Hemel Hempstead

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, an outdoor market and a Debenhams department store. 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 2nd worst roundabout in the UK (the "worst" being it's 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

It is 35 minutes away from London (Euston Station). Trains go about every 20 minutes to and from Hemel on Monday to Friday, and about every 30 minutes on weekends. Check the National Rail website or the Silverlink 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 09:30. 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.

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.
It is worth noting all 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.

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

• St Mary'sThe Norman church was built from around 1140 and has an unusual 200 ft (61m) tall spire, added in the 12th century, and one of England's tallest.

• The Grand Union canalwas the main trunk route from London to the Midlands

• Boxmoor meadows

  phone: +44 1442 253300
  address: London Rd, Hemel Hempstead HP1 2RE
  a nature preserve to the south of the town.

• Nickey LineRailway fans can see the occasional small landmark that hints at where The Nicky Line used to run, a dismantled railway that once connected Hemel LNWR main line to Harpenden Midland Railway.

• Frogmore Paper Mill

  phone: +44 1442 234600
  address: Fourdrinier Way, Apsley HP3 9RY
  Celebrates the 200 years when the town was a centre for paper manufacture.

• Magic RoundaboutHemel is famous (or perhaps notorious) for its "Magic Roundabout", an interchange where traffic from six routes meet in a series of mini roundabouts connected by a gyratory system. This can be best viewed from a window table at the café in Debenhams department store.

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.

• The Snow Centre

  phone: +44 344 770 7227
  address: St Albans Hill, Hemel Hempstead HP3 9NH
  Skiing, ski lessons, bar & restaurant

• Quasar

  phone: +44 1442 213200
  address: 179 Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead HP1 1BB

• CineWorld

  phone: +44 871 200 2000 (premium)
  address: Jarman Square, Jarman Park, Hemel Hempstead HP2 4JW

• Planet Ice

  phone: +44 8458 725 799 (premium)
  address: Jarman Square, Jarmans Park, Hemel Hempstead HP2 4JS

• Sportspace

  phone: +44 1442 507100 (head office)
  address: Park Rd, Hemel Hempstead HP1 1JS
  25m swimming pool, hard courts, diving pit, fitness studio, outdoor pool, gym, café, squash court, badminton courts, free parking

• XC

  phone: +44 1442 507100
  address: Jarman Park, Hemel Hempstead HP2 4JS
  Skate/BMX park, climbing wall, indoor caving, high rope obstacle course

• Town Market

  address: Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead HP1 1BH

• The Marlowes

  address: Hemel Hempstead, HP2 4TU
  Pedestrianised Shopping Precint, It has a Debenham's department store, M&S, Primark, Wilkinsons, & TK Maxx.

• Riverside

  address: Riverside, Hemel Hempstead HP1 1BT
  Shopping Centre

• Adsa

  phone: +44 1442 212802
  address: Hillfield Rd, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 4AA
  Supermarket

• Tesco

  phone: +44 345 677 9349
  address: Jarman Way, Hemel Hempstead HP2 4JS
  Supermarket ; Petrol & pharmacy (different hours). ATMs, Wi-Fi

• K2 Balti House

  phone: +44 1442 239993
  address: 5 Two Waters Rd, Hemel Hempstead HP3 9BZ
  Indian Restaurant & Take-away, one of the finest in the area

• The Dragon Garden

  phone: +44 1442 233814
  address: 119-121 Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead HP1 1BB
  Chinese Cantonese Restaurant

• The Banana Leaf

  phone: +44 1442 244466
  address: 127-129 Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead HP1 1BB
  Thai Restaurant

• Paprikaa Spice Lounge

  phone: +44 1442 257786
  address: 16-18 Lawn Lane, Hemel Hempstead HP3 9HL
  Indian & Bangladeshi Restaurant & Take-away

• The Three Horseshoes

  phone: +44 1442 862 585
  address: Winkwell, Hemel Hempstead HP1 2RZ
  Moderately sized pub with restaurant, a good mix of menu items. Also have a specialist menu for gluten-free. The building dates back to the 16th century, and in summer there are outside seating, by the canal-side, letting the traveller see the boats that pass.

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.

• The Steam Coach

  phone: +44 1442 244480
  address: 86 St Johns Rd, Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead HP1 1NP
  Pub & Food ; Celebrates a steam powered coach which a local inventor built and drove to London.

• The Three Blackbirds

  phone: +44 1442 253523
  address: 194 St Johns Rd, Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead HP1 1NR
  Pub & Food

• The Old Bell

  phone: +44 1442 252867
  address: 51 High St, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AF
  Pub & Food; Parts built in 1615 but is on the site of even older inns. It contains some unusual French wallpaper dating back to 1821, which has been cleaned by the Victoria & Albert Museum.

• The White Lion

  phone: +44 1442 211808
  address: 44 London Rd, Apsley End, Hemel Hempstead HP3 9SB
  Pub & Food ; Free Wi-Fi. Free parking nearby

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:

• Travelodge

  phone: +44 8719 846036 (premium)
  address: Wolsey Rd, Hemel Hempstead HP2 4TU
  Chargeable on-site parking

• Aubrey Park Hotel

  phone: +44 1582 792105
  address: Hemel Hempstead Rd, Redbourn, St Albans AL3 7AF
  Helipad. Free on-site parking

• Express by Holiday Inn

  phone: +44 870-4585485 (premium)
  address: Stationers Place, Apsley, Hemel Hempstead HP3 9RH

• Premier Inn (Hemel Hempstead Central)

  phone: +44 871 527 8514 (premium)
  address: Moor End Rd, Hemel Hempstead HP1 1BT
  Free Wi-Fi. Restaurant

• Post Office

  address: 181-183 The Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead HP1 1BD

• 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