PYRTPlan Your Road Trips
Create TripCommunityMerchandise
PYRTPlan Your Road Trips
Create TripCommunityMerchandise
Daffodils at the eastern end of Cassiobury Park, Watford, Hertfordshire, UK
Photo of Watford
Clarendon Road connects Watford town centre with Watford Junction station and is mostly lined with office blocks. In this view the Holiday Inn is on the left; the bridge connecting two parts of the TJX headquarters is a relatively new feature having appeared in 2020.
Photo by Cathy Cox
Destinations
Home›Destinations›Watford
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland

Watford

England, United Kingdom · Europe

About Watford

Watford works well as a base: 5 minutes from Garston, 21km from ZSL London Zoo.

Watford is a city located in England, United Kingdom. With a population of 125,707, it is an important destination in Europe.

On a road trip, Watford sits in United Kingdom, where you drive on the left. It's in the Europe/London time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Watford to your route.

About Watford

Watford ( ) is a town and non-metropolitan district with borough status in Hertfordshire, England, 15 miles (24 km) northwest of Central London, on the banks of the River Colne. Initially a small market town, the creation of the Grand Junction Canal during the Industrial Revolution encouraged the construction of

Read more paper-making mills, print works, and 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 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 in the 16th century. This was partly rebuilt in the 17th century and another country house was built at The Grove.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Watford

Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.

Filter presets

Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.

Booking.comExpediaTripAdvisorHotels.comAgodaAirbnb

Compare before you book!

Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Watford.

Explore the Area

Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Watford.

Loading map...
Open in Google Maps

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Watford?

Watford offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Watford?

Plan your road trip to Watford with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Watford as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Watford located?

Watford is located in England, United Kingdom, Europe. The coordinates are 51.6553 latitude, -0.3960 longitude.

What is the population of Watford?

Watford has a population of approximately 125,707 people, making it a city in United Kingdom.

Plan a Road Trip

Add to your itinerary

Start planning your road trip with Watford as a destination. Create a custom route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Start Road Trip

What's Nearby?

Discover destinations like Tinder

Swipe through stunning destinations near Watford. Save your favourites and add them to your trip.

Explore now

Quick Information

Population
125,707
Continent
Europe
Country
United Kingdom
Region
England
Timezone
Europe/London
Coordinates
51.6553, -0.3960

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in United Kingdom

Police
999
Ambulance
999
Fire
999
Non-emergency police
101
Driving side
left

112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.

Full driving guide for United Kingdom

Tags

EuropeUnited KingdomEnglandCity

Worth the detour from Watford

8 notable places within an hour's drive.

film location

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - Making of Harry Potter

The Leavesden studios where all eight films were shot; the tour preserves the original Great Hall, Diagon Alley and Hogwarts Express sets.

4 km · about 10 min drive

cafe

Ace Cafe London

The 1938 North Circular roadside cafe that became the home of the ton-up boys and rocker culture, reopened on its original site in 1997 and still holding weekly bike and classic car meets.

15 km · about 30 min drive

film location

Burnham Beeches (Robin Hood, Harry Potter, Sleepy Hollow)

The ancient pollarded beech woodland close to Pinewood Studios is one of Britain's most-filmed forests.

19 km · about 20 min drive

film location

Stoke Park, Buckinghamshire (Goldfinger golf match)

The Palladian clubhouse and course hosted the celebrated golf match between Bond and Goldfinger, and reappeared in Tomorrow Never Dies.

20 km · about 25 min drive

film location

The Blue Door, Notting Hill

The doorway of William Thacker's flat at 280 Westbourne Park Road in the film Notting Hill, a short walk from Portobello Road market.

20 km · about 25 min drive

landmark

ZSL London Zoo

The world's oldest scientific zoo, opened in 1828, located in Regent's Park in central London.

21 km · about 25 min drive

museum

Science Museum London

Home to pioneering scientific achievements including Stephenson's Rocket and the Apollo 10 command module.

23 km · about 25 min drive

museum

Natural History Museum

World-renowned museum in a stunning Romanesque terracotta building, housing 80 million specimens spanning 4.5 billion years of life on Earth.

23 km · about 25 min drive

Driving in United Kingdom

Drives on
the left
Petrol
~€1.73/litre
Motorway tolls
None

When to drive here

April to October

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Watford.

Holywell

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

2 km awayPop. 9,900

Bushey

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

3 km awayPop. 28,416

North Watford

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

3 km awayPop. 33,000

Garston

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

4 km awayPop. 7,300

Moor Park

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

4 km awayPop. 5,900

Woodside

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

4 km awayPop. 8,000

Croxley Green

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

4 km awayPop. 13,500

Northwood

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

5 km awayPop. 11,300

Plan a trip around Watford

United Kingdom road trip planner

Plan a Road Trip from Watford

Create your perfect itinerary with our calendar-based planner. Add stops, discover attractions along the way, and share your trip with friends.

Start Planning
PYRT

The ultimate road trip planning platform. Discover 150,000+ destinations worldwide, plan scenic routes, and create unforgettable adventures.

Inspiration

  • Discover Trips
  • Travel Guides
  • Community

The Product

  • Calendar Planner
  • Integrations
  • How It Works
  • Collaboration Mode
  • Get the App
  • Merchandise: PYRT Supply Co.
  • Become a Creator
  • Trip Marketplace

Plan Your Trip

  • Road Trip Planner
  • Famous Routes
  • Drive Times & Distances
  • Planners by Country
  • Best Road Trip Planner App
  • Discover Road Trips
  • Events
  • Travel Guides
  • How It Works
  • My Trips
  • Community Groups

Company

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Support
  • Contact Us
  • Sign In
  • Create Account

© 2026 Plan Your Road Trips. All rights reserved.

•[email protected]
Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence