Looking at a staycation kind of holiday? Or perhaps a little road trip that will take you to new places without the need to board a plane or remember your passport. Well, in that case, we bring you Hertfordshire.
There are some real hidden gems to visit in this county and we bring you some of the very best in this short guide to tourism in Herts. This home county spans more than 1,600km square and is home to 1.181million people. Major towns include Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage, Watford, St Albans and Hertford.
If you’re planning on a trip down to this part of the world, there’s plenty to see and do, here are some highlights:
Visit Hogwarts
Perhaps the highlight of this trip for any Harry Potter fan is the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. Be transported to the great dining hall at Hogwarts, have a go at mixing up some spells in potions class, drop into Dumbledore’s study and even take a stroll down Diagon Alley. Will your wand be waiting for you?
Have a drink
Visit what is reportedly England’s oldest pub, Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, which is believed to have stood in St Albans since 793 AD and is where Oliver Cromwell regularly dined. The pub is conveniently close to St Albans Cathedral where, in 1215 the first draft of the Magna Carta was drawn up.
Afterwards take a stroll around the market city and explore what St Albans has to offer.
Beautiful buildings
If architecture and the Architect in Hertfordshire are more your thing, then check out the eighteenth-century working watermill museum and bakery in St Albans. This beautiful building is still in working order, creating organic stoneground flour from nearby crops, which are baked into handmade loaves in the neighbouring bakery.
Buy a loaf and learn all about the process from gathering crops to flour making and baking.
Marvellous museums
Don’t miss the British Schools Museum, located in Hitchin. This historic building displays classrooms through the history of education and also allows you access to the headmaster’s house. The displays bring history to life, making a great afternoon out for all the family.
Back to nature
Finally, don’t miss out on your chance to get up close to nature at Paradise Wildlife Park in Broxbourne. Meet the Big Cats at this interactive zoo and learn about wildlife as you feed and get to know them. The zoo also includes five adventure playgrounds for younger explorers to let off a little steam.
Why travel abroad when there’s so much to do right here on our doorsteps? Take a trip to the home county of Hertfordshire for your chance to step into a wizarding world, step back in time with a fabulous museum and step out of your comfort zone when you’re face to face with some impressive wild animals.
Whether you spend the day, the weekend or the week, you’ll be glad you decided to turn your staycation into an adventure that memories are made from.
~A~
* Collaborative post
Most of us love getting away from the daily routine by taking a holiday, and summer is the perfect time to do so. For some, the destination isn’t too important; they simply want somewhere they can relax and do something a little different. For others, however, we’re overwhelmed with the number of beautiful places in the world, And we want to share all of them with our children. Especially if you have young children, travelling long-haul can be quite a feat, so in this post I’m looking at some of the most popular destinations for family holidays right here in Europe.
So, you have finally decided it is time to plan that holiday of a lifetime and splash out on one of the best adventures you could ever hope to have. Planning this amazing break doesn’t have to be the mammoth task it may initially appear to be, but rather a breezy process where you can get the practicalities out of the way quickly and efficiently. Meaning you can get down to the business of crossing the days off on your calendar until you jet off somewhere magical.
Working from home means we don’t have to panic about childcare. Life can go on as normal without my other half worrying about taking time off to help with the kids. I don’t need child minders or a holiday camp, right?
