Hemel Hempstead, Planned town in Dacorum, England
Hemel Hempstead occupies the Gade Valley in Hertfordshire and spreads over gentle slopes, with the center surrounded by multiple residential zones. The layout follows a postwar design, where wide roads link different housing areas to the commercial core and green corridors run between built-up sections.
The village appeared in the Domesday Book under the name Hamelamestede and received a royal charter from Henry VIII in 1539. After World War II, the settlement was chosen as one of the new towns and expanded heavily over the following decades to accommodate families from London.
The parish church of St Mary's, constructed in 1140, stands as a central gathering point with one of the tallest spires in Europe.
The place offers several train connections toward London and works well for day trips into the surrounding countryside. Most facilities in the center are within easy walking distance, and car parks are available in several commercial zones.
The road junction in the town center consists of six small roundabouts enclosing a seventh circle in the middle, allowing drivers to travel in both directions. Locals call this arrangement the Magic Roundabout, and it serves as a landmark for visitors and residents alike.
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