South Mimms and Potters Bar, Welwyn Garden City, and St. Albans: Three communities to visit surrounding Hatfield in central county Hertfordshire England
When you begin your return journey home, what memories will you bring back? Maybe there will be a tinge of regret at all the places you did not visit – the towns and villages not in the guides; the gems most people miss. When studying abroad it is important to squeeze as much experience out of every moment, while still focusing on your studies of course. It can be very expensive to take trips to well-known locations every weekend but often there are memorable experiences a short bus ride away. These places do not have the same worldly presence within the tourist industry but often these small towns hold the most unique story.
If studying at the University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield England you are a short train ride from London but an even shorter bus ride to many interesting towns in the surrounding county. Three such places are Potters Bar and South Mimms, Welwyn Garden City, and St. Albans; each bursting with a unique personality and distinct memories.
Potters Bar and South Mimms
The first stop on our trip is Potters Bar and South Mimms. Potters Bar is just a short 30 minutes south of Hatfield by the 610 bus. The 398 or 84A will then connect between Potters Bar and South Mimms.
The reason I group south Mimms in with Potters Bar is so that I can rave about The Old Guinea,
Merlot with your Italian anyone?
and Italian restaurant just a short distance away in Ridge, on Crossoaks Lane just outside of South Mimms. This restaurant is owned by a father daughter team that moved to England four years ago. The building, where the restaurant is located, has been standing since 1826, previously as a traditional neighborhood pub. After a three course meal of stuffed mushrooms, bruschetta, pasta, pizza, tiramisu and chocolate cake, and don’t forget the red wine and espresso, a walk through the quiet streets of Ridge is well needed.
The staff are incredibly accommodating, the interior of the building is clean, warm, and inviting, and the food is indescribable. The lightness of the pasta and pizza seems an impossible quality of a carbohydrate. It was not the dense and heavy discomfort that normally follows a meal of that size; instead the food provided a pleasing comfort, like a warm blanket on a rainy day. Only the best quality ingredients could possible provide that kind of lasting satisfaction.
The one activity I recommend above all else in this
region of Hertfordshire County is affectionately called ‘The Walk’. It is a 2.8 mile path that connects South Mimms to Potters Bar. The pathway winds its way through country fields and forested trails, over creaks and old dirt bridges, and along quiet residential streets. Anyone who is not from England will understand the romantic idea of walking through the English countryside on a crisp sunny morning, laughing at Lord of the Rings references and agreeing that the photos from the walk could only be made better with the addition of red wellies and an umbrella. I highly recommend the walk in place of the bus, at least once.
Welwyn Garden City
Now we move on to Welwyn Garden City, home to the first ever Luxury Cat Hotel. No, I am being serious it actually is. At first I just thought this would be an interesting and cute angle to take on the story but I showed up in Welwyn just expecting to walk by the location to see what a Luxury Cat Hotel looked like and was shocked at how lovely the owner, Abi Purser, was.
Before I get into the hotel for cats lets cover the facts. To get to Welwyn Garden City you can train directly from Kings Cross Station in London, Hatfield station, or take the 653 bus from Hatfield where a round trip will cost you £4.
Now, back to the cats. Longcroft Luxury Cat Hotel was established in 2010 in Abi’s lovely home at 23 Longcroft Lane in Welwyn Garden City. Abi’s motivation behind opening such a place was that she could not find suitable accommodation to leave her own cats for a vacation. To Abi a hotel is a place nicer than home, a treat for lack of a better word. It certainly seems as though these cats are being treated.
Abi had a full house when we arrived and she graciously invited us in to check out the current residents. I have never seen such affectionate cats, and it’s not like they were on their best behavior trying to get an owner to take them home, in fact I am pretty sure if that had been the case none of those cats would have wanted to leave anyways. I don’t imagine they do want to leave when their humans come to take them back to their real homes. It is a mini paradise for cats. Although I am slightly more of a dog person I have to say I found the entire place a wonderful idea and the facilities are clean and perfectly focused towards cat comfort. No wonder so many people have bought into the franchise and expanded Longcroft to nearly 10 locations in just four years. It is also obvious to see why Abi is booked for holidays a year in advance.
That is enough about lovely women and what they are doing for the lovely cats and dogs; did I forget to mention Abi just adopted two timid rescue dogs? She is actually that wonderful.
What else does Welwyn Garden City offer? There is a great little pub you simply must check out
called Long Arm Short Arm where main dishes can be purchased 2 for 1. If that is not a reason to have a rump roast steak for lunch I really do not know what is. This pub is located a short walk outside of Welwyn in Lemsford Village but the walk is definitely worth it. It was called Long Arm Short Arm because of the effect of carrying water long distances. It was this very reason that when McMullen bought the property in 1885 he immediately dug a well, no uneven arms for that man.
If you are looking for something more active and outdoorsy than bothering other peoples cats while they are on vacation to do I recommend a nice walk through Stanborough Park on the south end of Welwyn Garden City or some downhill skiing on the grass at the local sports club, Gosling. If skiing on grass doesn’t interest you maybe flying down the green mountain in a tube would be more appealing to you. Regardless, seeing a ski lift in the middle of a garden city is a site to see for anyone use to seeing ski lifts on snow covered mountains.
St. Albans
St. Albans is a beautiful and thriving metropolitan, alive with culture and personality. From the Abbey to the oldest pub in Britain and a bustling street market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, there is never a dull moment in this city.
The 602 bus will bring you into St Albans from Hatfield for a cost of £4 round trip. Walk down the center street and enjoy the bustle of the farmers market as you head towards the Abbey to check out the majesty of this historic building. Many repairs were made to the exterior and interior of the building in the 19th century and can be closely seen in the excellent condition of the building today. There are multiple conflicting architectural styles due to the extreme length of time it took to construct the original building. Entrance into the church is free but donations are greatly appreciated,
especially if you would like to lite a candle at one of the altars within. The Abbey is well suited for the live music and occasional concert that takes place within its vaulted ceilings if you want a taste of something different than your average church experience. Make sure to dress appropriately with knees, shoulders and midriff covered.
At the end of the Abbey grounds is The Fighting Cocks, the oldest pub in Britain. It is a beautiful little building, making the streets look as though they wound around the dwelling as a river runs around a large stone. Because of its place in the history of Britain it is on the pricier side but the low ceilings and wood burning fireplace are an experience worth the extra pounds spent on mushroom soup and a shandy. Just outside of the pub to the right is a large park ground filled with a plethora of water fowl from geese to swans all ready to snatch up some crumbs in exchange for a great photo, just don’t get to close.
It doesn’t matter how many small cities I explore on my travels I am always struck by the sheer variety of culture within our world; culture that is drastically different even just a half an hour away by bus. Potters bar gives a sleepy town and back-country walking experience, whereas St. Albans provides visitors with more urban culture and showcases a variety of shops, similar to many large European cities in Italy and France. Then there is Welwyn Garden City, with its quiet clean green streets and structured downtown grid-like shopping area, and of course some very pampered kitties. It is often these small places, farther down the Google search and off the tourist maps of a country, that give the biggest chance for a unique story to tell when you return home.
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