This largely residential neighbourhood is situated to the west of Watford in the well-connected suburban area of Bushey. With its predominance of affordable semi-detached housing, boasting spacious driveways and gardens, fantastic access to a number of schools (for children of all ages), and nearby public transport, it’s no wonder why Londoners are increasingly deciding to move to this area! On a typical weekend, residents can enjoy visiting the Bushey Museum and Art Gallery, alongside a plethora of nearby leisure spaces, including the Bushey Sports Ground, as well as Hilfield Park Reservoir and Aldenham Reservoir. And to top it all off, the neighbourhood is well-served by a number of local shops and businesses, which are able to meet the essential needs of all of its residents.

A particularly prominent point in Bushey’s history was during the 19th and 20th centuries, in which the area saw a particularly large population increase from 856 in 1801, to around 24,000 (the number of residents seen to be living in Bushey today). The increase was largely attributed to the development of industry within the area, especially the introduction of the railways at the beginning of the 20th century, which allowed the creation of new jobs in the vicinity of Watford. During the early 1920s, the first council houses were built in Bushey and this allowed a greater number of people to move here. Population increase has slowed dramatically since this point, and this is due to the green belt designation around Bushey, which has prevented the area expanding further.

The famous cricketer (and 2006 Strictly Come Dancing winner), Mark Ramprakash was born in Bushey. Another interesting fact that may interest you is that in 1871, when the population was 4,500, there was one pub for approximately 120 people. Today, with the added population, (and a few extra pubs!), there are now 1,200 people to a pub in Bushey.

One of the downsides of this area is its close proximity to the M1; the main problem with this is the noise pollution and visual disturbance it can cause for some residents. Despite this, it provides the people living here with easy access to London and the North.

A recent consultation has taken place to determine which sites would be best for the development of new housing in Bushey. One of those suggested is situated to the north of this neighbourhood on the land north of Farm Way, which is currently used for agricultural purposes. Given the size of the land, such a development would have a potential capacity for 850 new homes; this would see the requirement of new healthcare facilities as well, as current medical practices in the area are overcrowded and would be unable to take further patients who would be brought to the new development. The proposal is, however, not popular amongst many residents. More recently, in 2021, it was revealed that the local authority had earmarked plots of green belt land in Bushey and Bushey Heath for development. While these suggestions may have good intentions, specifically the development of new housing, it has proven to be a controversial suggestion, with many local residents concerned about how these projects would impact the landscape and the atmosphere of their neighbourhoods.