Berkhamsted is a medium-sized historic market town around the western border of the English county of Hertfordshire. Situated inside the modest Bulbourne Valley in the Chiltern Hills, it has developed into a commuter town, being 26 miles northwest of London. As noted in population information from 2013, the town has a population of approximately 18,100, residing in around 7500 properties. There are plenty of buildings in residential locations, with 77 percent of household spaces being houses or bungalows and 23% being flats or maisonettes. Settlements have been established in Berkhamsted for over 500 years, as suggested by archaeological proof of flint working in the Neolithic age and metal working throughout the late Iron Age and Roman periods. While farming, service and light industry were normal local occupations in 1986, the largest employers of the town in 2015 were educational institutions and retail. Nearly all of the corporations in the area can be found inside the nationally recognised Berkhamsted West ward. In 2014, the Academy of Urbanism's Urbanism Awards described the appeal of Berkhamsted's High Street as 'vibrant' and 'bustling', developing a 'pleasant' and 'successful' shopping location. There is a wide array of shops and food outlets available to citizens and tourists, being home of a combination of independent and commercial chain outlets, cafes, coffee shops, dining establishments and public houses. For social events, the Rex Cinema offers many recent films for the citizens of Berkhamsted to check out. Being built in the art deco style 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 inaugural Guardian film awards in 2014. For all of your home improvements, be certain that you employ vetted professionals in Berkhamsted to ensure you get the best quality service.