Berkhamsted is a medium-sized historic market town within the western border of the English county of Hertfordshire. Situated within the little Bulbourne Valley in the Chiltern Hills, it is currently a commuter town, being 26 miles to the northwest of London. As recorded in population surveys from 2013, the town has a permanent population of about 18,000, living in roughly 7500 households. There are a number of buildings in residential areas, with 77 percent of household areas being houses or bungalows and 23 percent being flats or maisonettes. Settlements have been in Berkhamsted for over 500 years, supported by archaeological evidence of flint working throughout the Neolithic age and metal working throughout the late Iron Age and Roman periods. Though farming, service and light industry were characteristic local occupations in 1986, the biggest employers in the town in 2015 were schools and retail. Most of the firms are located within the nationally famous Berkhamsted West ward. In 2014, the Academy of Urbanism's Urbanism Awards described the character of Berkhamsted's High Street as 'vibrant' and 'bustling', creating a 'pleasant' and 'successful' shopping location. There's a large choice of outlets and food retailers available to residents and guests, being home of a mix of independent and commercial chain shops, cafes, coffee shops, eating places and pubs. For social opportunities, the Rex Cinema provides a number of new movies for the residents of Berkhamsted to see. Being constructed in the art deco style of architecture in 1937, the Daily Telegraph has described the Rex as the UK's most beautiful cinema, and it was declared Britain's Best Cinema in the first Guardian film awards in 2014. For all your home improvement projects, make certain that you pick reputable professionals in Berkhamsted to ensure you get a fantastic quality service.