Harpenden, close to St Albans, has many character properties and good transport connections, and it's easy to see why this attractive town is so popular with those who need to be close to the capital.

Living in London can be tough, and the obvious answer for City workers who hanker for a taste of country life is to commute from one of the various picturesque towns on the outskirts of the capital.

House hunting in the home counties can be rewarding both financially and emotionally and whilst St Albans is immediately recognised as the principal north-of-London commuter town, locals regard the nearby 'village' of Harpenden as its more exclusive sister.

Harpenden locals insist that it is still a 'village', so the term is used loosely here, especially as it has a population of around 35,000.  However, on walking down the quiet tree-lined high street, with its resuarants and bistros - and no nightclubs - it is difficult to think of Harpenden as anything else.

While development has occurred in recent years, Harpenden is largely as it was 30 years ago, with many large parks and commons with large character properties scattered throughout.  The beautiful surrounding countryside is famous for its pubs and boasts some magnificent estates, including Hatfield House and Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire.

Harpenden is also famous for its 3 Excellent state schools, as well as its private schools, including Aldwickbury Preparatory for Boys and St Hildas for Girls.  As a result, it is a very popular area for families.  Harpenden residents also take advantage of the larger town of St Albans, with its schools, cathedral and shopping facilities, and which is situated six miles to the south.

A large proportion of the residents that live in Harpenden work in London, and the transport links are superb.  The reliable Thameslink train journey takes under half an hour and the trains leave regularly - every fifteen minutes - from a very central location, just off the High Street.

Once the King's Cross work is completed, the Eurostar will be even more accessible.  Weekend trips to Paris or Brussels via the Channel Tunnel will soon be an easy and relatively cheap possibility by train, requiring just one change at Kings's Cross.

Junction 9 of the M1 motorway is only around three miles away, making the drive to London, the North, or the M25 very easy.  Luton Aiport is also a 10 minute drive away.