Harlow
Harlow is a popular new town in Essex, which being near the M11 motorway forms part of the London commuter belt.
It is the location of Britain's first pedestrian precinct and featured the first modern-style residential tower block, The Lawn, constructed in 1951.
The Lawn is now a Grade II listed building.
Harlow was also the site of the UK's first purpose-built sports centre, Harlow Sports Centre, in 1960.
The high street offers a great range of family friendly restaurants and pubs and the residents and businesses alike do a great deal to encourage the atmosphere of belonging to a community, including holding a regular farmers market in the high street which attracts many varied stalls offering a fair selection of meats, cheeses and other fine produce.
For those who wish to travel further afield there are dining, shopping and cinema facilities also available at the many out of town trading centres which are all within five minutes easy driving distance.
For non drivers Harlow is well serviced by two railway stations, Harlow Town railway station and Harlow Mill railway station, from which most places are accessible and there is an extensive bus network which serves as a regional hub for the local area, with operators such as Arriva East Herts & Essex, SM Coaches, Roadrunner Coaches, Centrebus, and TWH Bus & Coach.
For drivers, Harlow can reached from junction 7 of the M11 motorway, which runs from London to Cambridge, placing it within a short distance of Stansted Airport and the A120 and the orbital M25 motorway. Running through the town is the A414, a major road from Hertford to Chelmsford and linking the town with the A10 to the west.
