Area Guide: The affluent Hertfordshire village of Welwyn

To distinguish it from WGC, this pretty area is sometimes referred to as 'Old Welwyn' or Welwyn Village', and is a much sought after place to live.

Obviously living somewhere this lovely doesn't come cheap - in 2013 Welwyn was named the 10th most expensive place to buy property outside of London by Zoopla.

According to Rightmove Welwyn had an overall average price of £658,790 over the last year. 

Homes currently on the market in the village include a £1.2m four-bedroom semi-detached property at Harmer Green Lane and a five-bedroom semi-detached property for £900,000 at Butterwick Way. 

History 

The name of the village derives from 'welig', which is an Old English word meaning 'willow'. This refers to the trees that border the banks of the River Mimram, which flows through the village.

Welwyn was once a major coaching route stop, and was a town in its own right on par with Hatfield and Stevenage.

However it gradually lost its importance after the construction of the Great Northern Railway, which bypasses the village.

Schools  

Schools in the village include Welwyn St Mary's Church of England Primary School, off London Road, which caters to children from age four to 11.

Although the school itself dates back to 1749, the current site is relatively new, having been built as a secondary modern in 1940.

The school received an 'outstanding' rating at its latest Ofsted inspection.

There are secondary state schools in surrounding towns, including Monk's Walk and Stanborough schools in Welwyn Garden City, both of which are rated 'good'.

Another option on the outskirts of Welwyn is independent co-educational school Sherrardswood, which caters for students aged from two to 18 years.   

Transport

Welwyn's nearest railway station is Welwyn North, which is in Digswell.

Trains run every 30 minutes from Welwyn North to London, Hitchin and Stevenage, with an hourly connection to Letchworth, Cambridge and Peterborough.

Buses also provide a regular service to Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage, St Albans, Hemel Hempstead and Hatfield.  

Welwyn is easily accessible by car, due to its location just off the A1(M).

Food and drink  

Welwyn is home to an excellent range of restaurants and pubs. These include popular gastropubs The White Horse and Red Lion, as well as the Grade II* listed Rose and Crown - which has its own sports bar and heated garden pods. 

The Wellington in Welwyn (Image: Danny Loo)

For a more traditional option there is The Wellington - also known as 'The Welly' - a former coaching inn dating back to the 14th century, which now doubles up as a hotel and restaurant. 

The Steamer pub has also reopened in the village. 

Sport and leisure  

For a small village, Welwyn has a lot to offer in terms of sporting facilities, including a tennis club, sports and social club, bowls club and cricket pitch.

The Civic Centre is a popular venue available to hire for events, with a stage and lighting system in the main hall. There is also an additional smaller hall which is suitable for more intimate gatherings. 

Meanwhile the Welwyn Roman Baths date back to the third century, and offer a fascinating insight into the history of the area. 

The ruins were discovered in the 1960s by local archaeologist Tony Rook, and were uncovered following a decade of excavation work.

Today the Welwyn Roman Baths are situated beneath the A1(M) and are open to the public every Saturday between 12 and 4pm. 

Welwyn Festival Week has been held annually each June since 1974, and features 10 days of fun activities - including a street market, an art exhibition and a costume parade.  

The festival brings residents of all ages together to celebrate the village's heritage while raising money for good causes in the community. 

This area guide is sponsored by Frost's, who have offices in St Albans, Marshalswick, Wheathampstead and Harpenden (Image: Frost's)