The fact that the underground reaches to this well-to-do corner of southwest Hertfordshire is highly surprising considering the strong village feel found in Rickmansworth and Batchworth. Despite its idyllic rural atmosphere, there is still plenty to do – the area boasts the popular Watersmeet Theatre as well as the Aquadrome, which offers a variety of activities for any outgoing bunch. The area boasts a huge amount of green space, such as the Stocker’s Lake Nature Reserve, which is popular with dog walkers and nature lovers, and numerous golf courses. The canals of Batchworth are not only picturesque but part of a strong local history that gives this neighbourhood its great character.

This area’s historic communities have predominantly relied upon its proximity to the three key rivers of the Colne, Chess and Gade for their livelihoods. Prior to the arrival of the Great Union Canal in the early 1900s, the water sources provided the ideal environment for growing watercress, but also mill-based energy to grind corn, weave silk, make paper and brew beer. The arrival of new modes of transport including the train, tube and canals in the 20th century slowly established the area as an affluent commuter town.

Batchworth Lake, which is now part of Rickmansworth Aquadrome, is a manmade lake that was built from the pre-existing gravel pit. The pit was created to produce gravel for none other than Wembley Stadium.

While the local tube station of Rickmansworth makes commuting convenient, its Zone 7 location means that it can get expensive, particularly when travelling at peak times. It can also feel rather isolated from the inner city, though for many who live locally this is the reason they decided to move here.

Because this area sits on London’s green belt, it is fiercely protected from development. That being said, smaller developments have already been completed in the area, including some newly built apartments at Elmswater and the Reach Free School, developed by Willmott Dixon, which can accommodate 840 students in a state of the art educational facility. There’s been a lot of back and forth between the local authorities and private developers concerning Green Belt land development, with a number of proposals being rejected by the council for being unjustified reductions in green space, while others being controversially approved despite local objections concerning the potential impact. What both scenarios show, however, is that development prospects in the area are gaining attention.