The new town of Harlow is located in the county of Essex but close to the border of Hertfordshire. The town is home to 80,000 residents and is part of the London Commuter Belt with the M11 located nearby. There is an older area of the town that still houses many of its original buildings known simply as Old Harlow. A Roman temple and a mosaic floor were unearthed during the 1970 when an archaeological excavation took place in the town as well as an axe that dated back to 6000BC. Harlow is a popular place for home owners to buy property as it is close to London but also provides its own facilities and amenities.

Harlow is divided into different neighbourhoods and each one has its own shopping centres, facilities that serve the community and pubs. Cyclists can make use of the extensive cycle networks and nearby villages such as Great Parndon, Latton, Tye Green and Potter Street can all be reached via the cycle ways. The heart of the town is pedestrianised and the Lawn is a residential tower block that is now a listed building. The south of the town is home to the famous water gardens that are maintained by the English Heritage association.

The Gibbards Town Hall was one of the most notable landmarks in the town but has been demolished and replaced with a new shopping centre. There are a few hotels in the town and there is now a new hotel, flats, apartments and a restaurant that have been built close to the train station. There are new plans to build 530 eco-homes to encourage more people to buy property in Harlow and there are any sports centres and leisure centres dotted throughout the neighbourhoods.