East Watford
This neighbourhood is situated to the North West of Central London, just a stone throw away from nearby central Watford. The area is particularly well served by transport, as it offers two Overground stations (Watford High Street and Bushey), which are situated a short walk away from the main residential area. This is accompanied by a plethora of green spaces, including Fishers Field Nature Reserve and a number of Sports Grounds and Golf Courses. When all of this is considered alongside the spacious housing that this neighbourhood offers, it is no surprise why the area is becoming increasingly sought after as a place to live, especially by those with families.
The name Watford can be understood to have emerged from the word “waet”, which means full of water. This is because prior to its development the area was very marshy; when the area first developed it could be found only on the dry sections of land existing above the swampy edges of the River Colne. Of further historical significance, a Victorian artist named Hubert von Herkomer developed an art school in this neighbourhood, in 1883. It was later closed in 1904, and a former student decided to use the site to open her own school; in 1912, Herkomer repurchased the school and demolished it. With the land, he developed a rose garden: Bushey Rose Garden, which is a local neighbourhood asset, and is registered as a Park and Garden of Special Historical Interest Grade II.
One of the downsides of this neighbourhood is its close proximity to the M1, which is situated to its north. This contributes to a lot of noise and air pollution. Despite this, the motorway offers residents fantastic access to central London and the North, which is seen as a trade-off for the disruption by the residents living here.
In 2021, the current Watford Shopping Centre, rebranded as the Atria Watford, reopened its door following major redevelopment. Watford Borough Council invested over £1.5 billion in the project and has committed to adding new homes and jobs as part of the programme. The new complex boasts larger retail units, more eateries, as well as a 40,000 square foot cinema multiplex. Despite this development being located outside of the immediate neighbourhood, it is likely to have an impact on East Watford. Footfall to the centre has already begun to increase since the easing of COVID-19 related restrictions