Welwyn Garden City was built soon after the first world war and today has a population over 42,000. With a modern indoor shopping complex, The Howard Centre, and the fantastic John Lewis, as well as many branches of major chain stores located in and around the Howard Centre, it is a thriving town which has developed into a flourishing international business centre.

There are excellent leisure facilities including the 126 acre Stanborough Park, containing boating and sailing lakes, and the Gosling Sports Park, which is a superb venue for cycling, athletics, squash and tennis along with a ski-slope and golf driving range. There is an 18 hole public golf course at Panshanger as well as a Welwyn Garden City private golf club. The Campus West Arts and Conference Centre has an indoor theatre, indoor roller–skating rink and conference facilities.