England · United Kingdom
Where to stay in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a city in England, United Kingdom, home to about 1,196,000 people.
- Best months
- June to September
- Nearest airport
- LTN12 km · London Luton Airport
- Currency
- GBPpound sterling
- Time zone
- Europe/London
- Language
- Cornish, English, Irish
About
About Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire (, HART-fərd-shər, -sheer; often abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial county in the East of England. It borders Bedfordshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Essex to the east, Greater London to the south and Buckinghamshire to the west.
The county, whose name is sometimes shortened to 'Herts', is situated just north of London. It has the third highest population density for a non-metropolitan county after Surrey and Berkshire which are similarly suburban in nature. The Hertfordshire district of Hertsmere has the highest percentage of Jewish residents (11% but much larger in certain towns such as Radlett) of any English district outside London.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Hertfordshire
See
With historic homes, pretty market streets, and rivers and valleys, there are a great many things to see in Hertfordshire. Ashridge Estate, near Tring, has rolling hills and a 5,000-acre woodland managed by the National Trust. The Natural History Museum at Tring is a sister museum to the larger Natural History Museum in London. More than 4,900 objects are stored in the Hertfordshire collection, including two little fleas dressed as Mexicans dating back to 1905 and the last British specimen of the great auk, which is extinct.
Do
A large county close to London, Hertfordshire is home to several hands-on attractions, sports venues and events. Paradise Wildlife Park in Broxbourne outside of Hertford, has white lions, tigers, snow leopards, zebras, reindeer, tapir, meerkat, red pandas and capybaras. The Warner Bros. Studio Tour takes you inside the Leavesden studios, where the Harry Potter films were made, just north of Watford Junction. Alban Arena in St Albans hosts a range of events, from local theatre and dance groups to shows on the national comedy circuit. The St Albans Comedy Garden is an annual summer festival of comedy in featuring some of the biggest names on the London and national circuits.
- Chilterns Cycleway
- The Hertfordshire Way
- Icknield Way
- New River Path
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Hertfordshire
4 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Chequers Inn | 4.1 km | |
| The Roebuck Hotel | 1.9 km | |
| The Sword In Hand Public House | 13.3 km | |
| Green End Park Hotel | 9.2 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Hertfordshire
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Hertfordshire are June to September. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 23 °C; October is the wettest, with about 72 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Hertfordshire: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is London Luton Airport (LTN), about 12 km from the city centre in a straight line; London Stansted Airport (STN, 30 km) and London City Airport (LCY, 47 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
Two London airports flank Hertfordshire - London Stansted (STN) in Essex and London Luton (LTN) in Bedfordshire. London Stansted Airport is less than 5 mi by road from Bishop's Stortford in Hertfordshire. It is one of the largest airports in the UK, with a great many flights arriving from cities throughout the UK, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Using public transport, Stansted Express trains depart the terminal building for Bishop's Stortford. Change at Bishop's Stortford for trains to Sawbridgeworth, Broxbourne and Cheshunt.
Getting around
There are very few east-west rail links across Hertfordshire. It is often quicker to travel through central London by train, rather than using alternative public transport within the county only.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
LTN · London Luton Airport
STN · London Stansted Airport
LCY · London City Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Hertfordshire
Stay safe
Hertfordshire is the second safest county in the UK. The chances of you being attacked/robbed at night are slim, and in the daytime basically none. The only crime you may encounter is at closing time in the larger urban areas (Watford, St. Albans, Hatfield and Stevenage) around clubs/pubs. Theft or interference with cars may occur, but only if left in the more unpleasant areas overnight. Usual instructions apply, if a crime/emergency is in progress call 999 or 112 and ask for Police/Fire/Ambulance as needed. There are three main police stations (Open M Th 8AM-11PM, F Sa 8AM-midnight and Su 10AM-8PM) in Watford, Hatfield and Stevenage.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Hertfordshire: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Hertfordshire?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Hertfordshire are June to September. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 23 °C; October is the wettest, with about 72 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Hertfordshire?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is London Luton Airport (LTN), about 12 km from the city centre in a straight line; London Stansted Airport (STN, 30 km) and London City Airport (LCY, 47 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Hertfordshire?
pound sterling (GBP).
Nearby
Destinations near Hertfordshire
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.