Watford
Watford est une ville de la banlieue Londonienne situee a 19 miles soit 30 km au Nord ouest de Londres. Cette ville se trouve dans le district (un district est l'equivalent de nos departements Francais) de Hertforshire au Nord du Greater London . Elle compte 121 000 habitants pour 55,5 km2.
Ma logeuse m'a expliquee que si lors de l'attentat du 11 Septembre, l'economie n'a pas ete totalement bloquee, c'est parce que les entreprises Americaines avaient un deuxieme siege social en dehors de New York ou les informations etaient transferees afin d'avoir toutes les informations a deux endroits. Les Anglais ont mis en place la meme organisation car ils sont effrayes par la possibilitee d'un attentat. Or pour beaucoup d'entreprise ce deuxieme siege est a Watford. Watford est donc une ville economiquement attractive avec ces deux immenses business park. On y trouve le siège social d'un certain nombre de sociétés nationales telles que Camelot Group, opérateur de la Loterie Nationale, Iveco, les fabricants de vehicules commerciaux; Haden Young, la division de services de la construction Balfour Beatty; Bathstore, le plus grand détaillant de salle de bain au Royaume-Uni, l'entreprise de construction Taylor Woodrow et Mothercare, sont situés dans la ville. On y trouve aussi la base de nombreuses multi-nationales comme Total Oil, Sanyo, TK Maxx, Costco, Vinci, et Beko.
Le centre commercial "Harlequin" a ouvert en 1992 et regroupe 140 magasins et est une des principales attractions de la ville.
La rue pricipale de Watford "high street" est l'endroit des sorties nocturnes des habitants de Watford grace a sa concentration de pubs, bars et boites de nuit.
Watford est aussi attractif de par son equipe de foot et son stade. En effet, l'equipe de Watford a ete plusieurs fois en final de la FA Cup.
Watford est deservie par le Overground permettant un acces facile et rapide (seulement 15 min) a Londres.
Vivre a Watford permet donc de profiter des avantages de Londres (acces rapide, attractivite due a la proximite de la capitale ect...) sans en avoir les inconvenients (le metro le matin, l'insecurite ect...).
Watford is a town in the London suburb located 19 miles or 30 km northwest of London. It is situated in the district (a district is the equivalent of our French regions) Hertfordshire on the North of Greater London. It has 121 000 inhabitants for 55.5 km2.
My landlady told me that if after the attack of September 11 the economy wasn't completely blocked, it was because U.S. companies had a second head office outside New York where informations were transferred to have all information in two places. English people have set up the same organization, because they are frightened by the possibility of an attack. But for many companies this second siege is in Watford. Watford is a city economically attractive with both immences business park. It contains the headquarters of a number of national companies such as Camelot Group, operator of the National Lottery, Iveco, the commercial vehicle manufacturers, Haden Young, the services division of Balfour Beatty Construction; Bathstore, the most large bathroom retailer in the UK, the construction company Taylor Woodrow and Mothercare are located in the city. There is also the UK base of many multi-national companies such as Total Oil, Sanyo, TK Maxx, Costco, Vinci, and Beko.
The shopping center "Harlequin" was opened in 1992 and now has 140 stores and is one of the main attractions in Watford.
The main street "high street" is the main focus of activity at night having a high concentration of the town's bars, clubs and pubs.
Watford is also attractive for its football team and its stadium. Indeed, the Watford team was several times in the final of the FA Cup.
The Overground deserves Watford and allows quick and easy access (only 15 min) to London.
Living in Watford thus the benefits of London (quick access, attractiveness due to the proximity of the capital ect ...) without the drawbacks (the metro in the morning, unsafety ect ...).