Harpenden is a town in City and District of St Albans, Hertfordshire.

Its population is approximately 27,600 (2001 Census).

Harpenden is on a fast rail link to central London King's Cross Thameslink. Some of the trains stop at 'all stations' on the route, others stop at St Albans before continuing non-stop to London. The rail link gives direct access to London Luton Airport (one stop north) and London Gatwick Airport (approx 1hr 40m) (Note: in late 2004/early 2005 the Gatwick link is broken while work on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and its St Pancras terminal is completed).

In common with much of South East England, Harpenden is an area of high property costs. Land Registry data indicates average house prices in St Albans District at £318.695 in the 3rd quarter of 2004, against a south east average of £227,991. Reliable data does not exist at the town level.

Twinning

Harpenden is twinned with:

• Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire , France
• Alzey, Germany

Miscellany

• The Rothamsted Experimental Station is in Harpenden.

Notable residents

• Stanley Kubrick lived and died in nearby Childwickbury Manor.
• In 1892 Harpenden was the birthplace of the visionary poet Ralph Chubb.
• Football commentator John Motson
• Red Dwarf actor Craig Charles
• Former Arsenal footballer Lee Dixon
• Late comedian Eric Morecambe
• Martin Gore from the band Depeche Mode