Harlow is a local authority district in Essex centred on the post‑war new town created after 1947 to house overspill from East London. It sits in the Stort valley with the River Stort running through a series of green wedges and parks - Harlow Town Park is a popular focal point - while nearby Old Harlow preserves a historic High Street and medieval church that contrast with the modernist layout of the new town.
The district is famous for its ambitious modernist planning by Sir Frederick Gibberd and an unusually large public collection of modern sculpture, alongside the Gibberd Garden and Harlow Museum. The local economy mixes light industry, a growing science and tech cluster around Harlow Science Park, and retail and leisure centred on the Harvey Centre and Harlow Playhouse, while good road and rail links make it a significant commuter base for London; regeneration and diverse communities continue to shape the area today.