Hemel Hempstead

Hemel Hempstead is a town in Hertfordshire with a population of almost 100,000 (2011).

Understand
Developed after World War II as a new town, the town has existed as a settlement since the 8th century and has a picturesque old town and a fine Norman church. The new town centre is a planned shopping area with an indoor Mall called Marlowes Centre and an outdoor market. There is extensive, though not free, town centre parking. The town has the only real snow indoor ski centre in the south east.

"Magic Roundabout"
Officially named and sometimes known as "Moor End Roundabout", a road roundabout made up of  6 small roundabouts arranged in a circle around a single large roundabout. Drivers either love or hate navigating it - in 2005 it was voted second worst roundabout in the UK (the "worst" being its sister roundabout in Swindon); yet by 2011 it was voted the best (in a different poll). Probably not something learner drivers look forward to at rush-hour!

By road
The town is served by the M1 and M25 motorways and the A41 and A414 trunk roads.

By train
Check the National Rail website before you go, as sometimes (especially on weekends) there is engineering work and trains are replaced by buses. Travelling is cheaper on weekdays after 9:30AM. The cheapest ticket for a single person is a Day Travelcard, which is around £14, and gets you into London and is valid for all Underground lines all day.

By bus
There are coaches to and from London and other towns as well as various airports. National Express coaches go direct to Luton, Heathrow and Stansted airports.

To go to/from Gatwick Airport, best go by train; you will have to change once, in Watford. For London City Airport, you will have to go to London by train, then take the Underground.

By air
The town is 11 miles from Luton Airport and 25 miles from Heathrow Airport.

By narrowboat
The Grand Union Canal passes close to the west of the town, and through the southern suburb of Apsley.

By bicycle
The town is on National Cycle Route 57 that runs from Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire to Farmington, Gloucestershire near Northleach.

Get around
There are local buses from the station to town centre and to the Jarman Park leisure complex; apart from that, everything in town is in walking distance.

Hertfordshire buses offer an 'Explorer' ticket which permits a maximum of 2 adults, 2 adults and 2 children or 1 adult with 3 children to unlimited travel for £7. It is often worth doing as it can save money even if you are on your own.

See
The Old Town has quite a few period buildings, including, pubs, shops and the Old Town Hall, giving it the feel of a 19th-century market town.

Do
Wander north up the Grand Union Canal, pass a few locks, and after about 15 minutes you will come to a pub called "The Three Horseshoes". It dates back to the 16th century, and in summer you can enjoy your beer sitting outside by the canal.

Go south for a couple of locks and you come to Apsley Lock marina. This has a canal side pub called "The Papermill" as well as waterfront restaurants and cafés.



Drink
One pub to mention apart from the above "The Three Horseshoes" is the "Full House" in the town centre (on the corner of the Marlowes and Combe Street). Belonging to the Weatherspoon chain of pubs, it is situated in the building of the old cinema, and the decor is something to see!

Another canal side pub of note is "The Fisheries" in Boxmoor.

Sleep
There are many guest houses, a few B&Bs (usually £25 upwards), and a few hotels. Here's a list of the hotels closest to town centre:



Go next

 * Whipsnade Wild Animal Park is only 10 miles from here, near Dunstable.
 * Warner Brothers Studio tour in Leavesden is 6 miles away, north Watford.
 * St Albans
 * High Wycombe
 * Aylesbury