Watford

Watford shown within Hertfordshire

Arms

Arms of Watford Borough Council

Watford is a town and district in Hertfordshire, England about 20 miles northwest of the centre of London. Unlike most English districts, its council is led by a directly-elected mayor, currently Dorothy Thornhill.

Watford is within the M25 motorway and practically part of the London urban area, with the Watford tube station at the outer edge of the London Underground system. There are faster trains to central London from Watford Junction.

The phrase 'North of Watford' is widely used to describe areas of the United Kingdom that are north of London. This is possibly because Watford was the first place that horses were changed on the route to the north-west from London, though it may also be because Watford is frequently mistaken, in the context of this phrase, for Watford Gap, a village about 50 miles further north, which traditionally was an important waypoint on the old east-west and north-south coaching routes.

Watford has 80,000 inhabitants and a professional football club, Watford F.C, which is currently in division one. Saracens Rugby Club moved to Watford and shares the same ground.

As of October, 2003, Watford's MP is Clare Ward (Labour).

External Links

• Watford history
• Watford Borough Council