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{{Short description|Town and borough in Hertfordshire, England}}
{{About|the town in Hertfordshire|}}<!--No citations are required in the article lead per [[MOS:LEADCITE]], as long as the content is cited in the article body, as it should be. Do not add missing-citation tags like {{cn}} to the lead. If necessary, {{not verified in body}} can be used, or the content removed.-->{{Distinguish|text=[[Walford]], a fictional borough in ''EastEnders''}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Watford
| settlement_type    = Town, [[Local authority district|local government district]], [[non-metropolitan district]], [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|borough]]
| total_type         = Borough
| motto              = Audentior (''Be Bold'')
| image_skyline      = <!-- images and maps  -----------> {{multiple image
| border                   = infobox
| perrow            = 1/2/2/2/2
| total_width       = 250
| image1 = Watford, Market Street and High Street - geograph.org.uk - 116645.jpg
| image2 = Watford, The Harlequin Centre - geograph.org.uk - 758635.jpg
| image3 = Holy Rood Church, Watford by Richard Rogerson Geograph 4708808.jpg
| image4 = Watford Town Hall - geograph.org.uk - 759712.jpg
| footer = From the top, Market Street, [[Atria Watford|Atria Shopping centre]], [[Holy Rood Church, Watford|Holy Rood Church]], [[Watford Town Hall]]}}
| image_caption      = 
| image_blank_emblem = Watford.JPG
| blank_emblem_type  = Coat of arms
| blank_emblem_size  = 85px
| image_map          = Watford UK locator map.svg
| mapsize            = 200px
| map_caption        = Watford within [[Hertfordshire]]
| subdivision_type   = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name   = United Kingdom
| subdivision_type1  = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Country]]
| subdivision_name1  = England
| subdivision_type2  = [[Regions of England|Region]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[East of England]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[Ceremonial Counties|County]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Hertfordshire]]
| subdivision_type4  = [[Districts of England|Borough]]
| subdivision_name4  = Watford
| seat_type          = UK Parliament constituency
| seat               = [[Watford (UK Parliament constituency)|Watford]]
| government_type    = [[Non-metropolitan district]]
| leader_title       = Governing&nbsp;body
| leader_name        = [[Watford Borough Council]]
| leader_title1      = [[Mayor of Watford|Elected Mayor]]
| leader_name1       = [[Peter Taylor (mayor)|Peter Taylor]] ([[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]])
| leader_title2      = [[List of MPs elected in the 2019 United Kingdom general election|MP]]
| leader_name2       = [[Matt Turmaine]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]])
| established_title  = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date   = 
| area_total_sq_mi   = 8.301
| elevation_m        = 71
| population_total   = 102,246<ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->| demographics_type1 = Ethnicity <span style="font-weight:normal;">([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])</span>
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021|id=E07000103|title=Watford Local Authority|access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups]]
| demographics1_info1 = {{Collapsible list
 | 60.9% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
 | 24.5% [[British Asians|Asian]]
 | 6.3% [[Black British people|Black]]
 | 4.7% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
 | 3.6% [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]
 }}
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->| demographics_type2 = Religion <span style="font-weight:normal;">(2021)</span>
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
| demographics2_title1 = [[Religion in England|Religion]]
| demographics2_info1 = {{Collapsible list
 | 44.4% [[Religion in England#Christianity|Christianity]]
 | 24.8% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]]
 | 17.8% [[Religion in England|other]]
 | 13% [[Islam in England|Islam]]
 }}
| timezone           = [[GMT]]
| timezone_DST       = [[British Summer Time|Summer Time (British)]]
| utc_offset_DST     = +1
| coordinates        = {{Coord|51|39|18|N|0|23|44.5|W|region:GB-HRT_type:city(102,000)|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[List of postcode areas in the United Kingdom|Postcode area]]
| postal_code        = [[WD postcode area|WD]]
| area_code          = 01923 & 020
| website            = {{URL|watford.gov.uk}}
| image_shield       = 
}}

'''Watford''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=en-uk-Watford.ogg|ˈ|w|ɒ|t|f|ər|d}}) is a town and [[non-metropolitan district]] with [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|borough status]] in [[Hertfordshire]], England, {{cvt|16|mile}} northwest of Central [[London]], on the banks of the [[River Colne, Hertfordshire|River Colne]].

Initially a small [[market town]], the [[Grand Junction Canal]] encouraged the construction of paper-making mills, print works, and [[brewery|breweries]]. While industry has declined in Watford, its location near [[London]] and transport links have attracted several companies to site their headquarters in the town. [[Cassiobury Park]] is a public park that was once the manor estate of the [[Earls of Essex]].

The town developed next to the River Colne on land belonging to [[St Albans Abbey]]. In the 12th century, a charter was granted allowing a market, and the building of [[St Mary's Church, Watford|St Mary's Church]] began. The town grew partly due to travellers going to [[Berkhamsted Castle]] and the royal palace at [[Kings Langley]]. A [[mansion]] was built at [[Cassiobury House|Cassiobury]] in the 16th century. This was partly rebuilt in the 17th century and another [[country house]] was built at [[The Grove, Watford|The Grove]].

[[File:Clarendon Road, Watford (geograph 7069590).jpg|thumb|alt=Clarendon Road, Watford|Clarendon Road]]

The [[Grand Junction Canal]] in 1798 and the [[London and Birmingham Railway]] in 1837 resulted in Watford's rapid growth, with paper-making mills such as [[John Dickinson Stationery|John Dickinson]] at Croxley, influencing the development of printing in the town. Two brewers, [[Benskins]] and [[Sedgwicks Brewery|Sedgwicks]], amalgamated and flourished in the town until their closure in the late 20th century. [[Hertfordshire County Council]] designates Watford to be a major sub-regional centre. Several head offices are based in Watford. International conferences and sporting events have also taken place in Watford, including the 2006 [[World Golf Championship]], the [[2013 Bilderberg Conference]] and the [[2019 London summit|2019 NATO summit]] which all took place at [[The Grove, Watford|The Grove]].<ref name="guardian.co.uk">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/02/week-ahead-bilderberg-2013-watford |title=The week ahead: Bilderberg 2013 comes to&nbsp;... the Grove hotel, Watford |author=Charlie Skelton |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=2 June 2013}}</ref>

Watford became an [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|urban district]] under the [[Local Government Act 1894]] and a [[municipal borough]] by grant of a charter in 1922. The borough, which had 102,246 inhabitants in the 2021 census (up from 90,301 inhabitants at the 2011 census, an increase of 13.23%), is separated from [[Greater London]] to the south by [[Three Rivers (district)|Three Rivers District]]. [[Watford Borough Council]] is the local authority with the [[Mayor of Watford]] as its head – one of only 18 [[directly elected mayors in England and Wales]].

==History==
[[File:St Mary's Church, Watford.jpg|thumb|[[St. Mary's Church, Watford|St Mary's Church, Watford]]]]
[[File:Essex Chapel, Saint Mary's Watford.jpg|thumb|The Essex Chapel in Saint Mary's Church]]

===Early history===
There is evidence of some limited prehistoric occupation around the Watford area, with a few Celtic and Roman finds, though there is no evidence of a settlement until much later.<ref name=forsyth>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=fY-Yoru2dTQC&pg=PA276 |title=A County of Small Towns: The Development of Hertfordshire's Urban Landscape |editor=T. R. Slater, Nigel Goose |author=Mary Forsyth |publisher=Univ of Hertfordshire Press |date=1 December 2008 |isbn=9781905313440 |access-date=29 January 2013}}</ref> Watford stands where the [[River Colne, Hertfordshire|River Colne]] could be crossed on an [[Historic roads and trails|ancient trackway]] from the southeast to the northwest. Watford's High Street follows the line of part of this route.<ref name="Lewis">{{cite book |title = A History of the County of Hertford: volume 2 |author = William Page |year = 1908 |chapter = Watford |pages = 446–451 |url = http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43307 |access-date = 27 January 2013}}</ref><ref name="Saunders">{{cite book |title = History of Watford |author = W.R. Saunders |publisher = Peacock |location = Watford |year = 1931 }}</ref> The town was located on the first dry ground above the marshy edges of the River Colne. 

The name Watford may have arisen from the [[Old English]] for "waet" (full of water – the area was marshy), or "wath" (hunting), and [[Ford (crossing)|ford]].<ref name="forsyth"/> [[St Albans Abbey]] claimed rights to the [[Liberty of St Albans|manor of Casio]] (then called "Albanestou"), which included Watford, dating from a grant by [[King Offa]] in AD 793.<ref>{{cite book |url= http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43286 |title=The hundred of Cashio – Introduction &#124; A History of the County of Hertford: volume 2 (pp. 319–322) |author=William Page |year=1908 |access-date=29 January 2013}}</ref>

[[File:Cassiobury Park by Kip and Knyff.jpg|thumb|[[Cassiobury House]] Estate engraving by Johannes Kip and Leonard Knyff (1707) now in the [[Watford Museum]]]]

The name Watford is first mentioned in an [[Anglo-Saxon]] charter of 1007, where "Watforda" is one of the places marking the boundary of "Oxanhæge". It is not mentioned in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086, when this area was part of St Albans Abbey's manor of Cashio. In the 12th century the Abbey was granted a charter allowing it to hold a market here, and the building of St Mary's Church began. The settlement's location helped it to grow, since as well as trade along this north–south through route it possessed good communications into the vale of [[St Albans]] to the east and into the Chiltern Hills along the valley of the [[River Chess]] to the west. 

The town grew modestly, assisted by travellers passing through to [[Berkhamsted Castle]] and the royal palace at [[Kings Langley]]. A big house was built at [[Cassiobury House|Cassiobury]] in the 16th century. This was partly rebuilt in the 17th century and another substantial house was built nearby at [[The Grove, Watford|The Grove]]. The houses were expanded and developed throughout the following centuries. Cassiobury became the family seat of the [[Earls of Essex]], and The Grove the seat of the [[Earl of Clarendon|Earls of Clarendon]].<ref name="forsyth"/><ref name="Page-Manors">{{cite book |title = A History of the County of Hertford: volume 2 |series = [[Victoria County History]] |author = William Page |year = 1908 |chapter = Watford: Manors |chapter-url = http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=43308 |pages = 451–464 |url = http://www.british-history.ac.uk/source.aspx?pubid=305 |access-date = 19 May 2008}}</ref>

In 1762, [[Sparrows Herne Turnpike Road]] was established across the Chilterns. The [[toll road]] approximately followed the route of the original [[A41 road]]. The location of a [[toll house]] can be seen at the bottom of Chalk Hill on the Watford side of Bushey Arches; set in an old flint stone wall is a Sparrows Herne Trust plaque.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1250997 |desc=Sparrow Herne Trust Turnpike Marker, Lower High Street, Watford |access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref>

In 1778, [[Daniel Defoe]] described Watford as a "genteel market town, very long, having but one street."<ref name="british-history.ac.uk">{{cite web |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43307&strquery=Watford |title=Watford: Introduction |work=british-history.ac.uk}}</ref>

===Industrial Revolution===
[[File:Roscoe L&BR(1839) p073 - Viaduct over the River Colne near Watford.jpg|thumb|left|The London & Birmingham Railway, Watford (1839)]]

Watford remained an agricultural community with some [[cottage industry]] for many centuries. The [[Industrial Revolution]] brought the [[Grand Junction Canal]] (now [[Grand Union Canal]]) from 1798 and the [[London and Birmingham Railway]] from 1837, both located here for the same reasons the road had followed centuries before, seeking an easy gradient over the Chiltern Hills. The land-owning interests permitted the canal to follow closely by the river Gade, but the prospect of smoke-emitting [[steam train]]s drove them to ensure the railway gave a wide berth to the Cassiobury and Grove estates. Consequently, although the road and canal follow the easier valley route, the railway company was forced to build an expensive tunnel under [[Leavesden, Hertfordshire|Leavesden]] to the north of the town.<ref>{{NHLE|desc=The Old Station House (formerly the booking office to Watford Station)|num=1101109|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>

[[Watford railway station (1837-1858)|Watford's original railway station]] opened in 1837 on the west side of St Albans Road, a small, single-storey red-brick building. It closed in 1858 when it was replaced by a new, larger station at [[Watford Junction railway station|Watford Junction]] approximately {{convert|200|m|yds}} further south-east. The old station house still stands today; it is a Grade-II-listed building, now in the middle of a high density housing development, it and was for many years  a second-hand car [[Dealerships|dealership.]]<ref name=NWHG-oldstation>{{cite web|title=The original Watford station|url=http://north-watford-history.org.uk/pages/railways/original-watford-station.html|website=North Watford History Group|access-date=13 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413170528/http://north-watford-history.org.uk/pages/railways/original-watford-station.html|archive-date=13 April 2015}}</ref><ref name=WBC-listed>{{cite web|title=Nationally Listed Buildings in Watford|url=http://www.watford.gov.uk/ccm/cms-service/download/asset/?asset_id=30425112|publisher=Watford Borough Council|access-date=13 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306223404/http://www.watford.gov.uk/ccm/cms-service/download/asset/?asset_id=19342003|archive-date=6 March 2012 |pages=103}}</ref> Watford Junction railway station is situated to the north east  of the town centre.<ref name="Page-Introduction">{{cite book
| title = A History of the County of Hertford: volume 2
| series = [[Victoria County History]]
| editor = William Page
| year = 1908
| chapter = Watford: Introduction
| chapter-url = http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=43307
| pages = 446–451
| url = http://www.british-history.ac.uk/source.aspx?pubid=305
| access-date = 22 March 2008
}}</ref>

These developments gave the town excellent communications and stimulated its industrial growth during the 19th and 20th centuries. The Grand Union Canal, allowed coal to be brought into the district and paved the way for industrial development. The Watford Gas and Coke Company was formed in 1834 and gas works built. The canal allowed paper-making mills to be sited at Croxley. The [[John Dickinson Stationery|John Dickinson and Co.]] mill beside the canal manufactured the Croxley brand of fine quality paper. There had been brewing in Watford from the 17th century and, by the 19th century, two industrial scale brewers [[Benskins]] and [[Sedgwicks]] were located in the town.<ref name="Haberdashers">{{cite web|url=http://www.habsboys.org.uk/Departments/Geography/Watford/history_of_watford.htm|title=The History of Watford|date=4 February 2008|publisher=Haberdashers' Aske's Boys School – Geography Department|access-date=11 August 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101115040832/http://www.habsboys.org.uk/Departments/Geography/Watford/history_of_watford.htm|archive-date=15 November 2010}}</ref> The parish church of St Mary's was extensively restored in 1871.<ref name="Page-Churches">{{cite book| title = A History of the County of Hertford: volume 2
| series = [[Victoria County History]]| editor = William Page| year = 1908| chapter = Watford: Churches and Charities| chapter-url = http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=43309| pages = 464–469
| url = http://www.british-history.ac.uk/source.aspx?pubid=305| access-date = 19 May 2008}}</ref> 

The town expanded slightly during this time. In 1851 a new street off the High Street was opened, King Street, followed by Queens Road and Clarendon Road in the early 1860s. During this time, Watford had a population of around 6,500<ref name="british-history.ac.uk"/> The railways also continued to expand from Watford during this period; the [[Watford and Rickmansworth Railway]] opened in 1862 as a short branch line via {{rws|Watford High Street}} to {{rws|Rickmansworth (Church Street)}}, and another branch was added to {{rws|Croxley Green}} in 1912. The original plan was to extend the Rickmansworth line south connecting Watford to [[Uxbridge Vine Street railway station|Uxbridge]]; this scheme failed and both the Rickmansworth and Croxley branches closed.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Oppitz|first1=Leslie|title=Lost railways of the Chilterns|date=2000|publisher=Countryside Books|location=Newbury|isbn=9781853066436|pages=40–48|chapter=3. Lord Ebury's Line}}</ref>

Watford's population had risen to 17,063 by 1891 to become very cramped. Local landowners sold land for the development of the town and it was bought up by commercial interests. Various factories and other works sprung up in Watford, mostly breweries and prints, but also engineering works, a steam laundry, a cold storage company and a [[Cocoa bean|cocoa]] processing plant. The town expanded rapidly, most of the new inhabitants moving in from London.<ref name="british-history.ac.uk"/>

===20th century===
At the start of the 20th century the town was growing fast. New roads were laid out in Callowland, North Watford, and in West Watford on farmland. Many continued to live in the cramped and unsanitary houses in the yards and alley-ways opening off the High Street.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hertsmemories.org.uk/page_id__544_path__0p34p118p.aspx|title=Slum housing in Watford, 1850s to 1930s|work=hertsmemories.org.uk}}</ref> Some of these people were among those who rioted in 1902 when the celebration for [[Edward VII of the United Kingdom|King Edward VII]]'s coronation was postponed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/nostalgia/crimelibrary/watfordriot/ |title=Coronation celebration postponed|access-date=2 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407091449/http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/nostalgia/crimelibrary/watfordriot/ |archive-date=7 April 2014}}</ref> The council had a programme of [[Slum clearance in the United Kingdom|slum clearance]] which stopped with the outbreak of [[World War I]] in 1914. Building council houses resumed after the war and in the 1920s the Harebreaks estate was developed.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UcSQCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA72|title=Watford: A History|first= Mary |last=Forsyth|publisher=The History Press|year=2015|isbn= 978-0750961592}}</ref>

By the 1920s, printing had become the biggest industry in Watford. The biggest printers in the town were Sun Printers Ltd and [[Odhams Press]]. Watford was the biggest printing centre in the world and many advances in printing were made in Watford. During [[World War II]] the prints were taken over by the government who used them to print propaganda. After the war, the printing industry began going into decline. Union activity was common in Watford and advances in technology meant much of the industry became obsolete. Odhams Press closed down in 1978 and The Sun moved out of Watford during the 1980s after market reforms allowed it to do so.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sunprintershistory.com/factlose.html|title=Why did Watford lose the print?|author=Peter Lavin|work=sunprintershistory.com}}</ref>

In 1925, the [[Metropolitan Railway]] Company built a branch to Watford, opening a station close to [[Cassiobury Park]].<ref name="wolmar">{{cite book | last=Wolmar | first=Christian | title=The Subterranean Railway How the London Underground Was Built and How it Changed the City Forever | year=2009 | publisher=Atlantic Books Ltd. | location=London | isbn=9781848872530 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bYG-QY-DBHkC&q=%22metropolitan%20railway%22%20watford%20station%20%22high%20street%22&pg=RA1-PT137 }}</ref><ref name=goudie>{{cite book|last=Goudie|first=F. W.|title=West of Watford : L.N.W.R., L.M.S., Metropolitan, L.N.E.R., Bakerloo, Watford, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth|year=1990|publisher=Forge Books|location=Bracknell|isbn=9780904662184|author2=Stuckey, Douglas }}</ref>

In the 1950s and 1960s, Watford was the home of the British designer furniture manufacturer [[Hille (furniture)|Hille]]. At their premises on St Albans Road, designed by the [[modern architecture|modernist architect]] [[Ernő Goldfinger]],<ref name=hille-history>{{cite web|title=History of Hille|url=http://www.hille.co.uk/history|access-date=13 April 2015}}</ref> the designer [[Robin Day (designer)|Robin Day]] conceived the [[polypropylene stacking chair]], now recognised as a classic of modern design.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Abrahams|first1=Charlotte|title=The people's chair|url=https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/1999/mar/13/weekend7.weekend2|access-date=13 April 2015|work=The Guardian|date=13 March 1999}}</ref> Although Hille left the area in 1983, the listed Goldfinger building still stands on St Albans Road.<ref name=NWHG-hille>{{cite web|title=Hille House and Business Centre|url=http://north-watford-history.org.uk/pages/buildings/hille-house.html|website=North Watford History Group|access-date=14 April 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061318/http://north-watford-history.org.uk/pages/buildings/hille-house.html|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> [[Mod (subculture)|Mod]] culture found expression through clubs such as the [[Ace of Herts]] in the 1960s.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Crozier|first1=David|title=September 10, 1965|url=http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/11462139.September_10__1965/|access-date=24 July 2017|work=Watford Observer|date=10 September 2014|language=en}}</ref>

The [[de Havilland]] factory at Leavesden was responsible for the manufacture of the aircraft engines and later became Leavesden Aerodrome, to the north of Watford. No longer operational, it was converted into [[Leavesden Film Studios]], now famously the home of the [[Harry Potter (film series)|''Harry Potter'' films]].<ref name=wb>{{cite web|url=https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/getting-here/ |title=Getting Here |publisher=Warner Brothers Studios|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{Geographic location
|title = '''Neighbouring communities'''
|Northwest = [[Kings Langley]]
|North = [[Abbots Langley]]
|Northeast = [[Radlett]]
|West = [[Rickmansworth]]
|Centre = Watford
|East = [[Borehamwood]]
|Southwest = [[Northwood, London|Northwood]]
|South = [[Pinner]]
|Southeast = [[Bushey]]
}}
[[File:Watford, The old railway station house - geograph.org.uk - 981561.jpg|thumb|left|St Albans Road railway station (1837)]]
[[File:Odhams Press Hall Watford.jpg|thumb|left|Odhams Press printworks<br />Dome roundabout (1954)]]
Watford developed on the [[River Colne, Hertfordshire|River Colne]] in southern Hertfordshire, England, {{convert|16|mi}} northwest of [[central London]]. Ethnicity is 61.9% White British, 2.3% Irish, 0.1% Gypsy or Irish traveller, 7.7% Other White, 17.9% Asian/Asian British, 5.8% Black or Black British.<ref name="monitoring_2017">{{cite web |title=Watford Monitoring Report 2017 |url=https://www.watford.gov.uk/downloads/file/241/authority-monitoring-report-2017 |website=Watford Authority Monitoring Reports |publisher=[[Watford Borough Council]] |access-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113123955/https://www.watford.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/2398/watford_monitoring_report_2017.pdf |pages=21–22 |archive-date=13 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

The borough had 102,246 inhabitants at the time of the 2021 census.<ref name="2021 Nomis"/> The borough is separated from [[Greater London]] to the south by the urbanised parish of [[Watford Rural]] in the [[Three Rivers (district)|Three Rivers District]]. The Watford subdivision of the [[Greater London Urban Area]], which includes much of the neighbouring districts, had a total population of 120,960 in the 2001 census.<ref>[http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/census-2001-key-statistics/urban-areas-in-the-south-east/urban-areas-in-the-south-east-part-1.pdf Census 2001, Key Statistics for urban areas in the South East], Office for National Statistics.</ref>

==Religion==

{{Pie chart
| caption= Religion in Watford(2021 census)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censusareachanges/E07000103/ | title=How life has changed in Watford: Census 2021 }}</ref>
| label1 = [[Christianity]]
| value1 = 44.45
| color1 = Blue
| label2 = [[Atheism|No Religion]]
| value2 = 24.78
| color2 = White
| label3 = [[Islam]]
| value3 = 12.97
| color3 = Green
| label4 = [[Hinduism]]
| color4 = DarkOrange
| value4 = 8.21
| label5 = Not Stated
| color5 = Black
| value5 = 6.17
| label6 = [[Buddhism]]
| color6 = Yellow
| value6 = 1
| label7 = [[Judaism]]
| color7 = DodgerBlue
| value7 = 0.92
| label8 = Other
| color8 = Purple
| value8 = 0.84
| label9= [[Sikhism]]
| color9 = DarkKhaki
| value9 = 0.65
}}


As of the 2021 census, Watford's religious profile roughly reflected that of England and Wales, with a larger Muslim and Hindu population than the average.

{| class="wikitable"
!Area
!All people
!Christian (%)
!Buddhist (%)
!Hindu (%)
!Jewish (%)
!Muslim (%)
!Sikh (%)
!Other (%)
!No religion (%)
!Not stated (%)
|- style="background:#fee;"
|England 2011
|
|59.4
|0.5
|1.5
|0.5
|5.0
|0.8
|0.4
|24.8
|7.1
|- style="background:#fee;"
|'''Watford 2011'''
|90,300
|54.1
|0.7
|4.8
|1.1
|9.9
|0.6
|0.5
|21.4
|6.7
|- style="background:#fee;"
|England 2021
|56,490,048
|46.3
|0.5
|1.8
|0.5
|6.7
|0.9
|0.6
|36.7
|6.0
|- style="background:#fee;"
|'''Watford 2021'''
|102,246
|44.45
|1.00
|8.21
|0.92
|12.97
|0.65
|0.84
|24.78
|6.17
|}

==Governance==
Watford has two tiers of local government, at district (borough) and county level: [[Watford Borough Council]] and [[Hertfordshire County Council]].

Watford is one of only 15 authorities in England and Wales headed by a [[Directly elected mayors in England and Wales|directly elected mayor]]. [[Dorothy Thornhill, Baroness Thornhill|Dorothy Thornhill]] was the first directly elected [[mayor of Watford]], elected in May 2002 and re-elected in May 2006 and May 2010. She was the first female directly elected mayor in England and the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]]' first directly elected mayor.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/9501153.Mayor_picks_up_MBE/r/?ref=rss |title=Mayor picks up MBE |author=Mike Wright |work=Watford Observer |date=30 January 2012 |access-date=30 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105212356/http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/9501153.Mayor_picks_up_MBE/r/?ref=rss |archive-date=5 November 2013  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/liberaldemocrats/2824165/The-50-most-influential-Liberal-Democrats-41-50.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/liberaldemocrats/2824165/The-50-most-influential-Liberal-Democrats-41-50.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=The 50 most influential Liberal Democrats: 41–50 |author=[[Iain Dale]] |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=13 September 2008 |issn=0307-1235 |oclc=49632006 |access-date=30 January 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Since 1999 Watford has been divided into 12 [[Wards of the United Kingdom|wards]].<ref name=19980rder>{{cite web|title=The Borough of Watford (Electoral Changes) Order 1998|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2559/made|work=Legislation.gov.uk|publisher=[[The National Archives (United Kingdom)|The National Archives]]|access-date=22 January 2013}}</ref> Each ward has three councillors who are elected for a four-year term. Watford elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the [[first past the post]] system of election, for the [[Watford (UK Parliament constituency)|Watford constituency]]. Prior to the establishment of this constituency in 1885 the area was part of the three seat constituency of [[Hertfordshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Hertfordshire]].<ref>Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, Schedule 7: Counties at Large. Number of Members and Names and Contents of Divisions.</ref>

===Town twinning===
The council have made [[Town twinning|twinning]] links with five towns. The first was [[Mainz]], Germany, in 1956, and the most recent is [[Pesaro]], Italy, in 1988; the others are [[Nanterre]],<ref name="Archant twinning">{{cite web|url=http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns |title=British towns twinned with French towns |access-date=11 July 2013 |work=Archant Community Media Ltd |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705094933/http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns |archive-date=5 July 2013 }}</ref> [[Novgorod]], and [[Wilmington, Delaware]].<ref>[http://www.watford.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/community-and-living/twinning/ Twinning] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080111203641/http://www.watford.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/community-and-living/twinning/ |date=11 January 2008 }}, Watford Borough Council, accessed 12 October 2007.</ref> The council award an honorary status of [[Freedom of the City|Freedom of the Borough]] to certain individuals "who have in the opinion of the council, rendered eminent services to the borough"; as of 2020 there are three freemen: [[Elton John]], and two local councillors involved in the twinning process.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.watford.gov.uk/info/20017/councillors_and_decision_making/126/who_is_the_chairman/4|title=Who is the Chairman?|first=Watford Borough|last=Council|website=www.watford.gov.uk|access-date=6 January 2020|archive-date=11 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311064655/https://www.watford.gov.uk/info/20017/councillors_and_decision_making/126/who_is_the_chairman/4|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Administrative history===
{{Infobox historic subdivision
| Name                   = Watford
| subdivision_type       = [[Local board of health#Public Health Act 1848|Local Board District]] (1850{{ndash}}1894)<br />[[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|Urban District]] (1894{{ndash}}1922)<br />[[Municipal Borough]] (1922{{ndash}}1974)
| HQ                     = Watford
<!-- Statuses -->| Start                  = 15 August 1850 (Local Board District)<br />31 December 1894 (Urban District)<br />18 October 1922 (Municipal Borough)
| End                    = 31 March 1974
| Replace                = [[Watford Borough Council]]
<!-- Memberships -->| membership_title1      = County Council
| membership1            = [[Hertfordshire County Council|Hertfordshire]]
| PopulationFirst        = 16,826<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10067583 |title=Watford Urban Sanitary District, ''A Vision of Britain through Time'' |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=22 January 2022}}</ref>
| PopulationLast         = 76,705<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10206224 |title=Watford Urban District / Municipal Borough, ''A Vision of Britain through Time'' |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=22 January 2022}}</ref>
| PopulationFirstYear    = 1891
| PopulationLastYear     = 1971
}}

The [[Civil parish#Ancient parishes|ancient parish]] of Watford was included in the [[hundred (county division)|hundred]] of [[Liberty of St Albans|Cashio]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Watford Ancient Parish / Civil Parish |url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10038637 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=22 January 2022}}</ref> In 1835, Watford became the centre of a [[poor law union]], and a workhouse was built in 1836{{ndash}}1837 at 60 Vicarage Road (then called Hagden Lane).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Higginbotham |first1=Peter |title=Watford Workhouse |url=https://www.workhouses.org.uk/Watford/ |website=The Workhouse |access-date=22 January 2022}}</ref>

In 1850 a [[local board of health]] was established for the town. The local board district covered part of the parish of Watford and part of the neighbouring parish of [[Bushey]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Clark |first1=G. T. |title=Report to the General Board of Health of a further inquiry held in the town of Watford, in the county of Hertford |date=1850 |publisher=Her Majesty's Stationery Office |location=London |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kew2es7o5b0C |access-date=18 December 2021}}</ref> The Watford Local Board District came into effect on 15 August 1850, and the first board was elected the following month.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Simons |first1=N. |title=The Statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |date=1851 |publisher=Eyre and Spottiswoode |location=London |page=415 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-J9UAAAAcAAJ |access-date=22 January 2021 |quote=An Act for confirming certain Provisional Orders of the General Board of Health (13 & 14 Vict. c. 108, 15 August 1850)}}</ref>

The local board was responsible for building the town's waterworks and sewers. For a time the board held its meetings at an upper room of the waterworks on Local Board Road. In 1891 the board purchased Upton House at 14 High Street for £2,650, converting it to become their offices and meeting place, holding its first meeting in the building on 1 October 1891.<ref name=Upton>{{cite news |last1=Matthews |first1=Anthony |title=How a doctor's home became Watford's first town hall |url=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/19757032.doctors-home-became-watfords-first-town-hall/ |access-date=23 January 2022 |work=Watford Observer |date=2 December 2021}}</ref>

Under the [[Local Government Act 1894]], the Watford Local Board was reconstituted as Watford Urban District Council with effect from 31 December 1894. The act also stipulated that parishes could not be partly in an [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|urban district]] and partly outside it. The old parish of Watford was therefore split, with the part of the parish outside the urban district becoming the parish of [[Watford Rural]] with effect from the first parish meeting on 4 December 1894. At the same time, the parish of Bushey was split, with the part within the Watford Urban District becoming a parish called Bushey Urban, which was later renamed Oxhey in 1906. Watford Urban and Bushey Urban / Oxhey were both classed as [[Local Government Act 1894#Parish councils and meetings|urban parishes]] and so did not have parish councils of their own, but were directly administered by Watford Urban District Council.<ref>Local Government Act, 1894 (56 & 57 Vict. c. 73)</ref> The two urban parishes merged in 1935 to form a single parish called Watford.<ref>{{cite web |title=Watford Civil Parish |url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10080010 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=23 January 2022}}</ref>

Watford became a [[municipal borough]] on 18 October 1922 when it was granted a charter of incorporation.<ref>{{cite news |title=The youngest borough |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ |access-date=22 January 2022 |work=Daily News |date=19 October 1922 |location=London |page=5}}</ref> The council was granted a [[coat of arms]] on 16 October 1922, two days before it became a borough.<ref>{{cite web |title=East of England |url=http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/east_of_england.html |website=Civic Heraldry |access-date=23 January 2022}}</ref>

Upton House at 14 High Street continued to serve as the meeting place and offices for Watford Urban District Council and then Watford Borough Council until 1940. In 1938 work began on building [[Watford Town Hall]] at the junction of Rickmansworth Road and Hempstead Road, and the building officially opened on 5 January 1940.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H1uuDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA12|title=Watford History Tour|first= John|last= Cooper|publisher=Amberley Publishing|year=2016|isbn=978-1445657776}}</ref> Upton House was subsequently demolished in 1961 and Gade House built on the site.<ref name=Upton/>

Under the [[Local Government Act 1972]] Watford kept the same boundaries, but changed from being a municipal borough to a [[non-metropolitan district]] with [[borough status in the United Kingdom|borough status]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The English Non-Metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order |date=1972 |publisher=Her Majesty's Stationery Office |location=London |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1972/2039/made/data.xht?view=snippet&wrap=true |access-date=22 January 2022}}</ref>

== Economy ==
[[File:Harlequin Shopping Centre Entrance.JPG|thumb|Watford Shopping Centre entrance]]

Watford is a major regional centre in the northern [[home counties]]. Hertfordshire County Council designates Watford and [[Stevenage]] to be its major sub-regional centres, heading its list of preferred sites for retail development.<ref>{{cite web
 |title       = Hertfordshire: an Economic Overview
 |publisher   = Hertfordshire County Council
 |date        = November 2004
 |url         = http://www.hertsdirect.org/infobase/docs/pdfstore/econover.pdf
 |access-date  = 19 May 2008
|url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20080627171219/http://www.hertsdirect.org/infobase/docs/pdfstore/econover.pdf
 |archive-date = 27 June 2008
|df          = dmy-all
}}</ref>

The High Street is the main focus of activity at night having a high concentration of the town's bars, clubs and restaurants. The primary shopping area is the [[Harlequin Shopping Centre]], a large purpose-built indoor mall with over 140 shops, restaurants and cafes built during the 1990s, opened officially in June 1992. The owners of the shopping centre, Capital Shopping Centres, changed their name to [[Intu]], resulting in The Harlequin changing name to "intu Watford" from May 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theharlequin.uk.com/Whats-on/News/The-Harlequin-Announcement|title=intu Watford|work=theharlequin.uk.com}}</ref> Carrying forward £4.5 billion of debt into 2020,<ref name=guardian-20200304>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/mar/04/struggling-shopping-centre-owner-intu-abandons-1bn-cash-call |title=Struggling shopping centre owner Intu abandons £1bn cash call |last=Sweney |first=Mark |newspaper=The Guardian |date=4 March 2020 |access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref> the company was not able to survive the retail downturn due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 crisis]], and went into [[administration (law)|administration]] in June 2020.<ref name="BBC-26Jun2020">{{cite news |title=Shopping centre giant Intu enters administration |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-53195980 |access-date=26 June 2020 |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=26 June 2020}}</ref> The council owns part of the freehold the site, and feels that as the shopping centre is very popular (it was one of top 20 places to shop in the UK in 2019), it will remain open and viable.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/18520921.happens-intu-watford-intu-goes-administration/|title=What happens to intu Watford if intu goes into administration?|author=Nathan Louis|date=16 June 2020|work= [[Watford Observer]]}}</ref>

The town contains the head offices of a number of national companies such as [[J D Wetherspoon]], [[Camelot Group]], [[Bathstore]], and Caversham Finance (BrightHouse). Watford is also the UK base of various multi-nationals including [[Hilton Worldwide]], [[TotalEnergies]], [[TK Maxx]], [[Costco]], [[JJ Kavanagh and Sons]], [[Skanska]], [[Vinci (construction)|Vinci]], [[Beko]] and [[TeleAdapt]]. Both the 2006 [[World Golf Championship]] and the [[2013 Bilderberg Conference]], took place at [[The Grove, Watford|The Grove hotel]].<ref name="guardian.co.uk"/> The town was home to the [[Scammell Lorries]] factory from 1922 until 1988. The site is now a residential area. [[Tandon Motorcycles]], founded by Devdutt Tandon, were manufactured in Colne Way from 1947 until 1959.<ref name="WilsonSteve">Wilson, Steve ''British Motorcycles Since 1950 Volume 4'' (Patrick Stephens Limited 1991) {{ISBN|0 85059 830 3}}</ref>

==Parks==
[[File:Daffodils, Cassiobury Park, Watford.jpg|thumb|Daffodils in [[Cassiobury Park]]]]
[[File:Woodside Athletics Stadium.jpg|thumb|Woodside Athletics Stadium]]
[[File:Cheslyn Gardens.jpg|thumb|Cheslyn Gardens]]

===Cassiobury Park===
The name Cassiobury has had various spellings over time. It is derived from 'Caegshoe', which is believed to be the combination of 'caeg', a person's name, and 'hoe', meaning a spur of land. When the land was granted to Sir Richard Morrison in the 16th century, it was called 'Cayshobury', with 'bury' indicating a manor.<ref name="forsyth"/><ref name="Page-Manors"/>

[[Cassiobury Park]] was formed from the grounds of [[Cassiobury House]] and consists of {{convert|190|acre|km2}} of open space. The house was demolished in 1927 and the Cassiobury Gates in 1970, for road widening. In July 2007, the park won a [[Green Flag Award]], which recognises the best green spaces in the country.<ref>[http://www.greenflagaward.org/park-summary/?park=477 Cassiobury Park], Green Flag Awards.</ref> There is a children's play area, which includes a paddling pool, play equipment, a bouncy castle, an [[ice cream]] van, a kiosk where one may buy food, and 10.25" gauge miniature railway. The [[Grand Union Canal]] passes through the park.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/places-to-visit/watford-cassiobury-park|title=Cassiobury Park|publisher=Canal & River Trust|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref> Cassiobury Park is host to the weekly 5k community event [[parkrun]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.parkrun.org.uk/cassiobury/ | title=Home &#124; Cassiobury parkrun &#124; Cassiobury parkrun }}</ref>

===Cheslyn House and Gardens===
Awarded Green Flag status since 2009, Cheslyn has been open to the public since 1965 as a formal gardens and house.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.watford.gov.uk/info/20013/parks_and_recreation/113/the_history_of_watfords_parks/2|title=History of Cheslyn Gardens|publisher=Watford Borough Council|access-date=13 July 2020|archive-date=15 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715151211/https://www.watford.gov.uk/info/20013/parks_and_recreation/113/the_history_of_watfords_parks/2|url-status=dead}}</ref> The 3.5 acre gardens comprise a formal open area to the front and a semi-natural woodland area to the rear. Henry and Daisy Colbeck originally owned the house and gardens. Mr Colbeck was a renowned local architect, and designed Cheslyn House; he and his wife created the original gardens. The Colbecks travelled extensively, and this is reflected in the range of unusual and exotic plants in the gardens. Since the space has been open to the public it has been further developed, with new features added such as the pond, rock garden, large herbaceous borders and aviary.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://greenourherts.org.uk/page/?id=69467|title=Cheslyn House and Gardens|publisher=Green Our Herts|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>

===Woodside Park===
Awarded Green Flag status since 2011, Woodside Playing Fields cover approximately 59 acres of playing fields, sports facilities and woodland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.watford.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/1734/a_guide_to_watfords_parks_and_open_spaces.pdf|title=a guide to Watford's Parks and Open Spaces|page=23|publisher=Watford Council|access-date=13 July 2020|archive-date=13 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713090713/https://www.watford.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/1734/a_guide_to_watfords_parks_and_open_spaces.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The site comprises a range of sports facilities including an eight lane synthetic track and stadium, an indoor bowls green, a community centre, cricket squares, football pitches and Woodside Leisure Centre. Woodside Stadium is home to Watford Harriers Athletics Club and hosts national level events such as the British Milers Club Grand Prix.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/15367169.watfords-woodside-stadium-to-host-british-milers-club-grand-prix-tomorrow/|title=Watford's Woodside Stadium to host British Milers Club Grand Prix tomorrow|publisher=Watford Observer|date=23 June 2017|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>

==Heritage==
There are 92 nationally [[listed building]]s in Watford. These include [[St. Mary's Church, Watford|St Mary's Church]], which dates to the 12th century, and [[Holy Rood Church, Watford|Holy Rood Church]] which dates to 1890.<ref name=WBC-listed/>

St Mary's is noted for its interior which was renovated in 1850 by the architect [[George Gilbert Scott]] and includes fine oak pews decorated in the [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]] style. It also contains the Essex Chapel, which served at the burial place of the nobility of the Cassiobury Estate, including the [[Earls of Essex]]. The chapel contains a number of large, ornate marble tombs and memorials dating from the 16th century and later, and was described by [[Nikolaus Pevsner|Pevsner]] as "the chief glory of Watford Church".<ref name="pevsner">{{cite book|last1=Pevsner|first1=Nikolaus|last2=revised by Cherry|first2=Bridget|title=The Buildings of England: Hertfordshire|chapter=Watford – Churches|date=2002|publisher=Yale University Press|location=New Haven|isbn=9780300096118|page=385|edition=2nd|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v9nm4_WewXQC&q=pevsner%20hertfordshire&pg=PA385|access-date=30 December 2014}}</ref>

The Roman Catholic Church, Holy Rood, is a much later structure. Built in 1890 by [[John Francis Bentley]], the architect responsible for [[Westminster Cathedral]] in London, it is noted as a particularity fine example of [[Gothic Revival architecture]]. The ornate interior contains stained glass by the designer [[Nathaniel Westlake]].<ref name=NHLE>{{NHLE|num=1101104|desc= Holy Rood Church|access-date=22 May 2017}}</ref>

[[Bushey Arches Viaduct]] is Grade II listed and was built in the 1830s by the London and Birmingham Railway. It crosses a traffic island at the bottom of the Lower High Street.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1101094|desc=Bushey Arches Railway Viaduct|accessdate=17 January 2024}}</ref> A short distance north-west, the [[Colne Viaduct]] crosses the river on the outskirts of town,<ref>{{NHLE|num=1101110|desc=Five Arches Railway Viaduct 200 Metres North of Water Lane|accessdate=23 January 2024}}</ref> after which the railway enters [[Watford Tunnel]]; the south face of the original tunnels is ornately decorated and a listed building.<ref>{{National Heritage List for England |num=1101159 |desc=Watford Tunnel, South Entrance to West Tunnel |accessdate=31 January 2024}}</ref>

There are ten [[Conservation area (United Kingdom)|conservation area]]s in Watford; one Grade II Listed Park, and 240 locally listed buildings.<ref name="local-listing">{{cite web|title=Locally Listed Buildings in Watford|url=http://www.watford.gov.uk/ccm/cms-service/download/asset/?asset_id=29651101|publisher=Watford Borough Council|access-date=13 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305230820/http://www.watford.gov.uk/ccm/cms-service/download/asset/?asset_id=19343002|archive-date=5 March 2012|page=245|date=2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Theatres==
===Watford Palace Theatre===
[[File:Watford Palace Theatre.jpg|thumb|[[Watford Palace Theatre]]]]
The [[Watford Palace Theatre]] opened in 1908 and is the only producing theatre in [[Hertfordshire]]. It presents an annual traditional pantomime, world premières, dance and family shows. Situated just off the High Street, the [[Edwardian architecture|Edwardian]] 600-seat theatre underwent a refurbishment in 2004. The Palace houses its own rehearsal room, wardrobe, café and bar. It also shows films and 'live' and 'as live' streams of opera and ballet during its theatre season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/film-live-delayed-live-screening/|title=Film - Live/ Delayed Live Screening Events|publisher=Watford Palace Theatre|access-date=13 July 2020|archive-date=13 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713220731/https://watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/film-live-delayed-live-screening/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Pump House===
The Pump House Theatre and Arts Centre is based in an old pumping station situated just off the Lower High Street. The building was converted for use as a theatre, with rehearsal rooms, and meeting place for local arts based groups. Current facilities include a 124-seat theatre, rehearsal rooms, and live music venue. Community groups currently meeting at the Pump House include Dance House (children's ballet), Pump House Clog Morris (women's [[Morris dance|Morris dancing]]), Pump House Jazz (jazz club), Open House (live open mic music), Woodside Morris Men (men's Morris dancing), child, youth and adult theatre groups and also the Giggle Inn comedy club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pumphouse.info/|title=The Pump House Theatre & Arts Centre|work=pumphouse.info}}</ref> In 2018, the venue hosted the inaugural Watford Short Film Festival alongside Watford Museum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/16396121.short-film-festival-in-watford/|title=Watford's first ever short film festival takes place this weekend|work=Watford Observer|date=3 August 2018 }}</ref>

===Watford Colosseum===
[[File:Watford Colosseum in February 2020.jpg|thumb|Watford Colosseum was the venue for the [[Snooker Shoot Out]] from 2017–2020.]]
[[Watford Colosseum]] is an entertainment venue in the town. Established in 1938, as the Assembly Rooms for [[Watford Town Hall]], the complex was extended in 2011 with improvements which included new meeting spaces, a new restaurant and new bar facilities. Performers at the venue have included the [[soprano]] [[Maria Callas]] in September 1954<ref name=presto>{{cite web|url=https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7961776--maria-callas-puccini-heroines-and-lyric-arias|title=Maria Callas - Puccini Heroines and Lyric Arias|publisher=Presto Musoc|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref> and the [[tenor]] [[Luciano Pavarotti]] in June 1995.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/1681809.my-time-with-pavarotti/|title=My time with Pavarotti|publisher=Watford Observer|date=12 September 2007|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref> The Colosseum has been used to record various film soundtracks and is regularly used to host concerts by the [[BBC Concert Orchestra]], including ''[[Friday Night is Music Night]]''.<ref name=BBC>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/local/threecounties/hi/front_page/newsid_8878000/8878377.stm |title=Watford Colosseum Refurbishment |work=[[BBC News]] |date=2 August 2010 |publisher=[[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]] |access-date=9 February 2013}}</ref> It has also housed performances by performers including [[The Who]], [[Robbie Williams]], and [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]].<ref name=BBC />

The Colosseum is also an important venue for boxing matches with [[heavyweight]] boxer [[Tyson Fury]] building on his reputation, shortly after turning professional, in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxingscene.com/tyson-fury-hopes-scott-belshaw-shows-up-fight--19952|title=Tyson Fury Hopes Scott Belshaw Shows Up To Fight|publisher=Boxing Scene|date=18 May 2009|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref> The venue also has seen some important and highly popular plays taking place and it regularly holds events in support of charities. The [[2020 Snooker Shoot Out]] professional [[snooker]] tournament was held at the Colosseum between 20 and 23 February 2020.<ref name="snoo_Cale">{{Cite web |title=Calendar 2019/2020 - snooker.org |last=Årdalen |first=Hermund |work=snooker.org |access-date=1 February 2020 |url=http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?template=2 |language=no |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723205846/http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?template=2 |archive-date=23 July 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Museums==
The [[Museum of Watford]] holds a collection of fine art and sculpture which includes works by [[J. M. W. Turner]], Sir [[Joshua Reynolds]], [[William Blake]] and [[Jacob Epstein]]. The museum also hold special collections related to the Cassiobury Estate, Watford Football Club, and local heritage, as well as an archive collection of documents, printed ephemera, photographs and diaries related to Watford townsfolk, local government, nobility and businesses.<ref>{{cite web|title=Watford Museum|url=http://www.watfordmuseum.org.uk/|access-date=16 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141128043254/http://www.watfordmuseum.org.uk/|archive-date=28 November 2014}}</ref> Until 2023, it was housed in a former brewery building on the Lower High Street, but is now temporarily closed while the collection is relocated to [[Watford Town Hall]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Museum Plans {{!}} Watford Town Hall Quarter {{!}} Watford, England |url=https://www.watfordtownhallquarter.com/museum-plans |website=Town Hall Quarter |publisher=Watford Borough Council |access-date=4 November 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251005221357/https://www.watfordtownhallquarter.com/museum-plans |archive-date=5 October 2025 |language=en |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="new museum">{{cite web |title=A New Museum for Watford |url=https://www.watfordtownhallquarter.com/_files/ugd/b57e7b_23eb6a5f10ac44c6b4a74c59768fd6eb.pdf |publisher=Watford Borough Council |access-date=5 November 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240217095016/https://www.watfordtownhallquarter.com/_files/ugd/b57e7b_23eb6a5f10ac44c6b4a74c59768fd6eb.pdf |archive-date=17 February 2024 |date=3 August 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> The museum is planned to reopen to the public by 2026/2027.<ref name="lottery-funding">{{cite web |last1=Tindall |first1=Grace |title=National Lottery funding paves the way for Watford Museum's new chapter in the Town Hall |url=https://www.watford.gov.uk/news/article/663/national-lottery-funding-paves-the-way-for-watford-museums-new-chapter-in-the-town-hall |website=www.watford.gov.uk |publisher=Watford Borough Council |access-date=5 November 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202200426/https://www.watford.gov.uk/news/article/663/national-lottery-funding-paves-the-way-for-watford-museums-new-chapter-in-the-town-hall |archive-date=2 December 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:The Making of Harry Potter 29-05-2012 (7528994480).jpg|thumb|''Making of Harry Potter'' studio tour at Leavesden]]

The Hertfordshire Fire Museum is dedicated to the history of [[firefighting]] in the county. It is based in a purpose-built building at Watford Fire Station. The Museum includes a wide range of vehicles, equipment, uniforms and archive material.<ref>{{cite web|title=Watford Museum: Telling the story of Watford, past and present: Fire Brigade Museum|url=http://fire.watfordmuseum.org.uk/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110115043758/http://fire.watfordmuseum.org.uk/|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 January 2011|website=fire.watfordmuseum.org.uk|access-date=22 May 2017|language=en}}</ref>

[[Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden]] is an 80-hectare film studio complex which has been used for a wide range of Hollywood film productions. Part of the site is open to the public and houses the ''[[Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter]]'', displaying costumes and sets from the [[Harry Potter (film series)|''Harry Potter'' films]] which were produced at Leavesden. The studio complex is to the north of the borough, around {{convert|2.5|mi}} from the town centre, and a special shuttle bus provides a connection from Watford Junction station to the studios.<ref name=wb/>

==Transport==

===Road===
Watford is located {{convert|15|mi}} north-west of [[central London]]. Post [[World War II]] road-building has resulted in Watford being close to several [[Interchange (road)|motorway junction]]s on both the [[M1 motorway]] and the [[M25 motorway|M25 London Orbital Motorway]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.roads.org.uk/motorway/a41/100|title=A41 M25 J20|publisher=Roads.org|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>

===Buses===
Watford is served by a number of different bus operators, including [[Arriva Kent Thameside]], [[Arriva Shires & Essex]], [[Carousel Buses|Carousel]], [[London Sovereign]], Lucketts of Watford, [[Mullanys Coaches]], Red Eagle Buses, Red Rose Travel, [[Sullivan Buses]], [[Uno (bus company)|Uno]] and Vale Travel.<ref>{{cite web|title=Routes, timetables & maps|publisher=Intalink|access-date=8 November 2021|url=https://www.intalink.org.uk/services}}</ref> Oyster Cards are accepted on TfL routes [[London Buses route 142|142]] (towards Brent Cross) and [[London Buses route 258|258]] (towards Harrow) into London. ''Intalink Explorer'' and ''Hertfordshire SaverCard'' are accepted on all but the London Bus routes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/Schools-and-education/Travel-to-school/Savercard/savercard.aspx|title=SaverCard|publisher=Hertfordshire County Council|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>

The hourly [[Green Line bus route 724]] connects Watford Junction station and the town centre to [[London Heathrow Airport]] on weekdays, with a service once every two hours at weekends and on bank holidays.<ref>{{cite web |title=Harlow to London Heathrow Airport |url=https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/herts-and-essex/services/724---harlow-to-london-heathrow-airport/?direction=outbound |website=Arriva |access-date=12 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Regular bus services run between Watford and [[Luton]], but not directly to [[Luton Airport]]. 

===Railway===
[[File:Watford Junction stn Overground signage.JPG|thumb|Watford Junction, the northern terminus of London Overground]]

Watford is served by five railway stations and a [[London Underground]] station. {{stnlnk|Watford Junction}} is on the [[West Coast Main Line]] with trains from {{stnlnk|London Euston}} to the [[The Midlands, England|Midlands]], the [[North-West England|North West]] and Scotland. Journey time to London Euston is typically 16 minutes non-stop. The station is mainly served by frequent suburban and regional trains operated by [[London Northwestern]], which run to {{stnlnk|Tring}} and [[Milton Keynes Central railway station|Milton Keynes]] and the cross-London [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]] service to {{stnlnk|Clapham Junction}} via {{stnlnk|Shepherd's Bush}}. Two all-stations services terminate at Watford Junction: the suburban service operated by [[London Overground]], which runs to Euston; and the [[Abbey Line]] shuttle service to {{stnlnk|St Albans Abbey}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk/destinations-offers/abbey-line|title=Abbey Line|publisher=London Northwestern Railway|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>

The London Overground service from Watford Junction runs south via a suburban loop and stops at {{stnlnk|Watford High Street}}, before continuing via {{stnlnk|Bushey}} to London Euston.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tfl.gov.uk/overground/stop/910GWATFDHS/watford-high-street-rail-station?lineId=london-overground|title=Watford High Street Rail Station|publisher=London Overground|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>

[[Watford tube station]] is the terminus of the Watford branch of [[London Underground]]'s [[Metropolitan line]]. The station is located outside the centre of Watford, close to [[Cassiobury Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tfl.gov.uk/tube/stop/940GZZLUWAF/watford-underground-station?lineId=metropolitan|title=Watford Underground Station|publisher=Transport for London|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>

Direct train services run from Watford Junction to [[Birmingham International station]], for [[Birmingham Airport]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetrainline.com/train-times/watford-junction-to-birmingham-international|title=Trains from Watford Junction to Birmingham International|publisher=Trainline|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>

[[File:Watford railways.png|thumb|Map of railways around Watford (2013)]]
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Stations in Central Watford
|-
! Pic !! Station !! Services !! Notes
|-
| [[File:Watford Junction Railway Station - geograph.org.uk - 23584.jpg|75px]] || {{stnlnk|Watford Junction}}
 || {{rail-interchange|london|rail}} [[National Rail]]<br />
{{rail-interchange|london|overground}} [[London Overground]]
|| West Coast Main Line local and regional services<br />
Abbey Line<br />
Cross-London service to Clapham Junction<br />
Watford DC Line
|-
| [[File:Watford High Street stn building.JPG|75px]] || {{stnlnk|Watford High Street}} || {{rail-interchange|london|overground}} [[London Overground]] || Watford DC Line
|-
| [[File:Watford North entrance.jpg|75px]] || {{stnlnk|Watford North}}|| {{rail-interchange|london|rail}} [[National Rail]] || Abbey Line
|-
| [[File:Garston station east entrance.JPG|75px]] || [[Garston (Hertfordshire) railway station|Garston]]|| {{rail-interchange|london|rail}} [[National Rail]] || Abbey Line
|-
| [[File:Watford Tube Station.JPG|75px]] || [[Watford tube station]] || {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} [[London Underground]] || Metropolitan line
|}

====Abandoned railway schemes====
In 2008, a proposal was made that [[Regional Eurostar]] services could run via Watford to [[Gare du Nord|Paris]] via [[Kensington Olympia]].<ref>{{cite web
| title = Talks held at Parliament Regarding Regional Eurostar | website = www.publications.parliament.uk
| url = https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199899/cmhansrd/vo990519/debtext/90519-08.htm
| access-date = 21 September 2008
}}</ref> In 1999, the [[List of committees of the Parliament of the United Kingdom|Select Committee on Environment, Transport and the Regions]] took the view that Watford was "well placed to become an integrated transport hub" and it recommended that "services from Watford to Paris should commence as soon as possible."<ref>{{cite web
| title = Regional Eurostar services: The Government's Response to the Memorandum of Inquiry by the Select Committee on Environment, Transport and the Regions
| publisher = Department for Transport
| url = http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/legislation/rtsc/regionaleurostarservices
| date = 30 January 2006
| access-date = 21 September 2008
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070717022302/http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/legislation/rtsc/regionaleurostarservices
| archive-date = 17 July 2007
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> The Regional Eurostar scheme eventually came to nothing and was put on hold indefinitely.<ref>{{cite news
| title = Regions 'cheated' over Eurostar | publisher = BBC
| url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/263836.stm
| access-date = 21 September 2008
| date=27 January 1999
}}</ref>

A scheme to introduce [[light rail]] to Watford was conceived in 2009, when it was proposed that the Abbey Line should be converted to [[tram-train]] operation and run by [[Hertfordshire County Council]].<ref name=tram>
{{Cite news
 | last = Lewis
 | first = Alex
 | title = Tram service promised for St Albans to Watford Abbey Flyer rail link
 | newspaper = [[Watford Observer]]
 | location = Watford
 | publisher = [[Newsquest]]
 | date = 30 October 2009
 | url = http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/4710584.Abbey_Flyer_to_become_a_tram/
 | access-date = 20 August 2013
}}</ref> The project was cancelled due to the complications and expense of transferring the line from National Rail to the county council.<ref name=herts-tram>{{cite web|title=Abbey Line Light Rail Proposals|url=http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/transtreets/pubtrans/bustrain/abbeylinerail/|publisher=Hertfordshire County Council|access-date=20 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025073621/http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/transtreets/pubtrans/bustrain/abbeylinerail/|archive-date=25 October 2013}}</ref>

In 2013, the [[Croxley Rail Link]] project was approved to extend the London Underground Metropolitan line to Watford Junction by reinstating a stretch of the former [[Watford and Rickmansworth Railway]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Watford Tube extension approved |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23443173 |access-date=7 November 2018 |work=BBC News |date=24 July 2013}}</ref> As part of the scheme, Watford Metropolitan station would have closed to passengers and been replaced by new stations on the reopened route at {{lus|Cassiobridge}} and {{lus|Watford Vicarage Road}}.<ref name=Croxley>{{cite web|title=Croxley Rail Link|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/2053.aspx|publisher=Transport for London|access-date=8 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325121007/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/2053.aspx|archive-date=25 March 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The project did not go ahead due to funding problems.<ref>{{cite news |title=Watford Tube extension in doubt, MP says |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-42815378 |access-date=7 November 2018 |work=BBC News |date=2018}}</ref>

In August 2014, the transport secretary [[Patrick McLoughlin]] indicated that the government was actively evaluating the extension of [[Crossrail]] as far as {{rws|Tring}}, with potential Crossrail stops at {{stn|Wembley Central}}, {{stn|Harrow & Wealdstone}}, {{rws|Bushey}}, {{rws|Watford Junction}}, {{rws|Kings Langley}}, {{rws|Apsley}}, {{rws|Hemel Hempstead}} and {{rws|Berkhamsted}}.<ref name="Crossrail Tring">{{cite news|title=Crossrail extension to Hertfordshire being considered|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-28680186|access-date=7 August 2014|work=BBC News|date=7 August 2014}}</ref><ref name="guardian-crossrail-0814">{{cite news|last1=Topham|first1=Gwyn|title=New Crossrail route mooted from Hertfordshire into London|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/aug/07/crossrail-hertfordshire-london-euston-tring-hemel-hempstead|access-date=12 August 2014|work=The Guardian|date=7 August 2014}}</ref> This proposal was subsequently shelved in August 2016 due to "poor overall value for money to the taxpayer".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/news/crossrail-off-the-tracks-as-plans-are-shelved-1-7513704|title=Crossrail off the tracks as plans are shelved|work=Hemel Today|publisher=Johnston Publishing|access-date=6 August 2016|date=5 August 2016}}</ref>

===Air===
[[Elstree Airfield]] is {{convert|3|mi|km|0}} east of Watford. Several private charter companies and flying clubs are based there. Watford is the base for 2F (Watford) Squadron, [[Air Training Corps]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.2fsqn.co.uk/|title=WElcome|publisher=2F (Watford) Squadron, Air Training Corps|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>

===Waterways===
[[File:Grand Union Canal look east near Watford.JPG|thumb|The Grand Union Canal, seen from the Metropolitan line]]

Watford is on the main [[Grand Union Canal]] route northwards from London. It now sees little commercial use, since the advent of the motorways, but the canal is used for recreational purposes. The [[River Gade]] and the [[River Colne, Hertfordshire|River Colne]] flow through Watford.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.watford.gov.uk/news/article/839/plans_to_renovate_the_watford_section_of_the_river_colne_are_unveiled|title=Plans to renovate the Watford section of the River Colne are unveiled|publisher=Watford Borough Council|access-date=13 July 2020|archive-date=17 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717013644/https://www.watford.gov.uk/news/article/839/plans_to_renovate_the_watford_section_of_the_river_colne_are_unveiled|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Cycling===
Watford town centre and the surrounding area is relatively compact and the terrain is generally quite flat. Over {{convert|9|mi}} of new cycle routes have been developed in the town since 2003 and a range of cycle maps are available locally. In Watford, cycling to work makes up 2.2% of all journeys compared with 1.6% across the whole of Hertfordshire.<ref>{{cite web|title=Annual Monitoring Report|url=http://www.watford.gov.uk/ccm/content/planning-and-development/watford-annual-monitoring-report-2013.en|access-date=22 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018120108/http://www.watford.gov.uk/ccm/content/planning-and-development/watford-annual-monitoring-report-2013.en|archive-date=18 October 2015}}</ref>

[[National Cycle Route 6|National Cycle Routes 6]] and [[National Cycle Route 61|61]] run across the eastern and southern sides of the town, using the off-road Ebury Way and Abbey Way. There is a continuous cycle route through the north–south axis of the town centre, including the pedestrianised parts along The Parade and High Street. Cycle parking is provided at intermittent points in the town centre and at local centres in the wider town.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whatsoninwatford.com/cycling/|title=Cycling in Watford|publisher=What's on in Watford|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>

===''North of Watford'' expression===
There is an expression, ''North of Watford'', meaning locations north of [[Greater London]].<ref>{{cite web|title=North of Watford|publisher= Longman Dictionary |url=https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/north-of-watford}}</ref> Alternatively, ''North of Watford Junction'' was used with similar meaning referring to [[Watford Junction railway station]]'s position as the last urban stop on the main railway line out of Euston.<ref>Birmingham Daily Post, 8 May 1967</ref><ref>Birmingham Daily Post, 29 December 1970</ref><ref>Liverpool Echo, 1 January 1972</ref> The phrase's original use pre-dates the M1 motorway's [[Watford Gap services]],<ref>Manchester Evening News, 23 May 1949</ref><ref>Staffordshire Sentinel, 7 November 1950</ref><ref>Birmingham Daily Gazette, 4 February 1953</ref> but current use may refer to either Watford or the Watford Gap services.<ref>Brandon Robshaw,"North of Watford Gap" 2017 https://brandonrobshaw.wordpress.com/2017/08/07/north-of-watford-gap/</ref>

==Education==
[[File:Watford Free School.jpg|thumb|Watford Free School, built 1705, closed 1882]]
{{See also|Watford Grammar School for Boys#History of the Watford Grammar Schools}}

The earliest records of schooling in Watford are of a schoolmaster named George Redhead in 1595, and of a Free School receiving an annual donation of £10 in 1640. The school consisted of "a room over two houses belonging to the Church Estate, nearest the churchyard."<ref name="Lewis" /> In 1704, [[Elizabeth Fuller (school founder)|Elizabeth Fuller]] of Watford Place built a new Free School for forty boys and twenty girls on her land next to the churchyard, with rooms for a master and a mistress.<ref name="Page-Introduction" /> In the mid-19th century, the recorded schools in Watford were Fuller's Free School, by now in a poor state, and the separate boys and girls [[National school (England and Wales)|national schools]] of St Mary's in Church Street. All offered elementary education.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UcSQCgAAQBAJ&pg=PR62 |title=Watford: A History|first=Mary |last=Forsyth|publisher=The History Press|year=2015|isbn= 978-0-7509-6159-2}}</ref>

The Free School closed in 1882, and its endowment contributed to founding the Watford Endowed Schools, which provided secondary education and charged fees.<ref name="Carter">{{cite journal |title=Mrs. Fuller's Free School |author=W.R. Carter |journal=Watford Endowed Schools Journal |volume=3 |year=1894}}</ref> After these schools, now called the [[Watford Grammar School for Boys]] and the [[Watford Grammar School for Girls]], moved to new sites in 1907 and 1912, the building housed the Watford [[Central school]], which taught pupils up to the age of 14. St Mary's National Schools closed in 1922, and the site is now a car park.<ref>{{cite book |title=A History of Elementary Education in Watford 1704–1903 |author=R.E. Slinn |publisher=University of London Institute of Education |year=1957}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The Book of Watford: A portrait of our town |author=J.B. and L.V. Nunn |edition=2nd |year=2003}}</ref> The [[London Orphan Asylum]], later Reed's School, was located near [[Watford Junction station]] between 1871 and 1940.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/elmbridge/11057891.Queen_and_Duke_of_Edinburgh_to_visit_Reed_s_School_today/|title=Queen and Duke of Edinburgh to visit Reed's School today|website=Surrey Comet|date=6 March 2014 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306180632/http://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/elmbridge/11057891.Queen_and_Duke_of_Edinburgh_to_visit_Reed_s_School_today/|archive-date=6 March 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The only independent secondary school in the borough is [[Stanborough School, Watford|Stanborough School]], a day and boarding school operated by the [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]]. There are several independent schools nearby, including [[Purcell School]], a specialist music school.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Murray |first=Nigel, and Cox, Neil |title=States of Independence |journal=The Musical Times |volume=135 |issue=1814 |pages=247–248 |date=April 1994 |doi=10.2307/1002780 |jstor=1002780 |author2=Cox, Neil |publisher=Musical Times Publications Ltd.}}</ref>

All the state-funded [[primary schools in Watford]] are [[Mixed-sex education|co-educational]]. Under an earlier system, schools were divided into infant schools, covering Reception and Years 1 and 2, and junior schools, covering Years 3 to 6. Most such schools have amalgamated to form Junior Mixed Infant schools or (equivalently) primary schools, and all new schools are of this type.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://niceareas.co.uk/best-primary-schools/in/watford/|title=Best Primary Schools in Watford, East of England|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>

Although all state-funded secondary schools in [[Hertfordshire]] are [[comprehensive school|comprehensive]], there is a great deal of differentiation in the southwestern corner of the county, centred on Watford but also including most of the [[Three Rivers (district)|Three Rivers]] district and [[Bushey]] in [[Hertsmere]] district.
Within this area, there are:<ref name="Moving On">[http://www.hertsdirect.org/scholearn/admissions/movingon/ Moving On – Applying for a Secondary or Upper School place] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516210949/http://www.hertsdirect.org/scholearn/admissions/movingon/ |date=16 May 2008 }}, Hertfordshire County Council, 2007.</ref>

*[[partially selective school (England)|partially selective schools]], which offer a proportion of places according to ability or aptitude, and the rest to siblings or those living near the school: [[Parmiter's School]], [[Queens' School]], [[Rickmansworth School]], [[St Clement Danes School]], [[Watford Grammar School for Boys]] and [[Watford Grammar School for Girls]].
*[[Bushey Meads School]], which selects 10% for technological aptitude and uses banded admissions to ensure a comprehensive intake for the remainder.
*non-selective [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] schools, whose intake is evenly spread: [[St Joan of Arc Catholic School, Rickmansworth|St Joan of Arc Catholic School]] and [[St Michael's Catholic High School]].<ref>[[Ofsted]] reports for these schools describe their intake.</ref>
*other non-selective schools, whose intake is markedly affected by the above partially selective schools: [[Future Academies Watford]], [[The Grange Academy, Bushey|The Grange Academy]] and [[Westfield Academy]].<ref>[[Ofsted]] reports for these schools discuss the effect on their intake.</ref>
*[[Falconer School]], a school for boys with emotional and behavioural difficulties.
*[[University technical college|University Technical College]]: [[The Watford UTC]] was a school for 14–19 year olds that operated between 2014 and 2023.

The partially selective schools and [[Bushey Meads School]] operate common admissions tests in mathematics and non-verbal reasoning each autumn. In addition to those seeking selective places, all applicants to Bushey Meads and [[Queens' School]] are required to take the tests, so they are taken by the majority of Year 6 children in the area. The partially selective schools also operate a common test and audition procedure to select children for specialist music places.<ref name="Moving On" />

Results achieved by the schools at [[GCSE]] are also widely spread, including the three highest and the two lowest scoring state schools within [[Hertfordshire]].<ref>[http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/cgi-bin/performancetables/group_07.pl?Mode=Z&No=919&Base=b&Type=LA&Phase=1&Year=07&F=51&L=100 Hertfordshire: GCSE (and equivalent) results] {{webarchive|url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100913055009/http%3A//www.dcsf.gov.uk/cgi%2Dbin/performancetables/group_07.pl?Mode%3DZ%26Type%3DLA%26No%3D919%26Base%3Db%26Year%3D07%26Phase%3D1%26F%3D51%26L%3D100 |date=13 September 2010}}, Secondary School achievement and attainment tables 2007, [[Department for Children, Schools and Families]].</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Secondary schools in Hertfordshire: GCSE-level |agency=BBC News |date=10 January 2008 |access-date=3 June 2008 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/education/07/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/919_gcse_lea.stm}}</ref> The area also has by far the highest incidence in the county of children allocated to schools to which they had not applied.<ref>[http://www.hertsdirect.org/infobase/docs/pdfstore/agen4adup.pdf Admissions Update 2007] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924025955/http://www.hertsdirect.org/infobase/docs/pdfstore/agen4adup.pdf |date=24 September 2015}}, Agenda Item No. 4, Hertfordshire County Council Admissions Forum, 14 June 2007.</ref>

The Watford Campus of [[West Herts College]] is the only grade 1 further education college in the United Kingdom according to a 2011 [[Ofsted]] report. The [[Centre for Missional Leadership]] (CML) is the Watford branch of the [[London School of Theology]], Europe's largest evangelical theological college.<ref>Journal LST Insight Autumn 2009, p. 2.</ref>

==Media==
===Television===
Watford is within the [[BBC London]] and [[ITV London]] region. Television signals are received from the [[Crystal Palace transmitting station|Crystal Palace]] TV transmitter<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Crystal_Palace|title=Full Freeview on the Crystal Palace (Greater London, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=9 November 2023}}</ref> and the local relay transmitter situated in [[Hemel Hempstead]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Hemel_Hempstead|title=Full Freeview on the Hemel Hempstead (Hertfordshire, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=9 November 2023}}</ref>
===Radio===
Local radio stations are [[BBC Three Counties Radio]] on 92.1 FM, [[Heart Hertfordshire]] has its studios in The Metro Centre in the town which broadcast on 96.6 FM and community based stations: Vibe 107.6<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.vibe1076.co.uk/ |title=Vibe 107.6 |access-date=9 November 2023}}</ref> on 107.6 FM and Watford Hospital Radio known as The Pulse Hospital Radio broadcasts to patients from the [[Watford General Hospital]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thepulsehr.co.uk/|title=The Pulse Hospital Radio  |access-date=9 November 2023}}</ref>
===Newspapers===
The ''[[Watford Observer]]'' is the town's local weekly newspaper.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-eang/watford-observer/|title=Watford Observer|date=30 October 2013|website=British Papers|accessdate=9 November 2023}}</ref>

==Sport==
[[File:Vicarage Road 2015.jpg|right|thumb|[[Vicarage Road]], home of [[Watford FC]] in 2015]]

The professional football team [[Watford F.C.]] competes in the [[EFL Championship]] in the [[2025–26 EFL Championship|2025–2026 season]]. Watford reached the [[1984 FA Cup Final|1984]] and [[2019 FA Cup Final|2019]] FA Cup Finals, also finishing as league Division One (now the [[Premier League]]) runners-up in [[1982–83 in English football|1983]]. They were relegated from Division One in 1988. In 1996, Watford was relegated from the new Division One (now the [[Football League Championship]]). Watford won the then [[Football League Second Division|Nationwide Division Two]] championship in 1998, then the following season (1998–99) reached the Premier League. The club was relegated the next season. After five years, Watford won the [[Football League Championship]] play-off final achieving promotion to the Premier League in 2006, this time beating [[Leeds United FC]] by three goals to nil.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/4771857.stm|title=Leeds 0-3 Watford|publisher=BBC News|date=21 May 2006}}</ref>

The club was relegated to the Football League Championship after a single season ([[2006–07 FA Premier League|2006–2007]]) in the Premier League. It was promoted to the Premier League in 2015, after finishing second in the Championship. The singer-songwriter, Sir [[Elton John]], is a keen, long-term supporter of Watford FC and a former club chairman. He still maintains his links with Watford as Honorary Life President.<ref>[http://www.watfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/History/0,,10400~65917,00.html They Shaped the Club] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203170637/http://www.watfordfc.com/page/History/0%2C%2C10400~65917%2C00.html |date=3 December 2008}}", Watford F.C. History, 3 February 2008.</ref> Between 1997 and 2013, the club shared its ground, [[Vicarage Road]], with [[Saracens FC|Saracens Rugby Football Club]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/rugby-football-collide-groundsharing-work-7801739|title=When rugby and football collide: does groundsharing work?|work=Coventry Telegraph|date=19 September 2014|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>

Other sports teams include  a [[non-League football]] team, [[Sun Sports FC]], which plays at The Sun Postal Sports & Social Club, the [[Watford Cheetahs]], an American football team which played home games at Fullerians RFC between 2008 and 2012, Glen Rovers, who play both hurling and [[Gaelic Athletic Association|Gaelic football]], and Watford Town Cricket Club.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.watfordtowncricketclub.com/|title=Welcome|publisher=Watford Town Cricket Club|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>

==Notable people==
{{main|List of people from Watford}}

==Freedom of the Borough==
The following people and military units have received the [[Freedom of the City|Freedom of the Borough]] of Watford.

===Individuals===
* [[George Villiers, 6th Earl of Clarendon]]: 28 July 1924.<ref name=who>{{cite web|url=https://www.watford.gov.uk/info/20017/councillors_and_decision_making/126/who_is_the_chairman/4|title=Who is the Chairman?|first=Watford Borough|last=Council|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=6 January 2020|archive-date=11 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311064655/https://www.watford.gov.uk/info/20017/councillors_and_decision_making/126/who_is_the_chairman/4|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Dennis Herbert, 1st Baron Hemingford]]: 22 March 1943.<ref name=who/>
* [[Elton John|Sir Elton John]]: 6 October 1977.<ref name=who/>
* [[Raphael Tuck|Sir Raphael Tuck]]: 15 November 1980.<ref name=who/>
* [[Graham Taylor]]: 25 June 2001.<ref name=who/>
* [[Luther Blissett]]: 18 October 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/19150245.watford-legend-luther-blissett-made-freeman-borough/|title=Watford legend Luther Blissett made Freeman of the borough|website=Watford Observer|date=10 March 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-56359137|title=Luther Blissett: Ex-Watford striker given freedom of the town|work=BBC News|date=11 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/19665674.luther-blissett-worthy-recipient-freedom-watford/ |title=Luther Blissett a worthy recipient of the Freedom of Watford  |last= |first= |date=23 October 2021 |website=The Watford Observer |publisher= |access-date=24 October 2021 |quote=}}</ref>

===Military Units===
* [[1st East Anglian Regiment]]: 1959.<ref name=who/>
* [[Royal Anglian Regiment]]: 1964.<ref name=who/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|Watford|voy=Watford|commonscat=yes}}
*[http://www.watford.gov.uk/ Watford Borough Council]
*[http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk ''Watford Observer'' newspaper]
*[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/place_page.jsp?p_id=1026&st=watford Watford, Hertfordshire], [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/ A Vision of Britain Through Time], Department of Geography, [[University of Portsmouth]]
*[http://www.hertfordshire-genealogy.co.uk/links/watford.htm Watford Genealogy on ''A Guide to Old Hertfordshire'']

{{Watford}}
{{Hertfordshire}}
{{East of England}}
{{Civil parishes of Hertfordshire}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Watford| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Hertfordshire]]
[[Category:Market towns in Hertfordshire]]
[[Category:Districts of Hertfordshire]]
[[Category:Unparished areas in Hertfordshire]]
[[Category:Boroughs in England]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in Hertfordshire]]