about harpenden
A Charming Town with a Strong Community Spirit
Harpenden is a picturesque fair-trade commuter town in the heart of Hertfordshire, with a population of just over 30,000. Known for its quaint village charm and welcoming local community, it offers a peaceful yet vibrant lifestyle surrounded by natural beauty. One of its most loved features is the expansive 238-acre Harpenden Common, home to the historic Harpenden Cricket Club, which has proudly served the town for over 150 years.
Family life thrives here. Harpenden is known for being exceptionally family-friendly, offering a wealth of high-performing state and private schools, along with a calendar full of local events that reflect its community spirit and village feel. Highlights include Screen on the Green — an outdoor summer cinema on the Common, festive summer and Christmas carnivals, lively street food festivals, a monthly farmers’ market, and the iconic Classics on the Common, one of the largest midweek classic car shows in the UK.
Harpenden also offers excellent transport links, making it ideal for commuters and frequent travellers alike. Residents can reach London St. Pancras International in under 30 minutes, Gatwick Airport in just over an hour, and Luton Airport Parkway in only six minutes, offering seamless connections for business or leisure.
Fact!
“Harpenden is on the dip slope of the Chiltern Hills, lying astride three valleys which run in a NW to SE direction. The westerly one is the valley of the River Ver, the easterly the valley of the River Lea. Between the two is the dry valley which contains the central core of the village. It is this valley which gives Harpenden its name. ‘Herpe dene’ means ‘the military path through the valley’.”
If you haven’t visited Harpenden before, and would like to, please check out our directory which is full of lovely independent businesses and companies that call Harpenden home!
working with us
If you are new to Harpenden, thinking of starting a business in Harpenden, or currently have one, there are many ways in which you can work with us. These include: Listing you as a member on our ‘love local, shop local’ business directory, reviewing your business or event, featuring you on our blog and/or social media, advertising & marketing, photography, website design & build and designing your business branding (logo, business cards, flyers, etc). Please drop us a line here if you’d like to chat with us and for further information regarding joining our directory please click here.