Local Information

Hertford and the surrounding area has a wealth of places to visit and things to do with the added benefit of being only a short train journey from London.  The town is very cosmopolitan in the evening with numerous restaurants and pubs. There are shops in the town to browse around and Hertford is well known for its antique shops. The outlet centre at The Galleria is only 20 minutes drive away and Lakeside and Bluewater shopping centres are not too far by car either.

There is a tourist information office in Hertford Town Centre whose friendly and helpful staff will gladly provide detailed information. Their telephone number is 01992 584322.  A sample of just some of the local places of interest are given here.

Entertainment:

As well as all the pubs and restaurants in the town, the Castle Hall shows various productions. There is a similar theatre in Broxbourne, the Civic Hall. On a larger scale, the Gordon Craig Theatre in Stevenage, the Playhouse in Harlow and St Albans Arena are all within easy driving distance and have a good programme of events. It is of course just a train ride into London with the West End theatres and sights available. 

Sports:

There is a gym, indoor swimming pool, tennis courts, pitch and putt, bowls and a large recreation area at Hartham Common which is within walking distance of Two Ways and there are several golf courses in the area. A horse riding stables is just up the road and numerous other sporting activities are available in the vicinity. Many pleasant walks are to be found locally including the Hertfordshire Way long distance footpath.

Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies Library.

This is a must for anyone visiting the area for family history purposes. They hold copies of parish registers, census returns, newspapers, trade directories, probate records and many others for Hertfordshire. They also have microfiche copies of the Civil Registration Indexes for births, marriages and deaths from 1837 to 1996 for the whole of England and Wales. In addition, there is a large reading room and archive area which holds many old documents for Hertfordshire residents. There is a charge to use the microfiche and microfilm readers and booking in advance is recommended. You can contact them by e-mail on: hals@hertscc.gov.uk.

Paradise Wildlife Park: Located in Broxbourne, this is a fun day out. Visit their website at: www.pwpark.com for further details.

Whipsnade Wild Animal Park: in Dunstable, Bedfordshire - www.whipsnade.co.uk

Woburn Safari Park: near Milton Keynes - www.woburnsafari.co.uk

Historical Interest:

There are lots of historical places of interest in Hertford and the surrounding areas.  Some of the larger attractions are:

Hatfield House, Park and Gardens: Just a short drive - contact: 01707 262823

Knebworth House, Gardens, Park and Playground: again, not far to drive to -  www.knebworthhouse.com

Scotts Grotto: underground passages decorated with flints and thousands of shells in Ware, just a short car, bus or train journey away - telephone 01920 464131