Hemel Hempstead

Hemel Hempstead
Town
The old town centre The new town centre
Hemel Hempstead Location within Hertfordshire
Population	95,961 (2021 Census)[1]
OS grid reference	TL 056 071
District	Dacorum
Shire county	Hertfordshire
Region	East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	HEMEL HEMPSTEAD
Postcode district	HP1, HP2, HP3
Dialling code	01442
Police	Hertfordshire
Fire	Hertfordshire
Ambulance	East of England
UK Parliament	Hemel Hempstead
List of places UK England Hertfordshire 51°45′09″N 0°28′09″W / 51.7526°N 0.4692°W / 51.7526; -0.4692

Hemel Hempstead (/ˌhɛməl ˈhɛmpstɪd/) is a town in the Dacorum district in Hertfordshire, England. It is located 24 miles (39 km) north-west of London; nearby towns include Watford, St Albans and Berkhamsted. The population at the 2021 census was 95,961.^[1]

Hemel Hempstead has existed since at least the 8th century and was granted its town charter by Henry VIII in 1539. However, it has expanded and developed in recent decades after being designated as a new town after the end of the Second World War.