Awesome things To Do In Hatfield on your trip to England

One of the reasons that buying or renting a house in Hertfordshire is becoming increasingly popular with our clients is that there are so many wonderful things to do in our lovely county. As well as only being around 30 minutes away from the centre of London by train the towns of Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage also offer a wealth of activities to those who live here. From sports and shopping opportunities to historic houses and unique days out, there is something for everyone.

Hatfield is home to the historic Hatfield House which opens its doors from spring to autumn every year in England. It provides a variety of interesting activities for visitors. If you love local history you can take a tour of the stately home and old Tudor palace where Elizabeth I lived and, if you love the great outdoors, the woods and gardens make a beautiful setting to take some exercise or walk your dogs. There is also a rare breed animal farm and a children’s climbing frame making it perfect for young families too. Check out some of the top best things to do in Hatfield!

Hatfield Park In Hatfield

Hatfield House presides over an immense estate, with three looped trails through the landscaped parkland. The longest and most recommended is the Red Walk, 3.2 miles long and requires about 90 minutes. On this route, you’ll discover everything the park has a to offer, like the dreamy banks of the River Lea, the deer park, the stately Queen Elizabeth Avenue, the remnants of a 17th-century vineyard, the former estate sawmill and the Daffodil Ride, which is astonishing in early spring. Some of the trees in the park are more than 700 years old, and the Queen Elizabeth Oak marks the place where Princess Elizabeth learned of her accession to the throne in 1558.

Heartwood Forest In Hatfield

Some 600,000 trees have been planted among pockets of ancient woodland at this new forest a couple of miles west of Hatfield. Initiated by the Woodland Trust, Heartwood Forest is made up entirely of native British tree species. With around 347 acres, the forest used to be agricultural land. After 10 years of planning and planting, the Heartwood Forest opened to the public from March 2018. It’s the sort of place you can revisit to see the annual progress. Gradually coming together are a community orchard, wildflower meadows and an arboretum where you can view all 60 native British trees in one place.

Willows Activity Farm In Hatfield

More like a theme park that an ordinary farm attraction, Willows Activity Farm looks after many different domestic animals. Packed with funfair rides, inflatables and outdoor and indoor soft play areas has a lot for tourists. And being a working farm, the choice of things to do changes with the seasons. So children can meet the newborn lambs in February, watch sheep-shearing demonstrations in spring and go on Easter Egg hunts. They can negotiate the maize maze in summer and harvest potatoes and pumpkins in autumn. On an average day throughout the year, there’s a show with Peter Rabbit, a cow-milking demonstration, sheep racing and three sessions for petting small animals.

The Old Palace In Hatfield

Although Robert Cecily demolished most of it, a big piece of Elizabeth’s childhood home does survive, at Hatfield House’s Old Palace. The Banqueting Hall has many original oak beams in its roof. Later this turned into stables, with beams and roof timbers laced with a gunshot from when people would shoot at the sparrows that nested in the ceiling. The Old Palace is hired out for events but also opens regularly, and you can enter the viewing bay and Upper Solar from the West Garden.

St Albans In Hatfield

Only six miles separate Hatfield from the ancient cathedral city of St Albans. Known as Verulamium, this was the second-largest town in Roman Britain after London. It’s the first large town on Watling Street for travellers heading north. There’s a super museum for Verulamium, together with the phenomenal Verulamium Park where you can view traces of the wall, the London Gate and mosaic floor. The Medieval town grew around the Abbey of St Albans, which became the principal monastery in England. Dissolved in the 16th-century, this became a cathedral in 1877 with an awe-inspiring mix of Norman Romanesque and Gothic stonework. Among its many exceptional features are the only surviving 11th-century great crossing tower in England, and the ornate 15th-century Wallingford Screen. The screen’s niches adorn the Victorian statues replacing those lost in the 16th-century Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Mill Green Mill and Museum In Hatfield

Since 11th-century, the old mill on River Lea has stood at this spot just like in the Domesday Book. The present building dates to the 18th century, while the miller’s cottage next door is about a century older. Powered by the waterwheel, the wooden machinery turns stones to freshly ground organic flour.

If you prefer a bit of retail therapy then look no further than the glorious Galleria. Its a shopping, eating and cinema complex housing some of the big names discount stores including Gap, Waterstones and M&S. It’s a fantastic place to grab some bargains and relax afterwards with a meal at a range of restaurants.

However, if sport is more your thing then Hatfield benefits from the fabulous University of Hertfordshire. The sports centre which has a pool, badminton courts, a gym and a climbing wall. There’s also a weekly park run for those who love to run. Finding this guide useful? Start crafting your itinerary online with the top highlights of England at Pickyourtrail! Check out some of the best England holiday packages and book your dream vacation with your loved ones now! Happy and safe travelling!