Explore Berkhamsted Town
Berkhamsted is a historic market town on the Western edge of Hertfordshire, nestled in the Chiltern Hills.
Berkhamsted is home to Berkhamsted Schools Group, a family of leading independent schools for boys and girls between 5 months to 18 years. Berkhamsted Prep, Girls, Boys and Sixth are located in the centre of town, with Berkhamsted Pre-Prep and Day Nursery a five minute drive away.
From Central London by train
From Heathrow by car
From Oxford by car
We got Muddy’s vote!
Best Place to Live
Find out why Muddy Stilettos named Berkhamsted the best place to live in Hertfordshire in 2026
“Berko” is invariably described as a “rural extension of London” or a “chichi canal-side market town” with a selection of locally run shops and restaurants (alongside some chains).
Often described of a rural extension of London, affluent Berko has it all: a buzzing high street packed with boutiques and smart chains, a restaurant and bar offering to rival the capital’s chicest postcodes, as well as weekly markets, a picturesque canal and even a castle!
Berkhamsted was the only Hertfordshire town to be listed in The Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2025.
Berkhamsted; a great place to live, not just learn…
Situated in West Hertfordshire, on the edge of the Chiltern Hills, Berkhamsted is surrounded by beautiful countryside, rolling hills and pretty villages.
The attractive market town is home to a wide range of shops, cafes and restaurants, many of which are independent, sitting alongside well-known brands such as Pizza Express, Starbucks, Mint Velvet and Waterstones. The town has an art deco cinema, wine bars, and a twice-weekly Farmer’s market selling the best local produce including fresh meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, flowers and cheese.
As the home of Berkhamsted Schools Group we are thrilled to see Berkhamsted identified by The Telegraph and Savills analysis as one of Britain’s most desirable towns. A “historic market town” with “with a selection of locally run shops and restaurants”, the town ranked 9th in Britain for their vibrant canal-side culture.
The Grand Union Canal runs through the centre of town, with a footpath alongside and a number of canal-side pubs and restaurants. The town has plenty of green space, children’s play parks and meadows and, an 11th Century Norman Castle is just a short walk from the centre of town.
Berkhamsted has an active leisure scene with numerous running and cycling clubs in addition to a Tennis and Squash Club, Football Club, and Bowls Clubs. There are also a wide range of gyms and fitness clubs and two large leisure centres.
In 2025, The Sunday Times named Berkhamsted as one of the Best Places to Live, and in 2026, Muddy Stilettos named Berkhamsted the best place to live in Hertfordshire. It’s easy to see why!
Berkhamsted in pictures…
Local Information
There are a wide range of restaurants, bars and cafes in Berkhamsted, many of which are small chains or independent. Whether you want Indian cuisine, Thai, Lebanese, Greek or European, it’s all on offer. In addition, there’s a great selection of leisure and recreation options including tennis, bowls, swimming, gyms and even luxury personal training.
Local Information
Cafes, bars and restaurants in Berkhamsted
Sport and Leisure facilities
Local Property Agents
Find an Estate Agent in Berkhamsted
New Property Developments in Local Area
The Berkhamsted Society
By running events and meetings, the Berkhamsted Society aims to assist the Berkhamsted Schools Group to achieve its aim of being beneficial to the community and closely connected to all its constituencies.
To receive updates on upcoming Berkhamsted Society events, please complete the short form via the link below:
Other Activities in Town
Berkhamsted Society, Host a range of events, talks and entertainment throughout the year
Berkhamsted Half Marathon, Annually in March, Rotary Club
Bluebell Walk, Berkhamsted’s oldest walk. Takes place annually in May,
Proms in the Quad, annually in July, Berkhamsted School, Details to be announced
Berkhamsted Rotary Fireworks, Annually in November,
Ashridge House Illuminated, Annually, November – January
Outdoor Theatre at Ashridge House, Annually in summer months
Family Fun
Family Activities
Ashridge House, National Trust
Berkhamsted Leisure Centre and Swimming Pool
Cineworld, Hemel Hempstead (15 mins by car)
Cloud 9, Inflatable Park, Hemel Hempstead (15 mins by car)
DJ’s Soft Play, Berkhamsted
Jarman Park, Athletics Track (15 mins by car)
Knox Johnston Sports Centre, and Swimming Pool, Berkhamsted
Natural History Museum, Tring (10 mins by car)
The Rex Cinema, Berkhamsted
The Snow Centre, Hemel Hempstead (15 mins by car)
The XC, Climbing and Skate Park, Hemel Hempstead (15 mins by car)
Holiday Camps and Kids Clubs
Camp Beaumont, Holiday Camps in Berkhamsted
Activate Camps. Holiday Camps, Berkhamsted
Sapphire Gymnastics, Hemel Hempstead and Pitstone
Berkhamsted Raiders Football Club, Berkhamsted
Little Kickers, Football class, Berkhamsted
Mighty Netball, Junior netball class, Berkhamsted
Rugby Tots, Rugby Activities for children and tots
