Located in West Hertfordshire in the borough of Dacorum, Hemel Hempstead is approximately 30 miles northwest of London and has a population of around 80,000 people. The 'New Town' benefits from excellent transport links to the Capital, including a direct rail link to Euston.

Hemel Hempstead is unlike most New Towns, in that it is built around historic settlement around St. Mary's Church, which dates from around 1150 AD. The High Street also exhibits evidence of its history, with a number or 17th and 18th century houses. The New Town benefits from an undercover shopping mall, parkland and the Watergardens.

A popular market is located in Hemel, operating from Thursday to Sunday and an antique market is open on Wednesdays.

Hemel Hempstead is well known for its 'Magic Roundabout' (formally known as the Plough Roundabout), which allows traffic to go around it in both directions.

River Gade runs through Hemel Hempstead and joins the Grand Union Canal in the south of the side, where the River Bulbourne also joins it.

Hemel Hempstead is also a major industrial and commercial area, and is home to a number of major international companies including Kodak. The Maylands Industrial Estate is home to hundreds of companies including Bio-Rad Microscience, Epson, Eurotech and Xansa.