It’s a home county with a great sense of pride, history and community. Hertfordshire is reliably ranked among the best counties in England for commuting to London and for raising a family. This shows that it has plenty to offer within its borders, as well as easy access beyond them. If you want to see more, come explore some of the best new homes in Hertfordshire.
Where is Hertfordshire?
Hertfordshire is one of the counties that makes up the East England region. It’s also one of the ‘home counties’, which are the ones that surround London. Hertfordshire is bordered by Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire to the north, Essex to the east, and Buckinghamshire to the west. Meanwhile, Greater London lies just to its south.
Why live in Hertfordshire?
Hertfordshire, like the rest of the home counties, offers an appealing blend of urban and rural lifestyles. It has miles of stunning green belt countryside, charming market towns and historical villages, but also excellent transport links to London. This makes it an ideal location for commuters, young families or anyone who wants a foot in both the country and big city living.
Another big plus for families looking to live in Hertfordshire is the availability of excellent schools. The county has over 120 schools rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.
As for specific locations, Hertfordshire has plenty to excite and interest you. Newcomers look towards Much Hadham, Standham, Flaunsden and Fairfield for idyllic village life complete with excellent gastro pubs and independent shops. Bishops Stortford, Hitchin and Tring are all exceptionally pretty towns, with no shortage of attractive period homes. St Albans is the county’s only official city, and its cathedral and many other cultural attractions, plus its superb dining and pub scene, make for a reliably lovely day out.
What are average property prices in Hertfordshire like?
At the time of writing (late November 2021) Hertfordshire house prices were at an average of just over £521,000. House prices have remained steady here in 2021, falling only around 1%. This still makes Hertfordshire a relatively expensive county in which to purchase residential property. If you compare it with the May 2021 national average house price for England (around £271,500), Hertfordshire’s average is nearly double that.
However, this county-wide average covers a broad range of locations and property types. While St Albans and key commuter towns remain expensive places to buy, there are plenty of areas offering more affordable averages to rent and buy in Hertfordshire.
New homes in Hertfordshire: 10 best developments
If the thought of being close to London but also having no end of natural and historic beauty on your doorstep appeals, it’s time to get searching. Hopefully, the following list of the top 10 ranked property developments on HomeViews will be a useful starting point.
*PLEASE NOTE these rankings take into account how recently reviews have been submitted, so may not match the overall star ratings shown. More recent reviews are given a greater weighting to reflect current building performance.
4.40 (17 reviews)
4.40 (17 reviews)
Our top-ranked development for Hertfordshire is South Oxhey Central, by Countryside. The development is located in Watford, adjacent to Carpenders Park Station, making it a great commuter location for central London. Residents here benefit from excellent local amenities, while the apartments come with private balconies and fitted wardrobes. Help to Buy options are also available.
4.34 (23 reviews)
4.34 (23 reviews)
Next we have Hertsmere Mews, developed by Bellway and located in Borehamwood, not far from Edgeware. There’s a range of sizes available here to appeal to different buyers, including 1-2-bedroom apartments and 3-4-bedroom houses. In addition, properties here include open plan living spaces and en-suite shower rooms. As well as a variety of homes on offer, the development has good links to London, making it another solid choice for commuters.
3.98 (10 reviews)
3.98 (10 reviews)
It’s back to Watford for number 3. Long Acres, by Shanly Homes, comprises 107 townhouses, and residents here benefit from resident parking, private gardens and stunning views of the surrounding Hertfordshire countryside. It’s also only 17-miles from Central London.
3.38 (44 reviews)
3.38 (44 reviews)
Just north of Hatfield in Welwyn Garden City we find number 4, SO Resi Times Square. This is an award-winning building, featuring a unique atrium which provides a spacious and inviting public meeting area. The building has been renovated over the last year for residential use, and is located just a 10 minute walk from the town centre and Welwyn Garden City train station.
3.23 (19 reviews)
3.23 (19 reviews)
Tucked into the edges of the Chiltern Hills, Aspen Park is a new development by Bovis Homes situated in Apsley. The development is still just a 30-minute train journey to London Euston and three miles from Hemel Hempstead town centre. Residents here are widely complimentary of the spacious layout of properties and their interior design and the relaxed pace of life at Aspen Park.
3.09 (33 reviews)
3.09 (33 reviews)
In 6th, Forster Oaks is nestled into another inviting corner of Hertfordshire, combining the best elements of town and country. This development is ideally placed for commuting, with journey times from Stevenage railway station into London King’s Cross starting at just 23 minutes.
4.83 (8 reviews)
4.83 (8 reviews)
Our 7th best-ranked development is Welcombe House, which provides a range of 2-3-bedroom homes with charming views over Harpenden Common. Harpenden Station is just a seven-minute walk from Welcome House and provides reliable links to London. There are regular direct services to Kings Cross and St Pancras International stations, which take just 26 minutes. Additionally, Luton Airport is only a 23-minute train journey away.
4.56 (27 reviews)
4.56 (27 reviews)
Next up, we have another prime development situated in the heart of Watford’s central business district, just a short walk from Watford Junction station. There are 100 high-specification studios available at The Quarters Watford, all of which feature high-speed wireless internet access, television, kitchenette, laundry facilities and easy parking. The Quarters Watford provides an ideal base for residents relying on a convenient, connected location. Euston is also accessible in as little as 14 minutes.
4.38 (9 reviews)
4.38 (9 reviews)
Our 9th spot goes to Watford Riverwell, which is set to be the largest regeneration project in Watford once complete. Kier and Watford Borough Council have partnered together to create this highly anticipated regeneration scheme. It involves turning 70 acres of land into a brand-new community. The Woodlands are the first homes that have been built so far, along with riverside apartments set in the site’s southern area of the new Colne Island Park.
4.13 (7 reviews)
4.13 (7 reviews)
Lancaster Grange is the final entry on our top 10 list. It’s a contemporary collection of 2-bedroom apartments and 3-4-bedroom houses in the desirable village of Bricket Wood. Residents rate the quality of design and build, as well as the many small areas where extra attention to detail from the developer has provided a better living experience.
Hopefully, this list will give you some idea of what Hertfordshire has to offer. If you want to see more developments and keep your finger on the pulse of this home county, check out our dedicated area guide below.
HomeViews provides verified resident reviews of the UK’s housing developments. We’re working with developers, house builders, operators, housing associations and the Government to recognise high performers and help improve standards in the built environment.
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