Local authority district in Hertfordshire, England
| Coordinates: | 51.77, -0.57 |
|---|---|
| OS grid ref: | SP 98 08 |
Dacorum sits in western Hertfordshire, tucked against the scarp of the Chiltern Hills and within easy reach of London. The district blends the built-up new‑town area around Hemel Hempstead with historic market towns such as Berkhamsted and Tring, plus a patchwork of greenbelt countryside, reservoirs and important waterways like the Grand Union Canal.
The area has deep historic roots - medieval hundreds, Norman castles (notably at Berkhamsted) and the Rothschild estates around Tring have left a distinctive mark, including the famous Natural History Museum at Tring and the extensive Ashridge woodlands and parkland. Local high streets, community arts venues and annual festivals keep a lively cultural scene alongside plentiful walking and cycling routes.
Economically Dacorum combines commuter living for London with local industry, retail centres and light manufacturing; the post‑war designation of Hemel Hempstead as a new town shaped much of its housing and business profile. Good rail and road links, a mix of affluent villages and more modest suburbs, and ongoing regeneration efforts make it a popular and varied part of the Home Counties.