Berkhamsted is a medium-sized historic market town within the western edge of the English county of Hertfordshire. Located in the compact Bulbourne Valley in the Chiltern Hills, its major purpose is as a commuter town, being 26 miles northwest of London. As noted in population records from 2013, the town has a permanent population of around 18,100, living in around 7363 homes. There are a number of buildings in residential areas, with 77 percent of household spaces being houses or bungalows and 23% being flats or maisonettes. Settlements have appeared in Berkhamsted for over 500 years, as suggested by archaeological proof of flint working throughout the Neolithic age and metal working in the late Iron Age and Roman periods. Whilst farming, service and light industry were characteristic local occupations in 1986, the largest employers of the town in 2015 were educational facilities and retail. Most of the firms in the area can be found inside the famed Berkhamsted West ward. In 2014, the Academy of Urbanism's Urbanism Awards referred to the character of Berkhamsted's High Street as 'vibrant' and 'bustling', making a 'pleasant' and 'successful' shopping environment. There is a wide collection of stores and food retailers available to citizens and guests, featuring a combination of independent and commercial chain stores, cafes, coffee shops, dining places and bars. For social events, the Rex Cinema provides numerous new movies for the residents of Berkhamsted to check out. Being constructed in the art deco style of architecture in 1937, the Daily Telegraph has ranked 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 your home improvements, make sure that you utilise reputable professionals in Berkhamsted to ensure that you get the top quality service.