Harpenden in Hertfordshire has been voted the most desirable place to live (Photo: Alamy Stock Photo)
Just 33 miles north of central Londonyou will find Harpenden – the ‘snooty’ but ‘beautiful’ place most desirable to live in 2025.
A new study has found the Hertfordshire town because of the selection of restaurants and wine bars efficient train connections in the capital and its family-oriented mentality.
Naturally, the majority of locations in the top 20 are considerably higher than the average house price Zoopla’s November 2024 figuresamounts to £267,500.
When it comes to affordability, Harpenden’s average house prices (just £1,000,000 at £913,000) may be anything but £645,500 more than the typical asking price.
So it’s safe to say that these locations are only ‘desirable’ if you have relatively deep pockets and a significant down payment to make – and are unlikely to be feasible for the average working person.
Things to do in Harpenden
But beyond affordability, there’s plenty to do in Harpenden if you’ve got the money, as evidenced by new Savills research, commissioned by The Telegraph.
For foodies there is the fortnightly street market, as well as the famous local spots Lussmanns, Bar Azita and of course Godfrey’s fish and chips.
And if you want to commute into London, it’s just a 26-minute train ride to St Pancras.
The proximity to nature is also notable, with places like the Batford Springs Nature Reserve and the Nickey Line Rail Walk. A little further afield there is also beauty to be found at Pegsdon Hills and Hoo Bit Nature Reserve, as well as Heartwood Forest.
There’s lots of greenery in Rothamsted Park (Photo: Shutterstock / TH Shah) Rothamsted Manor is Hertfordshire’s ‘hidden gem’ (Photo: Alamy Stock Photo)
If you travel a lot – both for business and pleasure – London Luton Airport is just a 13-minute drive from the city centre, which goes a long way towards combating the costs of parking or a long taxi journey.
There’s also plenty of culture to be found in nearby St. Albans, just 16 minutes away by car. It was also crowned the number one commuting hotspot in 2024 OpDeMarktciting the fantastic transport links, nearby schools and proximity to London.
What the locals say about Harpenden
In this sense, Harpenden and the place are praised by both its residents and those familiar with it, but many have drawn attention to its somewhat ‘snobbish’ character.
‘It’s a beautiful town, very cozy with a great chippy! The Thameslink, when it works, is a great railway line.’ @Edward_Strange written.
‘Is it bad that I think the people of Harpenden are terribly conceited!? I have a friend who is a firefighter and he says that the drivers in Harpenden are quite rude on the road. It’s all this new money lying around.”
Harpenden is located approximately 53 miles from central London (Photo: Alamy Stock Photo)
Meanwhile, other locals recalled their experiences of encountering incredible situations while in the area – including @trebuchet86, who realized that after living in Harpenden for five years they wanted to move following an argument he heard between a mother and a son.
“Beautiful town, but I never felt like I belonged when I lived there,” they wrote.
‘Was in the Waitrose on the high street and a bratty boy had a fight with his mother because he wanted duck eggs for breakfast. It’s a different world.’
And for @peoknee45 it’s a “nice, safe place with good schools,” but undoubtedly “full of yummy mummies and boot-wearing spaniel owners.”
The twenty most desirable British cities in 2025, according to Savills
Harpenden, Hertfordshire (average house price: £913,000)
Cobham, Surrey (£1.4m)
Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire (£1.17 million)
Chorleywood, Hertfordshire (£1.1m)
Amersham, Buckingham (£717,100)
Hale, Trafford (£857,300)
Esher, Surrey (£1.37m)
Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire (£1.28m)
Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire (£7742,000)
St Albans, Hertfordshire (£660,100)
Virginia Water, Surrey (£1.4m)
Sevenoaks, Kent (£848,500)
West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire (£409,400)
Ashtead, Surrey (£739,400)
Farnham, Surrey (£669,700)
Cambridge (£588,000)
Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire (£737,200)
North Ascot, Berkshire (£849,800)
Altrincham, Greater Manchester (£429,600)
Weybridge, Surrey (£741,700).
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