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{{Short description|Town and borough in Hertfordshire, England}}
{{
{{Distinguish|text=[[Walford]], a fictional borough in ''EastEnders''}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
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| total_type = Borough
| motto = Be Bold
| image_skyline =
|
| perrow = 1/2/2/2/2
| total_width = 250
| image1 = Watford, Market Street and High Street - geograph.org.uk - 116645.jpg
| image2 = Watford, The Harlequin Centre - geograph.org.uk - 758635.jpg
| image3 = Holy Rood Church, Watford by Richard Rogerson Geograph 4708808.jpg
| image4 = Watford Town Hall - geograph.org.uk - 759712.jpg
| footer = From the top, Market Street, [[Atria Watford|Atria Shopping centre]],
[[Holy Rood Church, Watford|Holy Rood Church]],
[[Watford Town Hall]]}}
| image_caption =
| image_blank_emblem =
| blank_emblem_type = Logo
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| seat_type = UK Parliament constituency
| seat = [[Watford (UK Parliament constituency)|Watford]]
| government_type =
| leader_title =
| leader_name = [[
|
| leader_name1 = [[Peter Taylor (British politician)|Peter Taylor]] ([[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]])
|
| leader_name2 = [[Dean Russell]] ([[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]])
| established_title = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date =
| area_total_sq_mi = 8.301
| elevation_m = 71
| population_total =
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1 = Ethnicity <span style="font-weight:normal;">([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])</span>
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021|id=E07000103|title=Watford Local Authority|access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups]]
| demographics1_info1 =
{{Collapsible list
| 60.9% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
| 24.5% [[British Asians|Asian]]
| 6.3% [[Black British people|Black]]
| 4.7% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
| 3.6% [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]
}}
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->
| demographics_type2 = Religion <span style="font-weight:normal;">(2021)</span>
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
| demographics2_title1 = [[Religion in England|Religion]]
| demographics2_info1 =
{{Collapsible list
| 44.4% [[Religion in England#Christianity|Christianity]]
| 24.8% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]]
| 17.8% [[Religion in England|other]]
| 13% [[Islam in England|Islam]]
}}
| timezone = [[GMT]]
| timezone_DST = [[British Summer Time|Summer Time (British)]]
| utc_offset_DST = +1
| coordinates = {{
| postal_code_type = [[List of postcode areas in the United Kingdom|Postcode area]]
| postal_code = [[WD postcode area|WD]]
| area_code = 01923 & 020
| website = {{
| image_shield =
}}
'''Watford''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=en-uk-Watford.ogg|ˈ|w|ɒ|t|f|ər|d}}) is a town and [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|borough]] in [[Hertfordshire]], England, {{cvt|15|mile}} north-west of Central [[London]], on the banks of the [[River Colne, Hertfordshire|River Colne]].
Initially a small [[market town]], the [[Grand Junction Canal]] encouraged the construction of paper-making mills, print works, and [[brewery|breweries]]. While industry has declined in Watford, its location near [[London]] and transport links have attracted several companies to site their headquarters in the town. [[Cassiobury Park]] is a public park that was once the manor estate of the [[Earls of Essex]].
The town developed next to the River Colne on land belonging to [[St Albans Abbey]]. In the 12th century, a charter was granted allowing a market, and the building of [[St Mary's Church, Watford|St Mary's Church]] began. The town grew partly due to travellers going to [[Berkhamsted Castle]] and the royal palace at [[Kings Langley]]. A [[mansion]] was built at [[Cassiobury House|Cassiobury]] in the 16th century. This was partly rebuilt in the 17th century and another [[country house]] was built at [[The Grove, Watford|The Grove]].
[[File:Clarendon Road, Watford (geograph 7069590).jpg|thumb|alt=Clarendon Road, Watford|Clarendon Road]]
The [[Grand Junction Canal]] in 1798 and the [[London and Birmingham Railway]] in 1837 resulted in Watford's rapid growth, with paper-making mills such as [[John Dickinson Stationery|John Dickinson]] at Croxley, influencing the development of printing in the town. Two brewers, [[Benskins]] and [[Sedgwicks Brewery|Sedgwicks]], amalgamated and flourished in the town until their closure in the late 20th century. [[Hertfordshire County Council]] designates Watford to be a major sub-regional centre. Several head offices are based in Watford. International conferences and sporting events have also taken place in Watford, including the 2006 [[World Golf Championship]], the [[2013 Bilderberg Conference]] and the [[2019 London summit|2019 NATO summit]] which all took place at [[The Grove, Watford|The Grove]].<ref name="guardian.co.uk">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/02/week-ahead-bilderberg-2013-watford |title=The week ahead: Bilderberg 2013 comes to ... the Grove hotel, Watford |author=Charlie Skelton |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=2 June 2013}}</ref>
Watford became an [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|urban district]] under the [[Local Government Act 1894]] and a [[municipal borough]] by grant of a charter in 1922. The borough, which had 102,246 inhabitants in the 2021 census (up from 90,301 inhabitants at the 2011 census, an increase of 13.23%), is separated from [[Greater London]] to the south by [[Three Rivers (district)|Three Rivers District]]. [[Watford Borough Council]] is the local authority with the [[Mayor of Watford]] as its head – one of only 18 [[directly elected mayors in England and Wales]].
==History==
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===Early history===
There is evidence of some limited prehistoric occupation around the Watford area, with a few Celtic and Roman finds, though there is no evidence of a settlement until much later.<ref name=forsyth>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=fY-Yoru2dTQC&pg=PA276 |title=A County of Small Towns: The Development of Hertfordshire's Urban Landscape |editor=T. R. Slater, Nigel Goose |author=Mary Forsyth |publisher=Univ of Hertfordshire Press |date=1 December 2008 |isbn=9781905313440 |access-date=29 January 2013}}</ref> Watford stands where the [[River Colne, Hertfordshire|River Colne]] could be crossed on an [[Historic roads and trails|ancient trackway]] from the southeast to the northwest. Watford's High Street follows the line of part of this route.<ref name="Lewis">{{cite book |title = A History of the County of Hertford: volume 2 |author = William Page |year = 1908 |chapter = Watford |pages = 446–451 |url = http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43307 |access-date = 27 January 2013}}</ref><ref name="Saunders">{{cite book |title = History of Watford |author = W.R. Saunders |publisher = Peacock |location = Watford |year = 1931 }}</ref> The town was located on the first dry ground above the marshy edges of the River Colne. The name Watford may have arisen from the [[Old English]] for "waet" (full of water – the area was marshy), or "wath" (hunting), and [[Ford (crossing)|ford]].<ref name="forsyth"/> [[St Albans Abbey]] claimed rights to the [[Liberty of St Albans|manor of Casio]] (then called "Albanestou"), which included Watford, dating from a grant by [[King Offa]] in AD 793.<ref>{{cite book |url= http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43286 |title=The hundred of Cashio – Introduction | A History of the County of Hertford: volume 2 (pp. 319–322) |author=William Page
[[File:Cassiobury Park by Kip and Knyff.jpg|thumb|[[Cassiobury House]] Estate engraving by Johannes Kip and Leonard Knyff (1707) now in the [[Watford Museum]]]]
The name Watford is first mentioned in an [[Anglo-Saxon]] charter of 1007, where "Watforda" is one of the places marking the boundary of "Oxanhaege". It is not mentioned in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086, when this area was part of St Albans Abbey's manor of Cashio. In the 12th century the Abbey was granted a charter allowing it to hold a market here, and the building of St Mary's Church began. The settlement's location helped it to grow, since as well as trade along this north–south through route it possessed good communications into the vale of [[St Albans]] to the east and into the Chiltern Hills along the valley of the [[River Chess]] to the west. The town grew modestly, assisted by travellers passing through to [[Berkhamsted Castle]] and the royal palace at [[Kings Langley]]. A big house was built at [[Cassiobury House|Cassiobury]] in the 16th century. This was partly rebuilt in the 17th century and another substantial house was built nearby at [[The Grove, Watford|The Grove]]. The houses were expanded and developed throughout the following centuries. Cassiobury became the family seat of the [[Earls of Essex]], and The Grove the seat of the [[Earl of Clarendon|Earls of Clarendon]].<ref name="forsyth"/><ref name="Page-Manors">{{cite book |title = A History of the County of Hertford: volume 2 |series = [[Victoria County History]] |author = William Page |year = 1908 |chapter = Watford: Manors |chapter-url = http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=43308 |pages = 451–464 |url = http://www.british-history.ac.uk/source.aspx?pubid=305 |access-date = 19 May 2008}}</ref>
In 1762, [[Sparrows Herne Turnpike Road]] was established across the Chilterns. The [[toll road]] approximately followed the route of the original [[A41 road]]. The location of a [[toll house]] can be seen at the bottom of Chalk Hill on the Watford side of Bushey Arches; set in an old flint stone wall is a Sparrows Herne Trust plaque.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1250997 |desc=Sparrow Herne Trust Turnpike Marker, Lower High Street, Watford |access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref>
In 1778, [[Daniel Defoe]] described Watford as a "genteel market town, very long, having but one street".<ref name="british-history.ac.uk">{{cite web |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43307&strquery=Watford |title=Watford: Introduction |work=british-history.ac.uk}}</ref>
===Industrial Revolution===
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Watford developed on the [[River Colne, Hertfordshire|River Colne]] in southern Hertfordshire, England, {{convert|16|mi}} northwest of [[central London]]. Ethnicity is 61.9% white British, 2.3% Irish, 0.1% Gypsy or Irish traveller, 7.7% other white, 17.9% Asian/Asian British, 5.8% black or black British.<ref name="monitoring_2017">{{cite web |title=Watford Monitoring Report 2017 |url=https://www.watford.gov.uk/downloads/file/241/authority-monitoring-report-2017 |website=Watford Authority Monitoring Reports |publisher=[[Watford Borough Council]] |access-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113123955/https://www.watford.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/2398/watford_monitoring_report_2017.pdf |pages=21–22 |archive-date=13 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
The borough had
==Religion==
{{Pie chart
| caption= Religion in Watford(2021 census)<ref>https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censusareachanges/E07000103/</ref>
| label1 = [[Christianity]]
| value1 = 44.45
| color1 = Blue
| label2 = [[Atheism|No Religion]]
| value2 = 24.78
| color2 = White
| label3 = [[Islam]]
| value3 = 12.97
| color3 = Green
| label4 = [[Hinduism]]
| color4 = DarkOrange
| value4 = 8.21
| label5 = Not Stated
| color5 = Black
| value5 = 6.17
| label6 = [[Buddhism]]
| color6 = Yellow
| value6 = 1
| label7 = [[Judaism]]
| color7 = DodgerBlue
| value7 = 0.92
| label8 = Other
| color8 = Purple
| value8 = 0.84
| label9= [[Sikhism]]
| color9 = DarkKhaki
| value9 = 0.65
}}
As of the 2021 census, Watford's religious profile roughly reflected that of England and Wales, with a larger Muslim and Hindu population than the average.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!style="background: #e3e3e3;"|Area
!style="background: #e3e3e3;"|All people
!style="background: #e3e3e3;"|Christian (%)
!style="background: #e3e3e3;"|Buddhist (%)
!style="background: #e3e3e3;"|Hindu (%)
!style="background: #e3e3e3;"|Jewish (%)
!style="background: #e3e3e3;"|Muslim (%)
!style="background: #e3e3e3;"|Sikh (%)
!style="background: #e3e3e3;"|Other (%)
!style="background: #e3e3e3;"|No religion (%)
!style="background: #e3e3e3;"|Not stated (%)
|- style="background:#fee;"
|England and Wales
|56,490,048
|46.3
|0.5
|1.8
|0.5
|6.7
|0.9
|0.6
|36.7
|6.0
|- style="background:#fee;"
|'''Watford'''
|102,246
|44.45
|1.00
|8.21
|0.92
|12.97
|0.65
|0.84
|24.78
|6.17
|}
==Governance==
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The [[Civil parish#Ancient parishes|ancient parish]] of Watford was included in the [[hundred (county division)|hundred]] of [[Liberty of St Albans|Cashio]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Watford Ancient Parish / Civil Parish |url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10038637 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=22 January 2022}}</ref> In 1835, Watford became the centre of a [[poor law union]], and a workhouse was built in 1836{{ndash}}1837 at 60 Vicarage Road (then called Hagden Lane).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Higginbotham |first1=Peter |title=Watford Workhouse |url=https://www.workhouses.org.uk/Watford/ |website=The Workhouse |access-date=22 January 2022}}</ref>
In 1850 a [[local board of health]] was established for the town. The local board district covered part of the parish of Watford and part of the neighbouring parish of [[Bushey]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Clark |first1=G. T. |title=Report to the General Board of Health of a further inquiry held in the town of Watford, in the county of Hertford |date=1850 |publisher=Her Majesty's Stationery Office |location=London |url=https://
The local board was responsible for building the town's waterworks and sewers. For a time the board held its meetings at an upper room of the waterworks on Local Board Road. In 1891 the board purchased Upton House at 14 High Street for £2,650, converting it to become their offices and meeting place, holding its first meeting in the building on 1 October 1891.<ref name=Upton>{{cite news |last1=Matthews |first1=Anthony |title=How a doctor's home became Watford's first town hall |url=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/19757032.doctors-home-became-watfords-first-town-hall/ |access-date=23 January 2022 |work=Watford Observer |date=2 December 2021}}</ref>
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The High Street is the main focus of activity at night having a high concentration of the town's bars, clubs and restaurants. The primary shopping area is the [[Harlequin Shopping Centre]], a large purpose-built indoor mall with over 140 shops, restaurants and cafes built during the 1990s, opened officially in June 1992. The owners of the shopping centre, Capital Shopping Centres, changed their name to [[Intu]], resulting in The Harlequin changing name to "intu Watford" from May 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theharlequin.uk.com/Whats-on/News/The-Harlequin-Announcement|title=intu Watford|work=theharlequin.uk.com}}</ref> Carrying forward £4.5 billion of debt into 2020,<ref name=guardian-20200304>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/mar/04/struggling-shopping-centre-owner-intu-abandons-1bn-cash-call |title=Struggling shopping centre owner Intu abandons £1bn cash call |last=Sweney |first=Mark |newspaper=The Guardian |date=4 March 2020 |access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref> the company was not able to survive the retail downturn due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 crisis]], and went into [[administration (law)|administration]] in June 2020.<ref name="BBC-26Jun2020">{{cite news |title=Shopping centre giant Intu enters administration |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-53195980 |access-date=26 June 2020 |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=26 June 2020}}</ref> The council owns part of the freehold the site, and feels that as the shopping centre is very popular (it was one of top 20 places to shop in the UK in 2019), it will remain open and viable.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/18520921.happens-intu-watford-intu-goes-administration/|title=What happens to intu Watford if intu goes into administration?|author=Nathan Louis|date=16 June 2020|work= [[Watford Observer]]}}</ref>
The town contains the head offices of a number of national companies such as [[J D Wetherspoon]], [[Camelot Group]], [[Bathstore]], and Caversham Finance (BrightHouse). Watford is also the UK base of various multi-nationals including [[Hilton Worldwide]], [[TotalEnergies]], [[TK Maxx]], [[Costco]], [[JJ Kavanagh and Sons]], [[Vinci (construction)|Vinci]], [[Beko]] and [[
==Parks==
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===Cheslyn House and Gardens===
Awarded Green Flag status since 2009, Cheslyn has been open to the public since 1965 as a formal gardens and house.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.watford.gov.uk/info/20013/parks_and_recreation/113/the_history_of_watfords_parks/2|title=History of Cheslyn Gardens|publisher=Watford Borough Council|access-date=13 July 2020|archive-date=15 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715151211/https://www.watford.gov.uk/info/20013/parks_and_recreation/113/the_history_of_watfords_parks/2|url-status=dead}}</ref> The 3.5 acre gardens comprise a formal open area to the front and a semi-natural woodland area to the rear. Henry and Daisy Colbeck originally owned the house and gardens. Mr Colbeck was a renowned local architect, and designed Cheslyn House; he and his wife created the original gardens. The Colbecks travelled extensively, and this is reflected in the range of unusual and exotic plants in the gardens. Since the space has been open to the public it has been further developed, with new features added such as the pond, rock garden, large herbaceous borders and aviary.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://greenourherts.org.uk/page/?id=69467|title=Cheslyn House and Gardens|publisher=Green Our Herts|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>
===Woodside Park===
Awarded Green Flag status since 2011, Woodside Playing Fields cover approximately 59 acres of playing fields, sports facilities and woodland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.watford.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/1734/a_guide_to_watfords_parks_and_open_spaces.pdf|title=a guide to Watford's Parks and Open Spaces|page=23|publisher=Watford Council|access-date=13 July 2020|archive-date=13 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713090713/https://www.watford.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/1734/a_guide_to_watfords_parks_and_open_spaces.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The site comprises a range of sports facilities including an eight lane synthetic track and stadium, an indoor bowls green, a community centre, cricket squares, football pitches and Woodside Leisure Centre. Woodside Stadium is home to Watford Harriers Athletics Club and hosts national level events such as the British Milers Club Grand Prix.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/15367169.watfords-woodside-stadium-to-host-british-milers-club-grand-prix-tomorrow/|title=Watford's Woodside Stadium to host British Milers Club Grand Prix tomorrow|publisher=Watford Observer|date=23 June 2017|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>
==Heritage==
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The Roman Catholic Church, Holy Rood, is a much later structure. Built in 1890 by [[John Francis Bentley]], the architect responsible for [[Westminster Cathedral]] in London, it is noted as a particularity fine example of [[Gothic Revival architecture]]. The ornate interior contains stained glass by the designer [[Nathaniel Westlake]].<ref name=NHLE>{{NHLE|num=1101104|desc= Holy Rood Church|access-date=22 May 2017}}</ref>
[[Bushey Arches Viaduct]] is Grade II listed and was built in the 1830s by the London and Birmingham Railway. It crosses a traffic island at the bottom of the Lower High Street.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1101094|desc=Bushey Arches Railway Viaduct|accessdate=17 January 2024}}</ref> A short distance north-west, the [[Colne Viaduct]] crosses the river on the outskirts of town,<ref>{{NHLE|num=1101110|desc=Five Arches Railway Viaduct 200 Metres North of Water Lane|accessdate=23 January 2024}}</ref> after which the railway enters [[Watford Tunnel]]; the south face of the original tunnels is ornately decorated and a listed building.<ref>{{National Heritage List for England |num=1101159 |desc=Watford Tunnel, South Entrance to West Tunnel |accessdate=31 January 2024}}</ref>
There are ten [[Conservation area (United Kingdom)|conservation area]]s in Watford; one Grade II Listed Park, and 240 locally listed buildings.<ref name="local-listing">{{cite web|title=Locally Listed Buildings in Watford|url=http://www.watford.gov.uk/ccm/cms-service/download/asset/?asset_id=29651101|publisher=Watford Borough Council|access-date=13 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305230820/http://www.watford.gov.uk/ccm/cms-service/download/asset/?asset_id=19343002|archive-date=5 March 2012|page=245|date=2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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===Watford Colosseum===
[[File:Watford Colosseum in February 2020.jpg|thumb|Watford Colosseum
[[Watford Colosseum]] is an entertainment venue in the town. Established in 1938, as the Assembly Rooms for [[Watford Town Hall]], the complex was extended in 2011 with improvements which included new meeting spaces, a new restaurant and new bar facilities. Performers at the venue have included the [[soprano]] [[Maria Callas]] in September 1954<ref name=presto>{{cite web|url=https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7961776--maria-callas-puccini-heroines-and-lyric-arias|title=Maria Callas - Puccini Heroines and Lyric Arias|publisher=Presto Musoc|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref> and the [[tenor]] [[Luciano Pavarotti]] in June 1995.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/1681809.my-time-with-pavarotti/|title=My time with Pavarotti|publisher=Watford Observer|date=12 September 2007|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref> The Colosseum has been used to record various film soundtracks and is regularly used to host concerts by the [[BBC Concert Orchestra]], including ''[[Friday Night is Music Night]]''.<ref name=BBC>{{cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/threecounties/hi/front_page/newsid_8878000/8878377.stm |title=Watford Colosseum Refurbishment |work=[[BBC News]] |date=2 August 2010 |publisher=[[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]] |access-date=9 February 2013}}</ref> It has also housed performances by performers including [[The Who]], [[Robbie Williams]], and [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]].<ref name=BBC/>
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==Transport==
===Road===
Watford is located {{convert|15|mi}} north-west of [[central London]]. Post [[World War II]] road-building has resulted in Watford being close to several [[Interchange (road)|motorway junction]]s on both the [[M1 motorway]] and the [[M25 motorway|M25 London Orbital Motorway]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.roads.org.uk/motorway/a41/100|title=A41 M25 J20|publisher=Roads.org|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>
===Buses===
Watford is served by a number of different bus operators, including [[Arriva Kent Thameside]], [[Arriva Shires & Essex]], [[Carousel Buses|Carousel]], [[London Sovereign]], Lucketts of Watford, [[Mullanys Coaches]], Red Eagle Buses, Red Rose Travel, [[Sullivan Buses]], [[Uno (bus company)|Uno]] and Vale Travel.<ref>{{cite web|title=Routes, timetables & maps|publisher=Intalink|access-date=8 November 2021|url=https://www.intalink.org.uk/services}}</ref> Oyster Cards are accepted on TfL routes [[London Buses route 142|142]] (towards Brent Cross) and [[London Buses route 258|258]] (towards Harrow) into London. ''Intalink Explorer'' and ''Hertfordshire SaverCard'' are accepted on all but the London Bus routes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/Schools-and-education/Travel-to-school/Savercard/savercard.aspx|title=SaverCard|publisher=Hertfordshire County Council|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>
The hourly [[Green Line bus route 724]] connects Watford Junction station and the town centre to [[London Heathrow Airport]] on weekdays, with a service once every two hours at weekends and on bank holidays.<ref>{{cite web |title=Harlow to London Heathrow Airport |url=https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/herts-and-essex/services/724---harlow-to-london-heathrow-airport/?direction=outbound |website=Arriva |access-date=12 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Regular bus services run between Watford and [[Luton]], but not directly to [[Luton Airport]].
===Railway===
[[File:Watford Junction stn Overground signage.JPG|thumb|Watford Junction, the northern terminus of London Overground]]
Watford is served by five railway stations and a [[London Underground]] station. {{stnlnk|Watford Junction}} is on the [[West Coast Main Line]] with trains from {{stnlnk|London Euston}} to the [[The Midlands, England|Midlands]], the [[North-West England|
The London Overground service from Watford Junction runs south via a suburban loop and stops at {{stnlnk|Watford High Street}}, before continuing via {{stnlnk|Bushey}} to London Euston.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tfl.gov.uk/overground/stop/910GWATFDHS/watford-high-street-rail-station?lineId=london-overground|title=Watford High Street Rail Station|publisher=London Overground|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>
[[Watford tube station]] is the terminus of the Watford branch of [[London Underground]]'s [[Metropolitan line]]. The station is located outside the centre of Watford, close to [[Cassiobury Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tfl.gov.uk/tube/stop/940GZZLUWAF/watford-underground-station?lineId=metropolitan|title=Watford Underground Station|publisher=Transport for London|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>
Direct train services run from Watford Junction to [[Birmingham International station]], for [[Birmingham Airport]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetrainline.com/train-times/watford-junction-to-birmingham-international|title=Trains from Watford Junction to Birmingham International|publisher=Trainline|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>
[[File:Watford railways.png|thumb|Map of railways around Watford (2013)]]
{| class="wikitable"
Line 272 ⟶ 379:
|| {{rail-interchange|london|rail}} [[National Rail]]<br />
{{rail-interchange|london|overground}} [[London Overground]]
|| West Coast
Abbey Line<br />
Cross-London service to Clapham Junction<br />
Line 286 ⟶ 393:
|}
====Abandoned railway schemes====
In 2008, a proposal was made that [[Regional Eurostar]] services could run via Watford to [[Gare du Nord|Paris]] via [[Kensington Olympia]].<ref>{{cite web
| title = Talks held at Parliament Regarding Regional Eurostar | website = www.publications.parliament.uk
| url = https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199899/cmhansrd/vo990519/debtext/90519-08.htm
| access-date = 21 September 2008
}}</ref> In 1999, the [[List of committees of the Parliament of the United Kingdom|Select Committee on Environment, Transport and the Regions]] took the view that Watford was "well placed to become an integrated transport hub" and it recommended that "services from Watford to Paris should commence as soon as possible
| title = Regional Eurostar services: The Government's Response to the Memorandum of Inquiry by the Select Committee on Environment, Transport and the Regions
| publisher = Department for Transport
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}}</ref>
A scheme to introduce [[light rail]] to Watford was conceived in 2009, when it was proposed that the Abbey Line should be converted to [[tram-train]] operation and run by [[Hertfordshire County Council]].<ref name=tram>
{{Cite news
| last = Lewis
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}}</ref> The project was cancelled due to the complications and expense of transferring the line from National Rail to the county council.<ref name=herts-tram>{{cite web|title=Abbey Line Light Rail Proposals|url=http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/transtreets/pubtrans/bustrain/abbeylinerail/|publisher=Hertfordshire County Council|access-date=20 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025073621/http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/transtreets/pubtrans/bustrain/abbeylinerail/|archive-date=25 October 2013}}</ref>
In 2013, the [[Croxley Rail Link]] project was approved to extend the London Underground Metropolitan line to Watford Junction by reinstating a stretch of the former [[Watford and Rickmansworth Railway]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Watford Tube extension approved |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23443173 |access-date=7 November 2018 |work=BBC News |date=24 July 2013}}</ref> As part of the scheme, Watford Metropolitan station would have closed to passengers and been replaced by new stations on the reopened route at {{lus|Cassiobridge}} and {{lus|Watford Vicarage Road}}.<ref name=Croxley>{{cite web|title=Croxley Rail Link|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/2053.aspx|publisher=Transport for London|access-date=8 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325121007/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/2053.aspx|archive-date=25 March 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The project did not go ahead due to funding problems.<ref>{{cite news |title=Watford Tube extension in doubt, MP says |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-42815378 |access-date=7 November 2018 |work=BBC News |date=2018}}</ref>
In August 2014, the transport secretary [[Patrick McLoughlin]] indicated that the government was actively evaluating the extension of [[Crossrail]] as far as {{rws|Tring}}, with potential Crossrail stops at {{stn|Wembley Central}}, {{stn|Harrow & Wealdstone}}, {{rws|Bushey}}, {{rws|Watford Junction}}, {{rws|Kings Langley}}, {{rws|Apsley}}, {{rws|Hemel Hempstead}} and {{rws|Berkhamsted}}.<ref name="Crossrail Tring">{{cite news|title=Crossrail extension to Hertfordshire being considered|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-28680186|access-date=7 August 2014|work=BBC News|date=7 August 2014}}</ref><ref name="guardian-crossrail-0814">{{cite news|last1=Topham|first1=Gwyn|title=New Crossrail route mooted from Hertfordshire into London|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/aug/07/crossrail-hertfordshire-london-euston-tring-hemel-hempstead|access-date=12 August 2014|work=The Guardian|date=7 August 2014}}</ref> This proposal was subsequently shelved in August 2016 due to "poor overall value for money to the taxpayer".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/news/crossrail-off-the-tracks-as-plans-are-shelved-1-7513704|title=Crossrail off the tracks as plans are shelved|work=Hemel Today|publisher=Johnston Publishing|access-date=6 August 2016|date=5 August 2016}}</ref>
===Air===
[[Elstree Airfield]] is {{convert|3|mi|km|0}} east of Watford. Several private charter companies and flying clubs are based there. Watford is the base for 2F (Watford) Squadron, [[Air Training Corps]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.2fsqn.co.uk/|title=WElcome|publisher=2F (Watford) Squadron, Air Training Corps|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>
===Waterways===
[[File:Grand Union Canal look east near Watford.JPG|thumb|The Grand Union Canal, seen from the Metropolitan line]]
Watford is on the main [[Grand Union Canal]] route northwards from London. It now sees little commercial use, since the advent of the motorways, but the canal is used for recreational purposes. The [[River Gade]] and the [[River Colne, Hertfordshire|River Colne]] flow through Watford.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.watford.gov.uk/news/article/839/plans_to_renovate_the_watford_section_of_the_river_colne_are_unveiled|title=Plans to renovate the Watford section of the River Colne are unveiled|publisher=Watford Borough Council|access-date=13 July 2020|archive-date=17 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717013644/https://www.watford.gov.uk/news/article/839/plans_to_renovate_the_watford_section_of_the_river_colne_are_unveiled|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Cycling===
Watford town centre and the surrounding area is relatively compact and the terrain is generally quite flat. Over {{convert|9|mi}} of new cycle routes have been developed in the town since 2003 and a range of cycle maps are available locally. In Watford, cycling to work makes up 2.2% of all journeys compared with 1.6% across the whole of Hertfordshire.<ref>{{cite web|title=Annual Monitoring Report|url=http://www.watford.gov.uk/ccm/content/planning-and-development/watford-annual-monitoring-report-2013.en|access-date=22 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018120108/http://www.watford.gov.uk/ccm/content/planning-and-development/watford-annual-monitoring-report-2013.en|archive-date=18 October 2015}}</ref>
[[National Cycle Route 6|National Cycle Routes 6]] and [[National Cycle Route 61|61]] run across the eastern and southern sides of the town, using the off-road Ebury Way and Abbey Way. There is a continuous cycle route through the north–south axis of the town centre, including the pedestrianised parts along The Parade and High Street. Cycle parking is provided at intermittent points in the town centre and at local centres in the wider town.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whatsoninwatford.com/cycling/|title=Cycling in Watford|publisher=What's on in Watford|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>
===''North of Watford'' expression===
There is an expression, ''North of Watford'', meaning locations north of [[Greater London]].<ref>{{cite web|title=North of Watford|publisher= Longman Dictionary |url=https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/north-of-watford}}</ref> Alternatively, ''North of Watford Junction'' was used with similar meaning referring to [[Watford Junction railway station]]'s position as the last urban stop on the main railway line out of Euston.<ref>Birmingham Daily Post, 8 May 1967</ref><ref>Birmingham Daily Post, 29 December 1970</ref><ref>Liverpool Echo, 1 January 1972</ref> The phrase's original use pre-dates the M1 motorway's [[Watford Gap services]],<ref>Manchester Evening News, 23 May 1949</ref><ref>Staffordshire Sentinel, 7 November 1950</ref><ref>Birmingham Daily Gazette, 4 February 1953</ref> but current use may refer to either Watford or the Watford Gap services.<ref>Brandon Robshaw,"North of Watford Gap" 2017 https://brandonrobshaw.wordpress.com/2017/08/07/north-of-watford-gap/</ref>
==Education==
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{{see also|Watford Grammar School for Boys#History of the Watford Grammar Schools}}
The earliest records of schooling in Watford are of a schoolmaster named George Redhead in 1595, and of a Free School receiving an annual donation of £10 in 1640. The school consisted of "a room over two houses belonging to the Church Estate, nearest the churchyard."<ref name="Lewis"/> In 1704, [[Elizabeth Fuller (school founder)|Elizabeth Fuller]] of Watford Place built a new Free School for forty boys and twenty girls on her land next to the churchyard, with rooms for a master and a mistress.<ref name="Page-Introduction"/> In the mid-19th century, the recorded schools in Watford were Fuller's Free School, by now in a poor state, and the separate boys and girls [[National school (England and Wales)|national schools]] of St Mary's in Church Street. All offered elementary education.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UcSQCgAAQBAJ&pg=PR62|title=Watford: A History|first= Mary |last=Forsyth|publisher=The History Press|year=2015|isbn= 978-0750961592}}</ref>
The Free School closed in 1882, and its endowment contributed to founding the Watford Endowed Schools, which provided secondary education and charged fees.<ref name="Carter">{{cite journal| title = Mrs. Fuller's Free School| author = W.R. Carter| journal = Watford Endowed Schools Journal| volume = 3| year = 1894}}</ref> After these schools, now called the [[Watford Grammar School for Boys]] and the [[Watford Grammar School for Girls]], moved to new sites in 1907 and 1912, the building housed the Watford [[Central school]], which taught pupils up to the age of 14.
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The Watford Campus of [[West Herts College]] is the only grade 1 further education college in the United Kingdom according to a 2011 [[Ofsted]] report. The [[Centre for Missional Leadership]] (CML) is the Watford branch of the [[London School of Theology]], Europe's largest evangelical theological college.<ref>Journal LST Insight Autumn 2009, p. 2.</ref>
==Media==
===Television===
Watford is within the [[BBC London]] and [[ITV London]] region. Television signals are received from the [[Crystal Palace transmitting station|Crystal Palace]] TV transmitter <ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Crystal_Palace|title=Full Freeview on the Crystal Palace (Greater London, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=9 November 2023}}</ref> and the local relay transmitter situated in [[Hemel Hempstead]]. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Hemel_Hempstead|title=Full Freeview on the Hemel Hempstead (Hertfordshire, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=9 November 2023}}</ref>
===Radio===
Local radio stations are [[BBC Three Counties Radio]] on 92.1 FM, [[Heart Hertfordshire]] has its studios in The Metro Centre in the town which broadcast on 96.6 FM and community based stations: Vibe 107.6 <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.vibe1076.co.uk/ |title=Vibe 107.6 |access-date=9 November 2023}}</ref> on 107.6 FM and Watford Hospital Radio known as The Pulse Hospital Radio broadcasts to patients from the [[Watford General Hospital]]. <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thepulsehr.co.uk/|title=The Pulse Hospital Radio |access-date=9 November 2023}}</ref>
===Newspapers===
[[The Watford Observer]] is the town's local weekly newspaper. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-eang/watford-observer/|title=Watford Observer|date=30 October 2013|website=British Papers|accessdate=9 November 2023}}</ref>
==Sport==
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===Individuals===
* [[George Villiers, 6th Earl of
* [[Dennis Herbert, 1st Baron
* [[Elton John|Sir Elton John]]
* [[Raphael Tuck|Sir Raphael Tuck]]: 15 November 1980.<ref name=who/>
* [[Graham Taylor]]
* [[Luther Blissett]]
===Military Units===
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==External links==
{{Sister project links|Watford|voy=Watford|commonscat=yes}}
*[http://www.watford.gov.uk/ Watford Borough Council]
*[http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk ''Watford Observer'' newspaper]
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