Summary
As a newly constructed town, Hatfield emerged in response to the acute housing crisis following the Second World War.
This mid-century modern streetscape developed adjacent to Hatfield House, a historic mansion where Elizabeth I spent her childhood and narrowly escaped imprisonment in the 16th century.
Visitors can view some of her personal artifacts, including the notable Rainbow Portrait, depicting her with a rainbow.
Within the park, a historic oak tree marks the location where Elizabeth learned of her accession to the throne in 1558. Additionally, Hatfield is linked to the pioneering aircraft manufacturer, de Havilland, whose heritage is preserved in a nearby museum in London Colney.
Let us delve into the top attractions in Hatfield:
1. Hatfield House
Located on the eastern side of the town, Hatfield House is a magnificent Jacobean mansion surrounded by over 40 acres of gardens.
Constructed in 1611 for Robert Cecil, the Chief Minister to James I, this property exemplifies the Prodigy House style, intended to host royalty during their travels across the country.
The interior features numerous original Jacobean designs, including a beautifully carved Grand Staircase and a stained glass window in the private chapel.
The “Old Palace” served as the childhood residence of Elizabeth I, a place she returned to frequently throughout her life.
Many artifacts related to Elizabeth can be found throughout the building, including the Rainbow Portrait (1600-02) as well as personal clothing items like her hat, gloves, and silk stockings.
The garden’s history is equally compelling; Robert Cecil enlisted gardener John Tradescant the Elder, who introduced new European plant species to England.
2. Mill Green Mill and Museum
The historic mill located on the River Lea, close to the Hertford Road, has existed in various forms since the 11th century, as referenced in the Domesday Book.
The current structure dates back to the 18th century, while the adjacent miller’s cottage is approximately a century older.
Inside the cottage, visitors can explore a museum featuring rotating exhibits focused on social history, local archaeology, and art. On milling days (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sunday afternoons), visitors can tour the operational mill.
The wooden machinery is still driven by the waterwheel, which powers the grinding stones for producing freshly milled organic flour.
Visitors may purchase bags of flour, enjoy a delightful cream tea on summer Sundays, and take a moment to relax in the Jubilee Garden, designed in the Tudor knot style to commemorate the golden jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2002.
3. Hatfield Park
Hatfield House overlooks a vast estate, where visitors can download maps for three circular trails that navigate through the beautifully landscaped park.
The longest and most recommended trail is the Red Walk, extending 3.2 miles, which typically takes around 90 minutes to complete.
Along this route, you will experience all the park has to offer, including the scenic banks of the River Lea, a deer park, the elegant Queen Elizabeth Avenue, remnants of a 17th-century vineyard, the former estate sawmill, and the Daffodil Ride, which is particularly stunning in early spring.
Several trees in the park boast ages exceeding 700 years, with one, the Queen Elizabeth Oak, marking the location where Princess Elizabeth received the news of her ascension to the throne in 1558.
4. The Old Palace
Despite much of it being demolished by Robert Cecil, a substantial portion of Elizabeth’s childhood residence remains at the Old Palace of Hatfield House.
This structure was erected around 1485 and is a remarkable example of medieval brick architecture.
In addition to growing up here, Elizabeth I was held under house arrest at the Old Palace during Mary I’s reign in the 1550s.
The surviving wing, known as the Banqueting Hall, showcases many original oak beams in its ceiling.
Over the years, it has been repurposed as stables, and the roof beams bear traces of gunshot from when people shot at the sparrows nesting in the ceiling.
The Old Palace is available for events and is also open to the public on a regular basis, allowing access to the viewing bay and Upper Solar from the West Garden.
5. Hatfield Park Farm
To the west of Hatfield House, this open farm is a delightful attraction for younger children, set in a verdant rural landscape.
Visitors have the opportunity to wander among the paddocks, getting close to sheep, cows, pigs, donkeys, chickens, goats, and ponies.
This farm features a miniature railway, the Bloody Hollow play area with a scale model of Hatfield House, a sandpit, and a “kids’ cabin.” Occasional tractor rides are also available.
Details of special events, such as Reptiles on the Farm, where children can meet and interact with reptiles, and Spooky Storytelling during Halloween, can be found on their website.
6. Stanborough Park
Located between Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City, Stanborough Park boasts two expansive lakes set within 126 acres of lush parkland.
This area has consistently received the prestigious Green Flag award for the past decade.
On the tree-lined paths, it is hard to believe this was formerly a gravel quarry just a few decades ago.
During weekends and school holidays from April to September, visitors can rent single and tandem kayaks, pedal boats, and rowboats to explore the northern lake, adorned with small islands.
The deeper southern lake is designated for sailing, fishing, and various water activities. Between the two lakes, accessible from the road, is the Terranova restaurant.
7. De Havilland Aircraft Museum
During the post-war years, the Hatfield aircraft manufacturer de Havilland was the town’s largest employer, with a workforce of nearly 4,000 individuals.
After several mergers, the factory ultimately became part of British Aerospace, which relocated production to Macclesfield in 1993. During its operation in Hatfield, the de Havilland Comet was produced.
Approximately 15 minutes away by car, visitors can find a de Havilland museum at another of its former factories located in London Colney.
This country estate, once the residence of Winston Churchill’s mother, was the site for the production of the de Havilland Mosquito.
The museum’s highlight is the Mosquito prototype developed in 1940, accompanied by two additional models created in 1943 and 1945. This versatile aircraft was renowned for its speed, successfully conducting reconnaissance, bombing, and fighting operations over hostile territory.
Moreover, there are exhibits featuring other aircraft from various periods, including two Vampires, a Sea Vixen, and a Sea Venom.
8. Paradise Wildlife Park
This reputable animal park is conveniently located just a few miles east of Hatfield.
Paradise Animal Park features over 500 animals, including numerous impressive big cats that will delight young visitors.
Among the residents are South African cheetahs, snow leopards, white Bengal tigers, Siberian tigers, and a jaguar.
Big Cat Territory is home to these magnificent creatures, while the Hooves and Humps area showcases ungulates such as Brazilian tapirs, reindeer, and the endangered Bactrian camel.
Additionally, there are over 35 different species of snakes and lizards housed in the Angkor Reptile Temple, and the Tropical Rainforest habitat boasts armadillos, sloths, and the UK’s largest collection of small monkeys, comprising ten different species.
9. Heartwood Forest
Heartwood Forest is comprised of 600,000 trees planted among pockets of ancient woodland, located a few miles west of Hatfield.
Initiated by the Woodland Trust, this forest consists entirely of native British tree species, spanning across 347 acres of what was once agricultural land.
After a decade of planning and planting, Heartwood Forest opened to the public in March 2018. It is a place you can return to annually to witness its growth.
Visitors can look forward to seeing the establishment of a community orchard, wildflower meadows, and an arboretum that features all 60 native British tree species in one location.
10. Panshanger Park
Located just ten minutes from Hatfield, Panshanger Park features a landscape with an intriguing history.
Acquired in 1700 by Earl Cowper, who served as England’s Lord Chancellor, his descendant— the 5th Earl Cowper— enlisted the celebrated landscape architect Humphry Repton to redesign the park at the dawn of the 19th century.
However, since the 1980s, Panshanger Park has been in the hands of Tarmac, which demolished the house and repurposed the estate for gravel and sand quarrying.
Notwithstanding this disruption, substantial portions of the park have been restored, reopening as a country park and nature reserve in 2014.
On designated trails, visitors may explore remarkable remnants of the estate, including ruins of the orangery, stables, cottages, and ancient trees.
The Panshanger Great Oak is particularly noteworthy, boasting a circumference of 7.6 meters, making it the UK’s largest maiden oak tree. Legend has it that it was planted by Elizabeth I.
11. St Albans
Only six miles separate Hatfield from the historic cathedral city of St Albans.
Once known as Verulamium, this was the second-largest town in Roman Britain following London and served as the first substantial settlement on Watling Street for travelers heading north.
The Verulamium Museum, alongside the remarkable Verulamium Park, showcases remnants of Roman architecture, such as the city walls, the London Gate, and an 1,800-year-old hypocaust and mosaic floor.
The medieval town developed around the Abbey of St Albans, which became the principal monastery in England.
Although dissolved in the 16th century, it was reestablished as a cathedral in 1877 and displays a captivating blend of Norman Romanesque and Gothic architecture.
Among its many remarkable attributes is the only surviving 11th-century great crossing tower in England, along with the ornate 15th-century Walingford Screen. Notably, the screen’s niches are decorated with Victorian statues that replaced those lost during the 16th-century Dissolution of the Monasteries.
12. Welwyn Roman Baths
Continuing along the Roman Trail, these Roman Baths can be found beneath the A1(M) motorway.
Constructed around the 3rd century, the baths were once part of a luxurious villa and were uncovered in 1960 by a local archaeologist.
The baths are exceptionally well-preserved, featuring a hypocaust, caldarium (hot room), tepidarium (warm room), and frigidarium (cold room), which boasts a floor and cold bath formed from opus signinum.
Visitors can view numerous artifacts displayed in glass cases surrounding the ruins.
Although the road was built over the site a decade later, the baths were safeguarded by a specialized steel vault, accessible through a tunnel adjacent to the roadway.
Other artifacts from the villa can be seen at the Mill Green Museum.
13. Bayfordbury Observatory
Located just 15 minutes east of Hatfield, the Bayfordbury Observatory is one of the country’s premier educational observatories.
Utilized by the University of Hertfordshire, the observatory’s first telescope was established in 1969, and the facility has since expanded, adding three new telescope domes and a 4.5-meter radio telescope at the turn of the millennium.
In recent years, it has evolved into a remote sensing station for the Centre for Atmospheric & Instrumentation Research at the university.
Advance reservations are advisable; however, public open evenings occur monthly from October to March.
During these evenings, attendees can enjoy a guided tour of the night sky in the planetarium, engage with researchers and students, listen to informative talks, and, weather permitting, observe celestial objects through telescopes and CCD imaging cameras.
14. Willows Activity Farm
More akin to a theme park than a typical farm attraction, Willows Activity Farm cares for various domestic animals but also offers a myriad of enjoyable fairground rides, inflatables, and both outdoor and indoor play areas.
As a working farm, the array of activities change throughout the seasons.
Throughout the year, children can visit newborn lambs in February, watch sheep-shearing demonstrations in spring, participate in Easter egg hunts, navigate the maize maze in summer, and harvest potatoes and pumpkins in autumn.
On any given day, visitors can attend a show featuring Peter Rabbit, experience a cow-milking demonstration, watch sheep racing, and engage in petting sessions with small animals.
15. The Galleria
For avid bargain hunters, The Galleria is an outlet mall housed within a substantial hangar-like structure located on the western side of Hatfield, just off the A1(M) motorway.
The Galleria features more than 80 stores, including factory outlet shops for notable fashion brands like Nike, Gap, Ben Sherman, French Connection, TK Maxx, and Marks and Spencer. Additionally, homeware retailers such as Villeroy & Boch, Le Creuset, and Tefal are present, alongside dining options that include casual restaurants like Pizza Express, Nando’s, and Prezzo, as well as fast-food establishments such as McDonald’s, Burger King, and Subway.
To enhance the experience, visitors can also enjoy a Hollywood blockbuster at the multi-screen Odeon cinema.
