged that the same could probably be said for almost every UK high street.

Rickmansworth High Street (Image: Newsquest)

This was emphasised by a couple of groups visiting from elsewhere. Emma Davis, from Chesham, said it was far better than her hometown, although she added “that wouldn’t be too difficult”.

Elliot Craft, 22, who had just returned to the area where he grew up having lived elsewhere, contrasted the types of businesses with what he grew up seeing.

“It still seems quite busy to be honest,” he said. “There’s lots of chains now - Greggs, Starbucks, McDonald’s - not many independent businesses.”

Restaurants and cafes seem to be on the rise, while the main thing people seemed to be crying out for was a major clothes store.

One such business, M&Co, shut in 2023 and was replaced by a controversial McDonald’s restaurant which attracted 59 objections and 45 support comments before opening in December 2025.

On the day, however, one person said they only head into town for the McDonald’s and even those who never eat there acknowledged it offers a wider range of people a reason to use their high street.

Pratik and Mayuri Shah, who have been in the area for around 15 years picked the store out as one of a few key differences from when they first started visiting.

Pratik and Mayuri Shah (Image: Newsquest)

“I don’t mind really mind,” Mayuri, 60, said. “It’s better than having empty shops.”

Parking has also been contentious in Rickmansworth recently and the high street was fully pedestrianised for a while before this was changed to only prevent traffic on weekends.

Everyone appeared to be happier with the new arrangements, with older people and those with disabilities such as David Simcox, 76, particularly keen to have access to parking spaces near the shops maintained.

David Simcox (Image: Newsquest)

Sharmain Hunt, 75, highlighted issues with bus travel to the town centre, particularly one service being rerouted so that users have to walk up a steep hill to get back.

However, she added: “Other than that it’s not too bad.”

Sharmain Hunt (Image: Newsquest)