best towns to visit in hertfordshire

20 Gorgeous Hertfordshire Villages To Visit

Hertfordshire villages, in the area just north of London, don’t have the most glamourous of reputations.

Many people would see the county as a suburb of London, or commuter belt at least, forgetting that it’s a home to wonders such as St.Albans and some lovely villages which are the equal of the more famous counties of Surrey and Suffolk , say.

We feature 20 of the latter, lovely Hertfordshire villages, here:

Table of Contents

Aldbury is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Dacorum, Hertfordshire. The parish including Aldbury Common, is about four miles (6.4 km) south-east from Tring and six miles (9.7 km) north-east from Hemel Hempstead, in the Chiltern Hills area of England.

Much Hadham

Much Hadham is one of the most popular Hertfordhsire villages, and civil parish, in the Borough of Dacorum, Hertfordshire. It is about three miles (5 km) north-west from Hemel Hempstead. The village, including the hamlet of Little Hadham, is a conservation area.

Nascot is a village and civil parish near to Watford in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. It is situated approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) north-east from Hemel Hempstead and about 10 miles (16 km) south-west from London. At the 2001 census, it had a population of 591 and at the 2011 Census the population was 637.

One of several pretty Hertfordshire villages near Standon (see below)

In the Domesday Book, Westmill was listed as Wistelai and consisted of two manors. The manor on the east side of the parish is now known as Standon and is within a mile (1.6 km) of East Mill Lane. The manor on the west side is known as ‘West Mill’.

The name ‘West Mill’ may have originated from one of two things: it may have been called ‘The West Vale’ or named in order to distinguish it from Standon village which lay directly across what would now be called Old Church Lane. It was likely to be called ‘The Western Manes’ because it was situated

Standon is a village in the parish of East Mill, Hertfordshire, England. It is situated approximately three miles (5 km) to the north-west of Hemel Hempstead.

Standon consists of four distinct hamlets, each one with its own historical identity: West Mill (already mentioned), East Mill, Mill Fold and Standon Green.

The churchyard of Standon church contains the grave of a 15th-century blue plaque winner; Sir Henry Marney who was master of the Royal Hospital at Chelsea. Standon was recorded in the Domesday Book as ‘Westone’.

Therfield is a village in the borough of Dacorum, Hertfordshire. It is also located about three miles (5 km) north-west of Hemel Hempstead.

In the Domesday Book, Therfield was listed as Terachou and consisted of two manors. The manor on the east side of the parish is now known as Bygrave and is within a mile (1.6 km) to Bygrave Mill Lane and about eight miles (13 km) from Old Hemel Hempstead Road. The manor on the west side is known as Therfield Hall Farm and has been demolished but was found to be inhabited by Daniel Collin in 1377.”

Wheathampstead

Wheathampstead is a town in the county of Hertfordshire, England. It has a population of approximately 5,000. Wheathampstead is located about four miles (6.4 km) north of St Albans and not far from Welwyn Garden City, it lies just off the A1 road. It is contiguous with the village of Wheathampstead Common, where (in 1841) the population was enumerated.

Redbourn is a large village in northern Hertfordshire, England. It is about three miles (5 km) north of the town of Hitchin. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 Census was 4,940.

Some notable features of Redbourn are a Tudor stone church on Church Hill, an ancient settlement fortification and Greenhill House which has been designated as a Grade I listed building because it was built by Sir John Gresham in 1565-6. On 17 July 2004, Redbourn was declared an Unitary Benefice with St Andrews Church to form Trowbridge cum Redbourn.”

Whetstone is a village in the parish of Adwell, Hertfordshire, England. It is located approximately one mile north of Tring.

Flaunden is a village in the parish of Chipperfield, Hertfordshire, England. It is located about three miles (5 km) north-west from Hemel Hempstead.

It was recorded in the Domesday Book as Floandene and was listed as having six households. The spelling continued to evolve into Florendene by 1435 and eventually Flaunden by the 20th century.

Hunsdon is an ancient village and civil parish in the Borough of Dacorum, Hertfordshire. The parish, including the hamlet of Browning’s Green, is about three miles (5 km) north-east from Hemel Hempstead and eight miles (13 km) east from Stevenage.

The local old airfield was used as a base by the Royal Air Force under the name RAF Hunsdon.

Brent Pelham

Brent Pelham is a small village, with some of the prettiest cottages of the Hertfordshire villages we feature here. It was once in the ancient parish of Welwyn, which now lies in the district of Hertsmere.

Brent Pelham sprang up around 1850 around a public house known as the Cock Inn, which was located on what would now be called Park Lane.

The area surrounding Brent Pelham is mostly rural with agriculture being the main economic activity.

Great Amwell

Great Amwell is a village in the county of Hertfordshire, England. It is located about four miles (6.4 km) south-west from Hemel Hempstead and nine miles (14 km) north-east from Stotfold.

The village has its own parish church: St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Great Amwell – it was partially rebuilt after the Civil War in 1648.

Great Gaddesden

Great Gaddesden is a village in the county of Hertfordshire, England. The village is located within the borough of Dacorum about six miles (10 km) north-west from Berkhamsted.

Great Gaddesden was listed as having four households in the Domesday Book. The area surrounding Great Gaddesden is mostly rural with agriculture being the main economic activity.

Codicote is a village in the parish of Great Gaddesden, Hertfordshire. It is located two miles (3 km) to the north-east from Little Gaddesden.

This village comprises mainly terraced “Old English” style housing and some more modern development. The local school is Codicote C.E Primary School which was established in 1933 and for which Princess Anne was appointed as patron in 1987.

Gilston is a village in the parish of Great Gaddesden, Hertfordshire. It is located about one mile to the north-east from Little Gaddesden.

The built up area surrounding Gilston includes mainly “Old English” style housing and some more modern development. The local school is in Little Gaddesden which was established in 1932 and for which Princess Anne was appointed as patron too in 1987.

Ayot St. Lawrence

Ayot St. Lawrence, one of the ‘Ayots’, is a small village in the eastern part of Hertfordshire. It is within the parish of Bushey Heath, which lies within the district of Dacorum.

The Ayots chapel was built in 1836 by Rev. George Bourne and his wife as a memorial to their daughter Eliza who died on 7 October 1835 aged 19 years. The site is at the foot of Green Lane, near the church and school and surrounded mainly by fields but also partly by woodland.

St Ippolyts

St. Ippolyts is in a gap in the Chiltern Hills to the south east of Hitchin.

The old parish church of St Ippolyts is dedicated to Saint Ippolytus, a martyr also known as Ilya of Kuarin. It is situated in the village of Bushey Heath and is a Grade II listed building. It was built in 1876 and has been designated as a Grade II* listed building by English Heritage for its “particularly fine interior”.

Perry Green

Perry Green is a small village near Much Hadham.

It was where the sculptor Henry Moore settled and his house, Hoglands, is not the home to the Henry Moore Foundation.

Little Berkhamsted

Little Berkhamsted is the little brother of Berkhamsted, a nearby market town.

It is a cosy place with a local shop and fine pub, the Five Horseshoes.

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Places to visit in Hertfordshire

Visit Hertfordshire for rambling country estates, orderly garden towns and cathedral cities. Picnic outside revival mansions with forest backdrops, redbrick Jacobean manors with mazes and gothic courts encrusted with gargoyles. Span centuries in St Albans' Roman amphitheatres and Norman cathedrals. You can come face to face with dragons and ghouls straight from the Harry Potter films and get close to endangered snow leopards at exciting wildlife parks. This home county hasn't forgotten its shopaholics either, with outlet malls and new towns aplenty. Top places to visit in Hertfordshire include St Albans Cathedral, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, Cassiobury Park and the De Havilland Aircraft Museum.

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Gold winner: Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter

Discover how the cultural icon that is Harry Potter came to life on the big screen at our Large Visitor Attraction of the Year 2023.

Go White Water Rafting at Lee Valley White Water Centre

Experience the thrill of white water rafting on the same course used by top athletes in the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Location: Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire

Rainy Day Activities: Enter the magical Warner Bros Studio Tour

Step inside the wizarding world of Harry Potter at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London and feel the films magically come to life.

Location: Leavesden, Hertfordshire

Go picnicing at Rye House Gatehouse

The medieval Rye House Gatehouse makes an imposing background to any picnic.

Location: Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire

Walk among Henry Moore’s sculptures

At Perry Green you can wander Moore’s own gardens peppered with his works of art.

Location: Much Hadham, Hertfordshire

Get closer to the animals at Paradise Wildlife Park

Venture to Hertfordshire for an exciting day out with the family at this award-winning zoo; see a range of exotic animals and enjoy a whole host of experiences and attractions.

Location: Broxbourne, Hertfordshire

Enjoy a pint in ‘England’s oldest pub’

Experience a meal at Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, ‘England’s oldest pub’ according to Guinness World Records, where Oliver Cromwell dined in the 1600s.

Location: St Albans, Hertfordshire

Visit a secret roman city near London

Spend a weekend in the historic city of St Albans, just a short journey from the centre of London.

Visit the enchanted forest of Ashridge Estate

Walk the magical woods of Ashridge, like fairies and witches before you.

Location: Little Gaddesden, Berkhamsted

Rock concerts and Gothic architecture at Knebworth House

Set in 250 acres of rolling Hertfordshire countryside, Knebworth House is one of England's most colourful stately homes.

Location: Knebworth, Hertfordshire

Discover the history of Hertford Castle

As part of National Heritage Weekend, Hertford Castle will open its doors to the public free of charge.

Location: Hertford, Hertfordshire

November events: Get into the festive spirit at Hertford Christmas Gala

Start off the festive season at Hertford's annual Christmas Gala.

Walking and Cycling in Hertford

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July events: Standon Calling

Head to Standon in Hertfordshire for a three-day summer party featuring huge music acts, an on-site nightclub and bars that never close.

Location: Standon, Hertfordshire

July events: Teddy bears’ picnic at Hertford Castle

Enjoy a whole day packed with free child-friendly entertainment and activities on the grounds of Hertford Castle.

Location: Hertford, Hertfordhsire

August events: Enjoy a brass band concert at Hertford Castle

On the 18 August, Hertford Castle Gatehouse will open its doors to the public - free of charge - with a brass band concert on the Castle lawn.

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Grab your popcorn and enjoy a weekend of open air cinema under the stars with the beautiful Hertford Castle providing a suitably dramatic backdrop.

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Visit Cambridge to see the world’s fourth oldest university. Hire a punt, look round the galleries and explore its 31 colleges, it’s impossible not to be captivated by the academic spirit.

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Family travel adventures

40 places to visit in Hertfordshire in 2024

• smudgedpostcard
• 4th March 2021
• Hertfordshire

I’ve lived in Hertfordshire for about ten years now. Over the years I have enjoyed getting to know my new home and exploring all the interesting places to visit in Hertfordshire. Despite its proximity to London, there’s plenty of outdoor space to enjoy in Hertfordshire – not just parks but proper rural areas which stretch for miles.

If I’ve missed any great places to go in Hertfordshire, please drop me a line in the comments below so I can add them to this collection. Happy reading!

Table of Contents

Family days out in Hertfordshire

Most of the ideas listed in this article are suitable for families but the places to visit in Hertfordshire detailed here will be particularly popular with children.

If you’re looking for cheap days out in Hertfordshire for kids, fear not – I’ve written a separate post all about free and good value things to do in Hertfordshire for families .

Willows Activity Farm near London Colney

This is one of the best places to visit in Hertfordshire with kids. Despite visiting on a rainy day in December, our boys spent the entire day running around and had a fantastic time. There are lots of different areas to explore – an assault course with wooden climbing frames, a Peter Rabbit play space which is perfect for would-be Mr MacGregors to chase little rabbits through and lots more. There’s also a huge soft play area indoors and regular seasonal events.

The farm part just about got a look in during our visit – there was a bit of rabbit and guinea pig cuddling and a bumpy trip on the tractor-trailer through the fields but otherwise it was all about running wild from the moment we arrived until the moment we left.

Find out more about Willows Activity Farm

Berkhamsted Castle

If you fancy a free family day out in Hertfordshire, the market town of Berkhamstead is a great little destination to explore.

The town’s motte and bailey Norman castle is a highlight. Although it is now a ruin, Berkhamsted Castle has a long and fascinating history which is likely to capture the imagination of young and old alike. Most notably, following the Battle of Hastings, the Saxons relinquished the crown to William the Conqueror at Berkhamsted Castle.

Over the centuries, the castle was home to various monarchs and noblemen and it was the site of numerous battles. Close to Berkhamsted Castle is the Grand Union Canal, perfect for a waterside walk (there’s also a play area) and a spot of industrial history – the canal runs all the way from London to Birmingham.

Find out more about Berkhamsted Castle

Westmill Farm near Ware

Not so much a farm as an outdoor activity centre, Westmill Farm is an ideal destination if you have a family with a wide range of ages and interests. There’s high ropes, Segways, archery and climbing available, plus fishing and golf. In summertime, one of the three lakes has an inflatable assault course and there’s a decent campsite (perfect if, like us, you fancy a staycation or a birthday camping trip for kids close to home) and there’s a glamping area too.

As well as outdoor pursuits, there’s also an indoor soft play area (Woody’s Play Barn) and an excellent art centre called the Art Shed which offers a wide range of brilliant arty activities for everyone. You’ll also find a restaurant near the art centre – with seating indoors and outside.

Find out more about Westmill Farm

Paradise Wildlife Park near Broxbourne

Although I’m not a big fan of animals in captivity, this zoo near Broxbourne does a lot to raise vital conservation funds for both UK animals and creatures across the world which are represented at the zoo. Paradise Wildlife Park is definitely one of the most popular places to visit in Hertfordshire for local residents.   

Aside from a traditional zoo visit, there are lots of experiences at Paradise Wildlife Park should you wish to make your trip there particularly unique – feeding the lemurs, zoo keeping experiences and even the chance to stay overnight. These all attract an additional charge obviously!      

On our visits, we’ve particularly enjoyed the reptile house, and the big cats are a highlight of any trip to the park. There’s also an excellent play area (which my children actually prefer over the animals). And if you fancy a Jurassic Park experience, there’s an impressive animatronic dinosaur section where you can pretend giant pre-historic beasts are gobbling up your children.

Find out more about Paradise Wildlife Park

Warner Bros Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter, Leavesden 

Recommended by Cathy from Mummy Travels

If you’re looking for the most magical day out in Hertfordshire with kids, you simply cannot beat the Warner Bros Studio Tour – or the Harry Potter Studio tour as it’s often known. Transporting you into the wizarding world, it’s the only place where you can find Hogwarts (even if it’s a bit smaller than you expect), as well as dragons, the whomping willow, fantastic beasts galore and countless wonderful props from the films. 

Kids can do everything from jumping on a broomstick against a greenscreen to boarding the Hogwarts Express and trying butterbeer, as well as walking through the Forbidden Forest and having a basic wand lesson. For fans, it’s heaven: there’s so much detail in all the items on display that you wouldn’t notice just from watching the movies, and new sections or themed events constantly added. 

While it’s unlikely to appeal to toddlers, even younger Harry Potter fans will have a great time, plus it’s cleverly designed so that you can whisk them past some of the scarier bits, including the Dark Arts section and Aragog.  

Booking in advance is essential as tickets sell out very quickly, especially during school holidays or at popular times like Halloween and Christmas. And do allow plenty of time: although you could dash around in a couple of hours, you could very easily spend all day – or at least until everyone’s energy runs out. There’s a café on the site as well as space to eat your own picnic.  Not far from Watford, with a shuttle bus which runs from the station, it’s only a 20-minute train journey from Euston if you’re combining your visit with a few Harry Potter days out in London too. 

Find out more about the Warner Bros Studio Tour

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay near the Warner Bros Studios, check out my post about glamping in Hertfordshire which includes a Harry Potter themed glampsite!

The Snow Centre at Hemel Hempstead

If you’re feeling cheated by the lack of snow in the UK, the Snow Centre will provide a proper winter experience with real snow. And it’s not just for skiers looking to polish their skills pre-Alps, there’s sledging for little ones and a special area called the Ringo Slide where you can jump on a rubber ring and zip down the slope. Booking is essential.

Find out more about the Snow Centre

Take the kids to jail in Hoddesdon

There’s a great charity in Hoddesdon – Teens Unite: Fighting Cancer. And one of the fundraising attractions is the Jailbreak Cafe. Here you can sit in a cell while you have tea and cake, served from the county where prisoners used to check in to the police station jail.

Opening hours vary, please check the website for details.

Find out more about the Jailbreak Cafe

Houses and gardens to visit in Hertfordshire

Knebworth house.

Although known to many for its music events – Queen, Rod Stewart and Oasis have all played here – Knebworth House is also a great day out in Hertfordshire for families.

There’s an excellent dinosaur trail through the woodlands with huge models of the ferocious beasts dotted around for little people to discover. Further away from the main house (families tend to drive between the two areas) is an impressive adventure playground with a big wooden fort and lots of space for picnics. The slides are particularly good fun. This area is surrounded by vast open fields – it’s a lovely setting for an afternoon of play.

The house itself – a Gothic revival mansion – can be visited too. There are guided tours during the week and at weekends the house can be explored independently. There are attractive formal gardens around the house as well as a steep hill which is perfect for kids to roll down.

You can easily spend a whole day at Knebworth, there’s a café near the house and a snack kiosk by the adventure playground. Just bear in mind that Knebworth doesn’t open until 11am so don’t make the mistake I once made of arriving there at 10am. Knebworth shuts for an extended winter break.

Find out more about Knebworth House.

Henry Moore Studios and Gardens

The Henry Moore Studios and Gardens has a huge body of this 20 th century sculptor’s artwork set across 60 acres of grounds. Some of the pieces are positioned in the gardens, others are located in the surrounding fields. There’s a particularly brilliant sculpture set on a hill quite a distance from the gardens, it’s a great piece to discover.

The Henry Moore Studios and Gardens is one of my favourite places to visit in Hertfordshire and it’s a brilliant destination for families – children can actually touch the bronze sculptures and run around the grounds – very different to a traditional gallery setting. One of my boys has always found it very difficult to resist touching things in museums so the tactile nature of the artwork here is perfect for him.

There are tours around the artist’s former home – Hoglands, and temporary exhibitions are held each year in the indoor gallery spaces which focus on a particular area of Moore’s work.

There’s a café on site and arty events are organised during the school holidays, there’s also a fun trail for kids to follow. The gardens are shut over the wintertime.

Find out more about the Henry Moore Studios and Gardens

Hatfield House

Recommended by Kat from Wandering Bird

If you’re enjoying a day out in Hertfordshire, be sure to make time to visit beautiful Hatfield House. 

This Jacobean Country house was built around the 17th century by Robert Cecil (Minister to King James I) and has been the family home of the Cecil family ever since. 

Before that, the palace which stood on this site was the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth I and King Edward VI and was used as a prison for Queen Mary I. The history you’ll find (and feel) here is incredible. 

Inside the house, as well as the opulent rooms and furnishings, you can see items that belonged to Queen Elizabeth I, plus a huge (nearly seven metres) ancestral family tree showing the lineage of the family.

As well as exploring inside the house, be sure to allow time to explore the gardens and ‘Great Park’- covering 42 acres. There are fountains, lakes, orchards, herb gardens and a maze, as well as thousands of trees, plants and flowers. There are several signed walks through the grounds and they allow picnics. 

The house is not part of the National Trust or English Heritage, so you will need to pay to visit, but it’s worth every penny to wander through this incredible site. There is plenty of parking, even if you’re on a motorhoming holiday and have a larger vehicle. There’s also a restaurant on site. 

The house is only open on specific days and only during the summer, although the woodlands and park open for visitors around Easter. 

Find out more about Hatfield House

Benington Lordship

Benington Lordship is an intriguing place – not least because it’s only open a couple of times a year. The main manor house is of 18th century origins but the estate dates back to Saxon times. In the grounds are the earthworks of a a medieval motte and bailey castle and the ruins of a Norman keep.

Each February visitors are welcomed to the grounds of the house for the annual snowdrop display and then at the end of August there is a chilli festival where locals descend en masse to enjoy everything chilli-related. There are chilli plants for sale (lots of varieties), chilli food and of course a chilli eating contest. The contest is a bit grim with contestants quite literally dropping out – when we were there one year several people ended up in the bushes feeling rather unwell.

During the snowdrop season, refreshments can be purchased and there’s plenty of spicy delights during the chilli festival.

Find out more about Benington Lordship

Cheslyn House and Gardens

Hidden away in the north of Watford is this delightful house with surprisingly exotic gardens – perfect for anyone daydreaming about travels further afield. The 3.5 acre property was designed by architect Henry Colbeck and his wife Daisy who filled the gardens with plants they had collected from their extensive travels across the world.

There are plenty of pathways to explore – perfect for children who like to get lost in the outdoors. The gardens also feature a woodland area and a pond – there is plenty of inspiration for any budding gardeners!

Find out more about Cheslyn House and Gardens

Hitchin Lavender

When I told my boys we were going to a flower farm last summer they weren’t overly enthusiastic. However, when they discovered they could run up and down the rows up lavender and clamber onto hay bails they soon agreed it was actually a pretty good day out. They even admitted that lavender ice cream is surprisingly tasty.

I was impressed by how tolerant the busy bees were of all this activity but I suppose when you’re surrounded by so much of your favourite food you can ignore all the humans wading through the fields. The lavender farm is rather popular with Instagrammers – it’s a very scenic spot for a photoshoot.

When is the best time to visit Hitchin Lavender Fields? We visited in early July – that vivid purple should look good all through July and into August, but check the website for up to date information.

Find out more about Hitchin Lavender.

Shaw’s Corner, near Welwyn

Located in the village of Ayot St Lawrence near Welwyn, this was the home for more than 40 years of playwright George Bernard Shaw. The house was built at the beginning of the 20 th century in the arts and crafts style with stained glass windows and hearts cut into the banisters. Shaw was a good friend of William Morris – this is reflected in the choice of furnishings in the house.

Shaw’s Corner is packed with artefacts from the playwright’s life – an Oscar trophy for his screenplay of Pygmalion, a sculpture of Shaw carved by Rodin, and an extensive library. There are of course plenty of everyday objects – everything from toothbrushes to clothing and electric heaters. A visit to Shaw’s Corner offers a fascinating insight into one of the UK’s most significant writers.

Find out more about Shaw’s Corner

Parks in Hertfordshire

Rickmansworth aquadrome.

Recommended by Anuradha from Country Hopping Couple

Rickmansworth Aquadrome is a public park and an award winning local nature reserve five miles west of Watford.  

Spread over 100 acres of land,  Rickmansworth Aquadrome  consists of three stunning lakes, plenty of walking paths, the Grand Union Canal, wildlife watching, ample car parking space and children’s play areas. One can also indulge in water sports like windsurfing, jet-skiing, sailing or canoeing. 

Batchworth Lake is used by a water skiing club that hosts various water skiing events. Adjacent to this is Bury Lake, that hosts Bury Lake Young Mariners dedicated for sailing and canoeing.  

Stockers Lake is the largest of the three lakes in Rickmansworth Aquadrome, and is a popular place for bird and wildlife watching. There are designated hides to watch the birds. Herons, coots, terns, geese, grebes, not to forget the ducks and swans, this is a paradise for bird watchers. Spread over 40 hectares, there are as many as 60 species of birds.

The aquadrome is a popular attraction in the area for families and couples. Not only for locals, but visitors from other neighbourhoods visit here to enjoy the open space, canal walks and water sports.  Whatever the weather is, a walk along the serene outdoors does lift one’s mood immensely.

The park is open all year long, with free car parking, toilet, café, disabled access and a dog free picnic area.  If you are driving, the car park is off Frogmoor Lane in Rickmansworth.

Find out more about Rickmansworth Aquadrome

Fairlands Valley Park in Stevenage

This 120 acre park in Stevenage offers a wide range of facilities. There’s a large lake for water sports – kayaking, stand up paddle boarding and sailing. Younger children love the splash park and playground while older kids can enjoy the climbing wall and high ropes course.

Fairlands Valley has plenty of open space for walks and bike rides (there are a few hills) and there are woodlands to explore as well.

Find out more about Fairlands Valley Park

Cassiobury Park in Watford

This is a large park right in the centre of Watford. There are two good playgrounds with facilities for children of all areas and also two cafés – each conveniently situated close to one of the play areas. There’s also a children’s splash park and plenty of fields for a game of football or to fly a kite.

A river runs through the park and there’s extensive woodlands (great for bluebells in spring, and conkers in autumn) plus a network of pathways running through it.

Find out more about Cassiobury Park

Cedars Park in Cheshunt

This is a great day out in Hertfordshire for little children. Cedars Park has lots of flat paved tracks which are perfect for young kids who have just learnt to ride a bike. There’s an excellent café and a really lovely little nature centre where children can stroke a skunk (among other activities) – a particular highlight for my two boys.

The park has royal origins – the Palace of Theobalds, owned by King James I, was once sited here and a few ruins remain today. Cedars Park has been really well maintained and has plenty of keep visitors engaged – including formal gardens and an arboretum.

Find out more about Cedars Park

Aldenham Country Park near Elstree

This country park close to the M25 is a really brilliant destination for families. There’s camping and glamping, a farm to explore and nature trails. The adventure playground has a special time slot for visitors with SEND.

You’ll also find 100 Acre Wood at the country park – children will enjoy hunting for Pooh, Piglet and Tigger.

Aldenham Country Park is a not-for-profit organisation run by the same team as Church Farm in Ardeley .

Find out more about Aldenham Country Park

Lee Valley Regional Park

Stretching across parts of Essex and London as well as Hertfordshire, Lee Valley Regional Park is a vast open space of 10,000 acres. It has been developed over the last 50 or so years to offer local people a green area to enjoy various pursuits.

There’s an extensive range of activities from water-based sports to glamping and camping. It’s an excellent destination for cycling with a dedicated network of trails of varying lengths and plenty of walking routes too.

If you’re visiting the park with children, the sculpture trail is a good place to start – there’s a variety of sculptures dotted along a three mile trail which should keep little ones engaged.

Find out more about the Lee Valley Regional Park

Museums in Hertfordshire

We are lucky to have a really great selection of museums in Hertfordshire. Most towns have their own museum, so I have just included a selection here. For a complete list of local museums, check out the Hertfordshire Museums website .

Tring Natural History Museum

This is a great alternative to London’s Natural History Museum. There’s some excellent exhibits but far fewer visitors. Originally owned by a member of the Rothschild family, it is now run by the main London museum.

There are six galleries displaying everything from dogs to crocs to monkeys. It’s a brilliant destination for families looking for school holiday rainy day activities – the museum organises events for children.

Find out more about the National History Museum at Tring

De Havilland Aircraft Museum near London Colney

This independent museum showcases the contribution the De Havilland company made to British aviation. There’s an interesting collection of aircrafts ranging from the 1930s wooden Dragon Rapide passenger aircraft to the World War II Mosquito bomber, and the world’s first jet airliner, the Comet.

The museum is located in the grounds of Salisbury Hall – where the prototype Mosquito was originally developed.

Find out more about the De Havilland Aircraft Museum

Verulamium Park and Museum in St Albans

St Albans sits on the edge of what was once the third largest Roman city in Britain, Verulamium. Visitors can see the remains of the city walls, the hypocaust (underground heating), mosaic floor and the Roman amphitheatre.

The museum features recreated Roman rooms and interactive zones plus a collection of Roman gold coins which were discovered as recently as 2012 by a metal detectorist. It’s encouraging to know there might still be hidden treasure buried out there somewhere!

The park has a lake and play area as well as sports facilities and a café.

As an aside , if you’re visiting St Albans with Lego fans, there’s a great little Lego shop in the town called Brick Traders where you can make your own mini figures and buy new or second hand sets – or simply gaze at huge completed sets in the window. We have to visit this shop every time we go to St Albans.

Find out more about Verulamium Park

Stevenage Museum

If you’re visiting Stevenage for some shopping, it’s worth popping into the town’s museum – it has a particularly good collection of local artefacts and exhibits.

We’ve visited Stevenage Museum a couple of times with our kids and they’ve really enjoyed it. One of the highlights is a section on highwaymen – the main road from London to Cambridge passed close by – there’s a highwayman’s hat and a big carriage wheel. Elsewhere, you can put a would-be criminal in the dock and interrogate them or frighten the kids with a “man trap” – a nasty metal contraption which would have caught poachers on the surrounding estates.

Stevenage Museum also features a 1950s kitchen where younger children can recreate The Tiger Who Came to Tea – the book, the tiger and a tea set are all supplied.

The museum is definitely one of the best places to visit in Hertfordshire for a free rainy day outing.

Read our review of Stevenage Museum

Unusual places to visit in Hertfordshire

If you’ve already ticked off the main places to visit in Hertfordshire, here are a few off the beaten ideas – including some which I’ve yet to check out.

Bayfordbury Observatory

Located just south of Hertford, this Hertfordshire University observatory is predominantly for teaching students but it does offer open evenings to groups during the winter months. Several years ago, we arranged for a group of families from our village to spend an evening of stargazing at the observatory. The evenings can be tailored to specific age groups and interests.

Find out more about Bayfordbury Observatory

Puddingstone Gin Distillery

If you’re stuck for gift ideas for your significant other, you could do far worse than buy them a tour of the Puddingstone Gin Distillery – home of Campfire Gin.

Tours of the distillery include a history of gin and how it is produced. There’s a tasting experience with the chance to sample five different gins. I just wish Puddingstone wasn’t located at the other end of Hertfordshire to where I live.

Find out more about Puddingstone Gin Distillery near Tring

Scotts Grotto in Ware

Scott’s Grotto is such an intriguing place – perfect for anyone, young or old, with a vivid imagination. Built by 18th century poet John Scott, the grotto consists of a series of chambers decorated with stones, shells and coloured glass. Although there is a certain amount of lighting, it’s recommended that you bring a torch to explore the grotto properly.

This little place is definitely one of the most unusual things to do in Hertfordshire. Located on an unassuming residential street in the town of Ware, the house it was built for has since been demolished and it’s now in a little plot of land surrounded by trees and modern houses. It’s only open on Saturday afternoons in summertime so you need to plan ahead if you fancy a visit.

Find out more about Scott’s Grotto

Royston Cave

Keeping with the subterranean theme, Royston Cave is another man-made cavern – but a much older one. Said to possibly date back to the Knights Templar in the 12th century, Royston Cave is a beehive-shaped chamber covered in carvings.

Find out more about Royston Cave

Celtic Harmony near Hertford

I have really fond memories of visiting Celtic Harmony with my children – it’s one of the best days out in Hertfordshire for young children who like to be outdoors. This living museum recreates Iron Age life with a collection of round houses and there are lots of crafts and activities for children to get involved in.

Halloween – or Samhain, the Celtic new year – is particularly good fun. There’s broomstick making, archery, a spooky trail through the woodlands and lots more.

There’s even the chance to spend the night at Celtic Harmony – sleeping in a roundhouse – glamping as it was 2,000 years ago!

Find out more about Celtic Harmony

If you’d like to find out more about open air museums, I’ve written an article all about the best open air museums in the UK.

Amaravati Buddhist Monastery near Hemel Hempstead

Now, here’s one of the places in Hertfordshire which is likely to see a surge in visitors when it re-opens post-lockdown. Meditation and silence are the key practices here – something any home-schooling parent will be longing for.

Home to monks and nuns practicing the Therada form of Buddhism, the monastery welcomes visitors. Amaravati is open from early morning until late evening – although if it’s your first visit the best time to come is at meal time (you’re encouraged to bring a food donation) – around 11am. This will give you the opportunity to chat with some of the residents.

There are meditation workshops every Saturday afternoon and it’s also possible to stay overnight as part of a retreat.

There are family events and events for specific age groups – who’s tempted to send their teenager…?

Find out more about Amaravati Buddhist Monastery

Whitewebbs Museum of Transport, near Enfield

We love this little museum hidden away near Enfield. I’m sure we’d visit more frequently if it wasn’t for the rather limited opening hours – ensure you check before heading there.

The museum has a surprisingly extensive collection of transport modes – a great range of bicycles, fire engines and even a model railway housed inside an old railway carriage.

There’s a café at Whitewebbs but it’s rather old fashioned – it’s a mug of coffee type of place rather than cappuccino territory. However, there’s plenty of space outside for a picnic.

Whitewebbs is one of those hidden gems which is a delight to discover – particularly with young children.

Find out more about Whitewebbs Museum of Transport

River swimming in Hertford

If you fancy a swim in the open air, head to Hertford where the rivers Beane and Lea meet in Hartham Common. There’s a lovely wide stretch of the combined rivers which is perfect for wild swimming. It’s wonderfully scenic and on a warm sunny day it feels pretty amazing to be swimming there.

I’ve written a whole article about where to swim outdoors in Hertfordshire: click here to find the best places for an open water swim .

Cromer Windmill near Stevenage

If you like your cultural experiences on the slightly old-fashioned side, you’ll enjoy exploring this 17 th century windmill. It’s located in a really picturesque setting, close to the tiny villages of Cromer and Ardeley and surrounded by fields.

There are steep steps leading to the upper floor of the mill, while the ground floor has a short video explaining the history of the windmill. Friendly volunteer guides are on hand with further information.

Find out more about Cromer Windmill

If you’re looking for good value places to visit in Hertfordshire with little kids, I’ve put together a collection of ideas which don’t cost the earth: free and cheap things to do in Hertfordshire with kids .

Best places to eat in Hertfordshire

We have some fantastic pubs and restaurants in Hertfordshire. I’m lucky to live close to quite a few of them. This is a rather incomplete list, I’m working my way through updating it. By the way, this isn’t so much a list of the most exclusive places to dine at – it’s simply a selection of places which I think deserve a special mention for one reason or another!

The Lussmanns chain of restaurants: St Albans, Hitchin, Hertford and Harpenden

Until lockdown hit, we really enjoyed eating at our local branch of Lussmanns in Hertford. It’s one of those places where the waiters really know the food and the wine and you can trust their judgement. Everything I’ve eaten at Lussmanns has been delicious.

Find out more about Lussmanns

Enjoy a pub lunch in Braughing

As is often the way in English villages, the tiny settlement of Braughing (pronounced Braffing) has a particularly good ratio of pubs to residents. There’s three to choose from in Braughing: the Axe and Compasses , the Brown Bear and the Golden Fleece . They all serve very good food.

The village and surrounding countryside is lovely for walking if you need to work up an appetite (or work off a pudding). And there’s a funny tradition in this village: on 2 nd October the locals celebrate Old Man’s Day commemorating the funeral of a local chap who turned out not to be dead on the way to his service. He was woken from his deep slumber by one of the pallbearers who slipped on some leaves on the pathway, dropping the coffin. Each year, local children sweep the roads of leaves in his memory.

Pizzas and football at the Cricketers in Weston, near Stevenage

This is such an idyllic place to enjoy a summer’s afternoon in Hertfordshire. The Cricketers has a huge garden – there’s a great climbing frame and a football pitch – yes you read that correctly – plus lots of tables spread out across the spacious lawns. The pizzas are very good but it’s the setting which we really love.

The Tilbury, Datchworth

This is one of our local pubs and it has been pulling out all the stops during lockdown to bring posh pub nosh to people’s homes – you can even order cocktails to take away.

Seafood often features on the menu at the Tilbury as well as plenty of pub classics and it has a kids’ menu too.

If you’re looking for a pub in Hertfordshire to visit with your kids, you’re in luck – I’ve compiled a list of family friendly pubs in Hertfordshire for you to work your way through.

And if you fancy afternoon tea in Hertfordshire , I’ve got that covered too – I’ve compiled a list of 49 places (at the last count!) ranging from vintage tea rooms to luxury hotels.

Places to walk in Hertfordshire

As well as the various places in Hertfordshire to visit which I’ve recommended above, there are plenty of other wild and rural places to walk in Hertfordshire. I’ve written about autumn walk in Hertfordshire and where to find bluebells in Hertfordshire on the blog, but here’s a few of my favourite places for a stroll.

Panshanger Park, near Hertford

Panshanger is a place we regularly return to for walks, although we have had to give it a wide birth during lockdown as it’s been so busy. It is a huge space – one thousand acres – brilliant for cycling, walking and picnicking. Previously a quarry, it is now being maintained as a nature reserve by the Wildlife Trust and plans are afoot to provide a café and toilet facilities in the future.

Highlights of Panshanger include bluebell woods in spring and blackberries galore at the end of summer. The woods are great for den building and the fields are perfect for cycling and long walks. There are several lakes which attract a multitude of dragonflies and birdlife in the summer.

Towards the far end of the park is an ancient oak tree. Apparently it is the oldest maiden oak in the country. If, like me, you have no idea what that means, I’ll explain. Many of the old trees in our country were pollarded (and still are) – the upper trunk and branches are removed for timber and the tree regrows from what remains – pollarded trees can be identified by their short trunks and low branches. A maiden tree is one which has not been pollarded so its trunk grows much higher before its boughs appear. It is said that the Panshanger oak was planted by Queen Elizabeth I, making it over 400 years old.

Find out more about Panshanger Park

Heartwood Forest near St Albans

A more recent planting exercise has been undertaken at Heartwood Forest near St Albans. Although there are sections of ancient woodland here, the majority of Heartwood is newly planted, creating the largest new native woodland in the country.

There are lots of walking, cycling and horse riding trails of varying distances, some designed specifically for children. In spring, one of the established woodland areas is carpeted with bluebells while summertime brings wildflowers to the meadows.

Heartwood is a massive and impressive undertaking, definitely worth exploring. There are no facilities so bring a picnic.

Find out more about Heartwood Forest

Broxbourne Woods Sculpture Trail

We love this woodland – the Broxbourne Woods Sculpture Trail is perfect for young children who need something to encourage them to walk that little bit further. Older kids enjoy the area for den building and it’s also perfect for longer walks and cycling. Broxbourne Woods is a National Nature Reserve and there are trails of up to 17 kilometres.

There’s around nine sculptures to find along the trail – including a Roman soldier, foraging wild boars and a brilliant metal sculpture of a stag. They all relate to the local area either environmentally or historically (or both) – the Roman road from London to York passed close by Broxbourne and wild boar used to inhabit the woodlands.

Although there are no facilities at Broxbourne Woods, there are plenty of good pubs close by. Take a look at my blog post about the best family friendly pubs in Hertfordshire for a full list.

Find out more about Broxbourne Woods Sculpture Trail

Ashridge Estate, near Tring

The National Trust Ashridge Estate is a huge area of woodland and meadows in the Chiltern Hills with that essential café in which to grab a bite to eat and a coffee. Bikes are welcome – Ashridge stretches over 5,000 acres so there’s plenty of space for walkers, cyclists, dogs and horses.

Our favourite time to visit the Ashridge Estate is in spring when the woods are filled with bluebells.

Looking for other places for a springtime walk? Read my post about where to find bluebells in Hertfordshire .

Find out more about the Ashridge Estate

Across the border….

We only have two National Trust places to visit in Hertfordshire but there’s a few really great places close by. Just over the border into Essex is the brilliant Hatfield Forest – a huge area of woodland, fields and lakes along with a great little café.

Just north of Herts in Cambridgeshire is the impressive Wimpole Estate which is great for long walks across the fields – there’s a ruined folly hidden away on a hill which is worth seeking out. Our kids loved the play area outside the café.

And my other National Trust recommendation close by is Dunstable Downs in the Bedfordshire Chilterns– it has to be one of the best kite flying destinations in the country.

Additional outdoor places to visit in Hertfordshire

As well as the places detailed above, there are of course an almost endless list of beautiful outdoor places to visit in Hertfordshire. Instead of listing all of them here, below are some links which you should find helpful.

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust – this details all of the nature reserves in Hertfordshire. We have lots of favourite spots near us which are perfect for walks of varying lengths. There’s a useful map function on the site to give you an overview of where all the various reserves are.

Woodland Trust – similar to the Wildlife Trust, you can search for woods to walk in near where you live – there are lots of little pockets of woodland which you can find on the map. Some are established with a dedicated car park while others require more creative ways of accessing them. If you’ve exhausted all the well known spots in your area, this is a great resource for finding new places to explore.

RSPB nature reserves – there’s only one RSPB nature reserve in Hertfordshire – Rye Meads. But there are other reserves worth visiting not far over the border into the neighbouring counties. Again, there’s a map search function to help you choose.

Herts Garden Trust – this charity researches and protects historical parks in Hertfordshire. Some of the destinations I’ve mentioned above feature on the website but there’s quite a few others too. The website also has a section on Hertfordshire walks.

Parks Herts – this is a really useful website detailing all of the parks in Hertfordshire. You can search by various themes – family, cycle, picnic and so forth. It’s a brilliant resource for anyone looking for a green space in Hertfordshire.

Prompted by the need to find places to meet my family and friends outdoors during the pandemic, I’ve also written an article about places to visit outdoors which covers sculpture parks, open air museums, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Nature Reserves. This is a countrywide article.

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in Hertfordshire, I’ve compiled a list of glamping sites – some rustic, some rather luxurious – all in beautiful parts of the county.

I’ve written a similar article to this one about things to do in Hertfordshire, so if you can’t find what you’re looking for here, do check that out for more ideas.

Do you live in Hertfordshire? Where are your favourite places to visit in Hertfordshire? Let me know in the comments below.

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The 49 best places to visit in Hertfordshire

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1 Hatfield House

2 Knebworth House

3 Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

4 st albans cathedral, 5 hitchin lavender.

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6 National Trust - Ashridge Estate

7 national trust - shaw's corner, 8 hertfordshire zoo (formerly paradise wildlife park), 9 verulamium park, 10 verulamium museum, 11 fairlands valley park, 12 heartwood forest, 13 hertford castle, 14 royston cave, 15 the cathedral and abbey church of st alban.

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16 Natural History Museum at Tring

17 aldenham country park, 18 rickmansworth aquadrome, 19 welwyn roman baths, 20 lee valley regional park authority, 21 benington lordship gardens, 22 celtic harmony, 23 lee valley white water centre, 24 cassiobury park, 25 mead open farm.

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26 De Havilland Aircraft Museum

27 ye olde fighting cocks, 28 stanborough park, 29 henry moore foundation (henry moore studios & gardens), 30 hare krishna temple watford - iskcon bhaktivedanta manor, 31 cheslyn house & gardens, 32 rspb rye meads, 33 hertford museum, 34 farmyard funworld ltd, 35 stevenage museum.

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36 Whitewebbs Museum of Transport

37 scott's grotto, 38 hatfield park, 39 amaravati buddhist monastery, 40 herts young mariners base outdoor centre, 41 puddingstone distillery – the home of campfire gin, 42 bayfordbury observatory, 43 panshanger park, 44 cromer windmill, 45 bury lane fun barn.

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46 Sopwell House

47 arkley fine art, 48 the grove, 49 the pop up farm, top searches in hertfordshire, what's the weather like in hertfordshire.

It depends on when you visit! We've compiled data from NASA on what the weather is like in Hertfordshire for each month of the year: see the links below for more information.

• Weather in Hertfordshire in January
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Hertfordshire throughout the year

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• Top things to do and attractions in St. Albans
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• Where to eat: the best restaurants in St. Albans
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Things to do in Hertfordshire – 16 must-visit places in Herts!

Best things to do in Hertfordshire England – from great market towns to chocolate-box villages, there are many places to see in Herts this weekend!

Hertfordshire is one of the most visited counties in the South of England . Wonder why? With so many famous sites such as Hatfield House, St Albans Cathedral or the magical Warner Bros Studio – you just can’t go wrong if you visit this county!

Have you already ticked off the main places in Hertfordshire? Do not worry! We have covered a few unusual things to do in Herts – perfect ideas for your next day trip from London !

The county of Hertfordshire is also one of the most popular places to call home – if you work in London. Due to its proximity to the capital, some of the top commuter towns near London are based in Herts.

Main cities and towns in Hertfordshire

• Hemel Hempstead
• Rickmansworth

Explore the best places to visit in Herts England and top ideas for things to do in Hertfordshire this weekend:

Top places to visit in Hertfordshire

1. hitchin lavender.

Where to go in Herts? Visit Hitchin Lavender! A small family-run farm where you can explore endless rows of lavender, many acres of sunflowers and also wildflowers.

If you are looking for ideas for your next day out of London , this amazing place in Hertfordshire just has to be on your list!

The car park is free of charge and there are a few other facilities you can enjoy while visiting the farm – café, a gift shop and a play area.

Address: Cadwell Farm, Arlesey Rd, Ickleford, Hitchin SG5 3UA

2. St Albans

Nice places to visit in Hertfordshire? Buzzing with life, history and entertainment, St Albans is a must-visit place in the Herts.

It is home to many amazing cafes and top-quality British pubs . The historic town centre is so beautiful that many visitors consider relocating there. In fact, St Albans is one of the most popular commuter towns around London .

If you haven’t been to this part of Hertfordshire, we strongly recommend visiting St. Albans !

3. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

Must-visit places in Hertfordshire? It’s only a 3rd position on our list of top places to visit in Hertfordshire but for many people, this is the number one attraction in the Herts!

Visit these iconic sets and discover what it took to bring the Harry Potter films to life at Warner Bros, Hertfordshire.

If you wish to see how the magic is made and make some too, then there is no other choice than to go for a trip to Warner Bros .

Book a ticket and explore the magical world of Harry Potter ! Rady for a Studio Tour from London ?

Best Hertfordshire things to do? There are many Hertfordshire destinations you just must-see! If you fancy quintessential British villages then head out to Aldbury!

Aldbury is not only a top place in the Herts but also one of the most popular villages near London .

You might recognize it from TV as it has appeared on the screen a few times as one of the Midsomer Murders locations .

With so many amazing Hertfordshire attractions to visit, the village of Aldbury has to be top of your list!

5. National Trust – Ashridge Estate

Where to go in Hertfordshire? Located in the Chiltern Hills , the Ashridge Estate consists of 5,000 acres of chalk downlands, woodland and lush meadows.

If you fancy a great walk near London this place in Herts is for you! You really can walk for miles here and even spot a variety of wildlife.

There is also one other big reason why Ashridge Estate is a top place to visit in Hertfordshire – bluebells!

Fun fact: Ashridge is one of the top places in the whole country to see bluebells. Many people do return each year during the last week of April and the first week of May to enjoy the dense carpet of amazing bluebells.

Days out in Hertfordshire? Best to visit this market town on the way to Hitchin Lavender farm – a perfect family trip from London !

Hitchin, a historic market town in Hertfordshire, is also located only four miles from Letchworth Garden City. If you have more time, you are welcome to visit it as well.

Due to its location and size, Hitchin has just over 30,000 residents, the town is a perfect place to call it home. In fact, this really is one of the most popular commuter towns London .

7. Ickleford

What to see in Herts? Known as a getaway to Hitchin Lavender Farm, this beautiful village is situated on the northern outskirts of Hitchin in Hertfordshire, England.

If you are looking for nice villages near London , the Ickleford in Hertfordshire should be very top on your list!

8. Hatfield

What to do in Hertfordshire? With a population of just under 40,000 Hatfield is one of the must-see towns in Hertfordshire.

Visit Hatfield House or spend a day in Stanborough Park. This town offers many attractions for everyone visiting it on a day trip from London .

It is also worth visiting De Havilland Aircraft Museum – Britain’s oldest aircraft museum – which is located just outside of Hatfield.

9. Rickmansworth Aquadrome

Nice places to visit in Hertfordshire? A public park and Local Nature Reserve in Rickmansworth, Rickmansworth Aquadrome really is a must-visit location in Hertfordshire.

It is known as a top destination for water-skiing, canoeing and sailing, as well as a popular area with a number of attractive walks around the lakes.

If you are looking for top places to hike near London , add Rickmansworth Aquadrome Circular walk to your list.

This 6-mile loop trail located near Rickmansworth is a moderate walk – perfect for families on a day out in Hertfordshire.

10. Hill Farm near Ashridge Estate

Best things to do in Hertfordshire for adults and kids? If you like the British countryside , then visit Hill Farm in Hertfordshire. This really is one of the best cafes near London!

With homemade cakes and bakes, jams, money and other local produce the café shop is a great place to get something sweet you can take home with you ?

Address: Northchurch Common, Berkhamsted HP4 1LS

11. Berkhamsted

Looking for best towns in Hertfordshire? Berkhamsted was named in the past as one of the best places to live in the South East of England – no wonder it is a top commuter town near London .

This historic market town in Hertfordshire, England is located in the Bulbourne valley just over 25 miles northwest of the capital city.

From Norman Castle and Grand Union Canal to stunning walks and amazing café – there are many things to do in Berkhamsted !

12. The Snow Centre

Top places to visit in Herts England? The UK is not really blessed with great winter weather but if you are a fan of snow – you can enjoy it all year round in the Snow Centre in Hertfordshire.

Need a ski lesson? No problem! Whether you’re a beginner or pro they have lessons at any level. The huge 160m main slope is covered with the perfect snow and there is also a Lodge Bar with a wide choice of drinks, snacks and full meals.

If you are looking for a fun day out from London this is the top location in Hertfordshire! ?

Address: St Albans Hill, Hemel Hempstead HP3 9NH

13. Verulamium Park

Best things to do in Herts? This Verulamium Park is the most scenic green space in St. Albans , Hertfordshire.

With Roman ruins, lakes and the opportunity to spot swans and ducks, this is a perfect location for a family walk near London .

There is also a good cafe in the park and several great pubs nearby – if you are looking for the best pubs near London , then why not give it a go!? Just visit the Verulamium Park in Hertfordshire!

14. Rickmansworth

Whats on Hertfordshire? If you are looking for a combination of countryside and city convenience, then why not call Rickmansworth home? In fact, this is one of the most popular commuter towns near London !

This place with a village-style vibe and plenty of green space is only a 30-minute away from the capital city!

If you are not planning to move to Hertfordshire you should at least give it a go and spend a day out in Rickmansworth – it really is one of the top places to visit in Herts!

15. Tring Reservoirs

Best places to visit in Herts? Tring Reservoirs is a group of four reservoirs near Tring. It is located in the Chilterns just on the border of Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire .

Names of the four reservoirs are:

• Startops End

This is one of the best circular walks near London and one of the most notable birding spots in the South of England . It is welcoming over 250 different species – from swans and herons to many kinds of ducks.

16. Ashridge House

Top places to visit in Herts county? This used to be a royal residence to Henry VIII and Princess Elizabeth I.

Today, the Ashridge House is home to very expensive venues such as weddings, conferences and other events. Do not worry if you can’t afford it, you can still spend some time walking around the 190 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens.

Summer is a magical time and if you a fan of open-air cinema you will be delighted to know that there are outdoor screenings at Ashridge House for you to enjoy summer evenings!

Is it worth visiting Hertfordshire?

Hertfordshire really has a lot to offer. Due to its location, it is one of our favourite counties in the south of England . Yes, it’s a perfect location for a day trip from London ! With so many historical sites to visit and beautiful British villages , there is a bit of everything for everyone!

So, are you planning to visit Herts in the next week or two? 😉

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15 Best Places to Visit in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire is a beautiful county in Southern England bordering with Greater London. Hertfordshire has a lot to offer to travellers whether you’re traveling in a couple, with friends or as a family with kids. Anyone can find a suitable activity or a place to visit in Hertfordshire.

Why you should take recommendations from me? I live in Hertfordshire for 3 years now and I completely fell in love with the country.

Best Places to Visit in Hertfordshire

• Panshanger Park: Panshanger Park is 1,000 acre of beautiful nature with lakes, river and wildlife. In a hot summer day you could also dip your toes in the river.

2. St Albans Cathedral: Locally referred to as “The Abbey”, St Albans Cathedral features stunning architecture dates from Norman times. It is located next to a beautiful park which makes it a lovely day trip.

3. The Pop Up Farm: What better than a farm featuring different crops according to the season? From pumpkins to lavender and sunflowers, the Pop Up Farm is a great place to visit whether you are traveling with your family or even just for the photo opportunities.

4. The Grove: One of the most luxury hotels in the area is The Grove. Whether you’re looking for a spa break or an indulgent afternoon tea The Grove is the go-to hotel.

5. Frithsden Vineyard: At the edge of Hertfordshire in the Chiltren Hills is a boutique English vineyard. It makes a fun day trip with a cafe on-site and vineyard tours on offer.

6. Sopwell House: Sopwell House is a luxury country house hotel located at the heart of Herfordshire. It provides a countryside escape and a sanctuary featuring a relaxing spa and an indoor heated pool.

7. Harpenden: This lovely village of Harpenden is Hertfordshire’s hidden gem. From cute cafes to boutiques picturesque village walks- Harpenden is worth a visit.

8. Hatfield House: Hatfield House is a country house rich in history set in a large park. The house and woodlands, as well as a cafe and shops, are open to the public. Make sure you purchase your tickets in advanced.

9. Brocket Hall: Brocket Hall is another country house in herfordshire rich in history. Over the years, house was owned by many influential people such as John Brocket in the 50s and it also been a film location for a number of movies. Today Brocket Hall is used as a wedding venue, a hotel and is home to a golf course.

10. Elstree Manor: Tucked away at the middle of the countryside is a lovely Manor House. The Manor is a cozy hotel currently hosting weddings and events. It als has a variety of dinning options including afternoon-tea.

11. Heartwood Forest: Visiting Heartwood Forest is a great day trip. It is the home to the largest continuous new native forest in England.

12. Knebworth House: This medieval church is a must-visit for architecture lovers. It is best known for being a rock concert venue on the 70s and 90s. Nowadays, visitors can visit the house and gardens. Tickets should be purchased in advanced.

13. Shenley Park: Shenley is a great local park. It features a 22- acre of Orchards and a tea room.

14. Gobion Woods: This beautiful woods is the perfect place to walk and be surrounded by nature. It is perfect for a visit with the family for its nature trails.

15. The Pancake House: Located in a grade II listed building featuring conserved watermill, is a fanstastic restaurant loved by locals and tourists alike. Waffle House is a family business since 1978, specialising in sweet and savoury Belgian waffles using the finest ingredients.

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Home » Travel Guides » United Kingdom » England » 15 Best Things to Do in Hertford (Hertfordshire, England)

15 Best Things to Do in Hertford (Hertfordshire, England)

Hertfordshire’s county seat is a small but well-preserved market town at an ancient crossing on the River Lea.

The English church’s first general Synod happened in this place in 673, when the date for Easter was decided on.

Not long after, the Anglo-Saxons identified Hertford as a strategic site at the confluence of four rivers, and Edward the Elder built defences over the Lea’s ford.

One of these would evolve into Hertford Castle, a royal palace up to the reign of James I and with riverfront gardens open to the public.

Among Hertford’s many small but interesting sights are the oldest purpose-built Friends Meeting House (1670), the house that the naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace grew up in and lots of 17th-century and Georgian architecture.

1. Hertford Heritage Trail

To show just how many curiosities await you on Hertford’s streets, there are more than 41 stops on the town’s Heritage Trail.

In the shadow of the grand Georgian Shire Hall, Fore Street is extremely pretty.

The entire length of the street merits a look, but the western end is a joy for the rare pargeting (decorative stuccowork) visible on the Salisbury Arms (1570) and the terrace of mid-17th-century houses at 3-13. Wallace House at 11 St Andrew Street is obligatory.

This was the childhood home of naturalist Alfred Russell Wallace (1823-1913), who travelled to the Amazon Basin and Malay Archipelago and independently came up with a theory of evolution at the same time as Darwin.

2. Hertford Castle

Straddling the River Lea, Castle Gardens is a beautiful place to pass an hour or two.

These are the grounds of Hertford Castle, on a site first fortified by the King of the Anglo-Saxons, Edward the Elder in the early 10th century.

This was turned into a Norman motte-and-bailey castle in the 11th century, and that earthwork mound can still be seen beside the Lea.

The castle was rebuilt in stone by Henry II in the 1170s and over the coming centuries was a royal residence, often used for important prisoners like Knights Templar, and King John II of France and David II of Scotland during the Hundred Years’ War.

In 1563 Parliament met at this very building during an outbreak of plague in London.

This was the castle’s high point before a long decline.

Along with Henry II’s flint and stone wall, the main surviving structure is the gatehouse, remodelled in a Gothic Revival style in the late-18th century.

This is a private building for weddings, but can be visited during Heritage Open Days in September, while the gardens are always open to the public.

3. Hertford Museum

The Hertford Museum dates back to 1903, and was founded by a pair of businessmen, the Andrews Brothers, calling on their own collection.

The current location is a 17th-century townhouse, and the museum was given a Heritage Lottery makeover a decade ago, reopening in 2010. There are more than 100,000 objects in the collection so only 5% of this sizeable reserve can be shown at one time.

As you’d guess, the exhibition jumps from topic to topic, covering fine art, geology, ethnography, archaeology, ceramics, photography, the Hertfordshire Regiment and local ephemera to give a sense of the day-to-day in Hertford over the years.

Always on show and not to be missed is the Roman corn-drying oven (for beer), dating back to the 4th century and weighing 20 tons.

There has been no equivalent find in the UK.

4. Riverside Trail

You can get a feel for Hertford and the River Lea on the Riverside Trail, which guides you along to the neighbouring town of Ware, and then back to Hertford on a Figure of Eight.

This easy stroll is just under six miles and carries you over the Lee Valley floodplain, past the Hertford and Ware locks, waterside gazebos, the remnants of 18th-century watermills and a historic pump house.

At Chadwell Springs you’ll see the “New River”, a manmade waterway from 1613, intended to supply London with drinking water (London still gets much of its water from the Lea). The King’s Mead, also just outside Ware, floods over in winter to provide a feeding ground for migrating and overwintering birds like teals, gadwalls and shovelers.

5. Scotts Grotto

If you take the walk to Ware on a Saturday, you have to make the short detour to Scotts Grotto, a set of interlinked chambers lined with flint, coloured glass, shells and fossils and extending 20 metres into the chalk hillside.

The Grade I-listed Scotts Grotto used to be part of garden of Amwell House and was ordered by the Quaker poet John Scott (1731-1783). This complex would have taken several years and cost as much as £10,000 to complete, an astronomical sum at the time.

It is though that Scott just wanted somewhere to write, although the word “FROG” in the main “Council Chamber” is a tribute to his wife, Sarah Frogley.

The estate has since been redeveloped, but the grotto remains and can be visited on Saturdays (14:00-16:30) between April and September.

6. Quaker Meeting House

At 50 Railway Street stands the oldest purpose-built Friends’ Meeting House in the world to have remained in unbroken use.

The first Quaker preacher came to Hertford in 1655 and practised in private houses until this building was completed in 1670. If you’re interested in seeing the typically low-key but atmospheric interiors there’s an open day on the second Sunday of the month between May and September.

7. All Saints’ Church

Aside from St Albans Cathedral, Hertford’s All Saints’ Church is the largest church in Hertfordshire.

This Grade II* building is newer than it seems, having been completed in 1905 after the previous church was destroyed in a fire in 1891. The design is Perpendicular Revival, in a Northern style, using red sandstone from Runcorn.

Although little is more than 100 years old, the degree of workmanship is high, on the stained glass windows (east window by Charles Eamer Kempe), polished limestone font, pulpit, sedilia and piscina in the chancel and the three-manual organ (1900) by Henry Willis & Sons.

Among the memorials are pieces of brasses dating back to the 1400s rescued from the previous church.

8. Hertford Theatre

This modern complex at The Wash by the River Lea is Hertford’s main performing arts venue.

The Hertford Theatre is handy if you want to sample local productions (the Ware Operatic performs here), classical music, as well as touring musicians and comedians, and talks by cultural figures and politicians.

The theatre doubles as a cinema, showing Hollywood blockbusters and more obscure independent films.

Also on the programme are screenings from major cultural institutions like the National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Society productions.

9. Panshanger Park

The picturesque country estate on Hertford’s western fringe is actually owned by Tarmac, which bought the land for sand and gravel extraction.

And while the Gothic Revival house might have been demolished in the 1950s, a lot of the land has been kept as a nature reserve.

Some 200 acres were opened to the public in 2014, comprising a tapestry of habitats including grassland, wetlands and reedbeds.

Ospreys, kingfishers and a variety of wildfowl have been recorded at the reserve.

Traces of the historic estate, like the orangery, stables and nursery garden wall, remain, while the park grows the country’s largest maiden oak (girth of 7.6 metres), and a tree planted by Winston Churchill.

The remainder of the estate will be opened to the public when the quarrying comes to an end.

10. Shire Hall

The head-turning monument on Market Place and Fore Street is the Grade I-listed Shire Hall, an 18th-century construction by James Adam, son of the famed Robert Adam.

Dating to the late-1760s, the Shire Hall was built to house the Corn Exchange (up to the 1850s), as well as courts, a council chamber and assembly rooms.

This imposing building has four storeys, composed of bricks, as well as dressed Portland stone for the arcades, window arches, ledges, garlanded frieze and Ionic columns.

Shire Hall is currently used as a family magistrates court, but is worth a second glance as you wander the town.

11. Hartham Common

Bounded by the Rivers Lea and Beane, Hartham Common is a green space to the north of the town centre, first mentioned more than 1,000 years ago and left unsown.

Once a site for jousting contests and archery competitions, the common is crossed by public rights of way, and you may see cattle grazing in the meadows.

A few sports clubs, like the Herts Canoe and Hertford Lawn Tennis Club are based on the common.

For public facilities, there’s a fenced children’s play area, a skate park and a cafe.

Hartham Leisure centre is here on the south side, and has a pool, tennis courts, 3G and grass football pitches and an 85-station gym.

12. Bayfordbury Observatory

Taking advantage of the sparse countryside south of Hertford, the University of Hertfordshire’s Bayfordbury Observatory dates back to 1969 and is one of the biggest teaching observatories in the country.

The facility has seven optical and four radio telescopes, the largest being a 20-inch J.C.D Marsh Cassegrain Telescope.

If you’re around between October and March you can sign up for an open evening, normally held around once a month.

For amateur astronomers this is a privilege, including the chance to look through one of the seven optical telescopes, study the night sky live at the planetarium, meet researchers and students to discuss their work, attend talks and watch demonstrations by experts.

13. Corn Exchange

This grand Neoclassical hall on Fore Street was opened in 1859, and in the 20th century became a live music venue.

The likes of The Kinks and The Who played the Corn Exchange before it lay empty for 30 years, to be revived in the last decade.

The Corn Exchange books lots of live music, from cover acts to well-known touring artists.

There’s also lots of stand-up comedy, and a diversity of club nights, centred on anything from ska to drum and bass, Argentine tango, 80s disco and soul music.

14. Charter Market

Trading on Salisbury Square, Maidenhead St, Railway St and Bircherley Green, there’s a retail market every Saturday in the centre of town.

You can peruse these stalls for fruit and vegetables, fish, meat, fresh bread and pastries, eggs, flowers, fashion accessories, homewares and lots more.

On Market Place on the second Saturday of the month there’s also a Farmers’ Market from 08:30 to 13:00 selling poultry, dairy, fruit and vegetables, bread, cakes, honey and all manner of homemade condiments from local farms.

15. Lee & Stort Boat Co

A slightly confusing thing about the River Lea is that the navigable arm of the river is called the “Lee” Navigation.

Well, from Easter to September you can make the idyllic journey from Hertford to Ware on the Lee, via the Ware and Hertford Waterbus.

On a wide barge that can be modified according to the weather you’ll float through the nature-rich floodplains for about 90 minutes each way and navigate the Hertford and Ware locks.

Services depart on Saturdays and Sundays, from Bircherley Green Shopping Centre in Hertford.

15 Best Things to Do in Hertford (Hertfordshire, England):

• Hertford Heritage Trail
• Hertford Castle
• Hertford Museum
• Riverside Trail
• Scotts Grotto
• Quaker Meeting House
• All Saints' Church
• Hertford Theatre
• Panshanger Park
• Hartham Common
• Bayfordbury Observatory
• Corn Exchange
• Charter Market
• Lee & Stort Boat Co

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The History Hit Miscellany of Facts, Figures and Fascinating Finds

10 of the Best Historic Sites in Hertfordshire

Trace hertfordshire's history at these sites and attractions..

Kyle Hoekstra

20 jun 2022, @kylehoekstra.

The landlocked southern English county of Hertfordshire boasts country houses and medieval remains, from Ashridge House to the impressive Welwyn Roman Baths.

Among Hertfordshire’s historic sites number St Albans Cathedral, the oldest site of continuous Christian worship in Britain, and the Tudor mansion Old Gorhambury House, home to Sir Francis Bacon.

Here are 10 of the best historic sites in Hertfordshire.

1. Ashridge

With a history dating back over 700 years, Ashridge House in Hertfordshire has been lived in by King Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. It has also served as a wartime hospital. The present house is regarded as one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the UK and is a Grade I listed building.

2. Verulamium

Verulamium was a prominent Roman settlement near modern day St Albans in Hertfordshire, England. Formerly the tribal capital of the native Catuvellauni tribe, Verulamium was conquered by the Romans during their invasion of Britain in 43 AD.

By 50 AD, Verulamium had become a major Roman town, and as such was a prime target during the revolt of Boudica in 61 AD, when it was burnt to the ground. The Romans crushed the revolt and re-built Verulamium, and it remained a central Roman town for the next 400 years.

The Roman remains at Verulamium Park consist of a variety of buildings – a basilica, bathhouse, part of the city walls and an outline of the London Gate. The most impressive are the remains of the roman theatre which lie across the road.

3. Berkhamsted Castle

Berkhamsted Castle was an 11th century Norman castle in Hertfordshire, built as a strategic stronghold between London and the Midlands . Though today in ruins, visitors are able to trace the dramatic earthworks and stone remains of what was once a thriving medieval palace.

Today Berkhamsted Castle is managed by English Heritage and is protected as an ancient monument. Visitors may traverse the site ruins, including the remains of the castle’s large outer defences and some of the structures within the bailey, one of which was likely a chapel.

4. Hatfield House

Hatfield House is a Jacobean country house built on the site of Hatfield Palace, where Elizabeth I spent much of her life.

Built in approximately 1485 by John Morton Bishop of Ely, Hatfield Palace came into the possession Henry VIII in the 16th century where it was installed as the home of his young children.

During the Stuart era the Palace was given to favourite of James I , Robert Cecil, the 1st Earl of Salisbury, who duly ripped down three wings in 1608 and rebuilt the current structure in 1611. Renamed Hatfield House, it has since been owned by the Cecil family and remains their family home.

5. St Albans

Originally a Celtic British settlement known as Verlamion, the town of St Albans was conquered by the Romans and re-named Verulamium. Despite suffering great destruction during the revolt of Boudicca in 60-61AD, the town was re-built and became a thriving settlement.

The impressive site of St Albans Cathedral contains the shrine of St Alban – a Roman convert to Christianity who became Britain’s first martyr after he was executed for sheltering a Christian priest. The Norman building replaced an earlier monastery, and significant restoration work took place in the 19th century.

6. Knebworth House

Knebworth House is a Grade II listed English country house in Hertfordshire, England, and was home to the 19th century writer and politician Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton, today remembered for his coining of the phrases “It was a dark and stormy night” and “the pen is mightier than the sword”.

Knebworth House is marked by its turrets and domes on the exterior, but behind its Victorian stucco lurks a red brick Tudor house. The house traces 500 years of Lytton family history, with each generation leaving their fingerprints on the rooms.

7. Welwyn Roman Baths

The Welwyn Roman Baths complex houses the remains of a Roman bathhouse dating back to the 3rd century AD. The village of Welwyn was once the site of a Romano-British settlement, where a Roman road crossed the river Mimram.

Originally part of a larger Roman villa (the Dicket Mead villa), the bath house remains are a scheduled ancient monument, with the layout of the cold, warm and hot rooms and the heating system remarkably well preserved.

Today visitors to Welwyn Roman Baths can view the remains of the small bath complex , discover information on the Roman’s elegant culture and approach to bathing and view an exhibition detailing the history of the site and other relevant archaeological finds from the local area.

8. Bushey Museum

Bushey Museum in Hertfordshire is dedicated to the history of the local area, including many works from its notable local artists.

Bushey’s reputation as a centre of artistic output derives from the 19th century, when Hubert von Herkomer moved to the area from Bavaria in 1874. He founded the Herkomer’s Art School in 1883, which over its 21-year lifespan attracted some 500 art students to the area, many of which stayed there to set up their own studios.

These art schools, along with their founders and students, formed the basis of the Bushey Museum and Bushey’s wider artistic legacy.

9. Bennington Lordship

Bennington Lordship is a Georgian house with landscaped park and gardens listed as Grade II which occupy 7 acres of Hertfordshire country landscape. Though Bennington Lordship is a private home, its gardens are open during advertised hours between February and August.

A motte-and-bailey castle was built in the surroundings in the 11th or 12th century, which was finally destroyed in 1212 following Robert Fitzwalter’s rebellion against King John. Earthworks from the keep remain from the original structure.

10. Old Gorhambury House

Set in picturesque countryside, Old Gorhambury House is a Tudor mansion built from 1563 to 1568, which gained repute as the home of the Lord Keeper Sir Nicholas Bacon and later his celebrated son Sir Francis. It was visited by Queen Elizabeth I on a number of occasions.

The site is maintained by the English Heritage Trust and is open to visitors. Set against the backdrop of the pleasant St Albans countryside, the ruins make for an interesting and picturesque day out.

Things to Do in Hertford, Hertfordshire - Hertford Attractions

Things to do in hertford, tours near hertford.

Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, and Bath from London

Big Bus London Hop-On Hop-Off Tour and River Cruise

Westminster Walking Tour & Westminster Abbey Entry

The Premier Classic London: Private 4-Hour Tour in a Black Cab

Stonehenge, Windsor Castle and Bath with Pub Lunch in Lacock

Westminster 3 Hour Walking Tour & Visit Churchill War Rooms

Small-Group Cotswolds Tour (From London)

Guided Luxury Paris Day Trip with Optional Lunch at the Eiffel Tower

Windsor Castle Half Day Trip from London

Guided Tour of London Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham

Top attractions in hertford.

Other Top Attractions around Hertford

What travelers are saying

• Hertford Theatre
• Panshanger Park,
• Hertford Castle
• Hertford Museum
• Hartham Common
• The Farmers Boy
• The White Lion, Bengeo

Top Things to Do in Hertford, Hertfordshire

Places to visit in hertford, tours near hertford.

Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, and Bath from London

Big Bus London Hop-On Hop-Off Tour and River Cruise

Westminster Walking Tour & Westminster Abbey Entry

The Premier Classic London: Private 4-Hour Tour in a Black Cab

Stonehenge, Windsor Castle and Bath with Pub Lunch in Lacock

Westminster 3 Hour Walking Tour & Visit Churchill War Rooms

Small-Group Cotswolds Tour (From London)

Guided Luxury Paris Day Trip with Optional Lunch at the Eiffel Tower

Windsor Castle Half Day Trip from London

Guided Tour of London Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham

Top attractions in hertford.

Other Top Attractions around Hertford

What travellers are saying

• Hertford Theatre
• Panshanger Park,
• Hertford Castle
• Hertford Museum
• Hartham Common
• The Farmers Boy
• The White Lion, Bengeo