Hemel Hempstead Local Information: 10 top things to know... more

  • 1. History of Hemel Hempstead

    Hemel Hempstead has an Old Town that features Victorian, Georgian and Tudor buildings and period pubs. The Old Town Hall was built between 1851 and 1858. St Mary's Church, in the Old Town, is a listed building dating back over 850 years. Gadebridge Park, in Hemel Hempstead, dates back to the late Iron Age and excavations have taken place at this site. The rest of Hemel Hempstea...Read mored has a fairly short history, as it was developed in the 1940s as a ‘new town'. Read less

  • 2. Now in Hemel Hempstead

    Hemel Hempstead is a popular commuter town with property at affordable prices. It takes just 30 minutes to get into central London by train. The town centre has a modern and pedestrianised shopping area. The West Hertfordshire town, which sits on the River Gade, comes under the Borough of Dacorum, which also includes the towns of Berkhamsted and Tring.

  • 3. Events in Hemel Hempstead

    The Dacorum Mela is a one-day festival that takes place in the town centre to celebrate different cultures and communities. Singing, dancing and food are enjoyed throughout the day. The Bucks County Show is a major agricultural event that takes place in Weedon Park, on the outskirts of Hemel Hempstead. This event attracts thousands of visitors every September. The Graham Greene...Read more International Festival takes place over four days at the end of September and beginning of October in Berkhamsted. The festival celebrates the life and works of the author and includes events in a variety of venues. Read less

  • 4. Attractions in Hemel Hempstead

    Leisure World is an indoor leisure complex including a swimming pool with slides and tubes, a cinema, ten-pin bowling and an ice rink. The Natural History Museum, at nearby Tring, is free to visit and includes six galleries and a Discovery Room with hands-on exhibits. Highlights include a massive polar bear, elephant and rhinos.

  • 5. Things To Do in Hemel Hempstead

    There are four adventure playgrounds for children in the Hemel Hempstead area: Adeyfield, Turners Hill; Bennetts End, Rant Meadow; Chaulden, Long Chaulden; and Grovehill, Redbourn Road. Gadebridge Park covers 32 hectares and includes two bowling greens, a crazy golf course, petanque, croquet, giant chess and draughts, the King George V play area and a skatepark. There are also ...Read moretoilet and refreshment facilities. The Snow Centre is an indoor snowsports facility with a 160m main slope as well as the largest indoor lesson slope in the UK. Read less

  • 6. Business in Hemel Hempstead

    The town centre of Hemel Hempstead includes the Marlowes Shopping Centre, which has 75 stores including many high street names. The Riverside is a modern open-air shopping centre that also offers a packed programme of events throughout the year to entertain visitors. Specialist shops and businesses in the Old Town include antiques, gentlemen's outfitters, fine art and much more...Read more. Hemel Hempstead has one of the largest industrial areas in Hertfordshire and companies to have their headquarters in the town include Kodak and Dixons. Read less

  • 7. Transport in Hemel Hempstead

    There are regular trains from Hemel Hempstead to London's Euston station, and the journey takes around 30 minutes. There are also direct trains to the town from Milton Keynes, Northampton, Rugby and Birmingham. By road, the town is close to the M1 motorway and the M25. The A41 heads to the north-west. The nearest airport to Hemel Hempstead is Luton International Airport, which ...Read moreis about 10 miles from the town centre. London Heathrow Airport is just 19 miles from the town. Read less

  • 8. Entertainment in Hemel Hempstead

    The Old Town Hall Theatre has a programme of drama, music, dance, comedy, children's theatre and the visual arts, all taking place within a Grade II listed building. The Court Theatre, in Tring, offers a variety of live entertainment, including musicals, pantomimes, rock concerts and jazz.

  • 9. Famous Landmarks in Hemel Hempstead

    The Magic Roundabout, in Hemel Hempstead, is a junction consisting of six mini roundabouts situated around a central island. It was built in the 1970s and is often avoided by motorists who are unsure how to negotiate it.

  • 10. Interesting Facts about Hemel Hempstead

    Some people believe The Kings Arms pub in the town is haunted by Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, following stories of a lady in white and a tall fat man being seen haunting the building. The Rose and Crown pub, in the Old Town, is on one of the oldest sites in the town and is reported to have at least three ghosts haunting it.

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  • It’s all for charity

    A group of young swimmers covered more than 11km between them during a sponsored event. The eight children, aged between nine and 11, covered the massive distance during a swim to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care. The event took place at the Sportspace swimming pool in Hemel Hempstead. Mum Michelle O’Brien, whose son Tyler was one of the swimmers, said: “They worked extremely hard. They were very tired afterwards and worn out but they really wanted to do …

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  • Matthew attempts 100 marathons

    Fundraiser Matthew Loddy is working his way through 100 marathons in 100 days – and it is all in aid of charity. Matthew, 46, from Kings Langley, is aiming to finish his epic challenge at the end of April with the London Marathon. The boss of Framework Foundation, Berkhamsted, set off on his challenge in memory of his friend Phil Latham, who died from stomach cancer, aged 36. He said: “We had agreed to do a sponsored walk from London …

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  • Young people praised in ceremony

    Good friendship and hard work were among the qualities celebrated at an award ceremony for young people. The first Ware Youth Awards for Outstanding Achievement took place in March and highlighted the positive side of young people in the district. The awards were the brainchild of Ware Mayor councillor Alan Warman, who announced the winners at the event in Ware Priory. Ben Sinfield was named as the winner of the outstanding achievement award and Annabel Underwood was the winner of …

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  • Book tells of life in Hertford

    A German who was sent to live in Hertford after the Second World War, has published a book about her experience. Beate Howitt was sent to live in the town in 1948 when she was 10 years old and has written a book entitled Mixed Blessings about growing up as a German in the area at that time. She was sent to England with her brother Fritz to live with a guardian on the Molewood estate after her father was …

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