Enjoy Hertfordshire 2011/12

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The magazine of Hertfordshire Tourism and Leisure Partnership Issue 13 Autumn/Winter 2011 FREE Enjoy! Hertfordshire Discover Hollywood Herts Le Mare Chocolat Flying High! Family Fun! Special Events & Fun Days Out Explore Watford Myddelton House Creative Herts Markets

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Welcome to the latest edition of Enjoy! Hertfordshire magazine. I hope it will help you plan your stay and give you lots of ideas for days out in our beautiful county.

Transcript of Enjoy Hertfordshire 2011/12

Page 1: Enjoy Hertfordshire 2011/12

The magazine of Hertfordshire Tourism and Leisure Partnership Issue 13 Autumn/Winter 2011

FREEEnjoy! Hertfordshire

DiscoverHollywood HertsLe Mare Chocolat

Flying High!

Family Fun!Special Events

& Fun Days Out

ExploreWatford

Myddelton HouseCreative Herts

Markets

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explore

experience

relax

discover

EDITORIAL Editor-in-chief Annie Hawkins Email: [email protected] Telephone: 01992 556231 ADVERTISING Advertisement Manager Stewart HedgesTelephone 01525 874607 or 07595 894557 DESIGN John Boston

is published by Thompson Media Partners Ltd, Unit 4, Avenue Business Park, Elsworth, Cambridge, CB23 4HY (01954 268129)

Where to Stay 06Eating Out 22

CONTENTS

Enjoy! Hertfordshire

Watford 10Myddelton House 40Creative Herts 42Markets 44

Issue 13 Autumn - Winter 2011

Map Pages 26-27. See Page 47 for Tourist Information and Page 50 for Useful Contacts

The magazine of Hertfordshire Tourism and Leisure Partnership

Hollywood Herts 18Chocolate 12Panshanger Aerodrome 14Museums & Heritage 39

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Enjoy! Hertfordshire

PAGE 16 Enter our FREE PRIZE DRAW and win an Enjoy! Hertfordshire Cheque Book!

Fun Days Out 25What’s On 31Special Events 34

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Did you know the restaurant & exclusive shops

*Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 5.30pm / dusk*

*Free Admission* *Special Events* *Free Parking*

(sat nav: AL9 5HX)

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Welcome to the latest edition of Enjoy!Hertfordshire magazine. I hope it will helpyou plan your stay and give you lots ofideas for days out in our beautiful county.

We have a lot to smile about inHertfordshire. I am delighted to say thatthe Herts Tourism & Leisure Partnershipwere judged to be the Best UK LocalTourism Partnership ~ 2012 OlympicsInitiative at the recent British TravelAwards, a brilliant result for Hertfordshireputting us on the national stage.

We are a host county for the 2012Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Lee Valley White Water Centre inBroxbourne is hosting the London 2012Olympic Canoe Slalom events, and we willbe welcoming the world there in July. The Torch Relay is coming to town on the 7 & 8 July, where it will visit several of ourtowns including Hertford, Ware, St Albans,Letchworth, Stevenage & Hatfield. Look out for the celebrations.

The Great Bed of Ware which is currentlyin the Victoria & Albert Museum is

returning home to Ware on loan from theV & A, in April 2012. You will have the opportunity to see this amazing bed whichsleeps up to 12 people in Ware Museum.Many congratulations to the museum forthis great achievement in bringing theGreat Bed back to Ware.

Last but not least, the Warner Bros. StudioTour, the Making of Harry Potter is set toopen in Hertfordshire on 31 March atWarner Bros. Studios, Leavesden. This is really exciting news for us, and youcan find out more about this amazing newattraction on page 25.

As you can see, there is a lot to look forward to in 2012, so do come and visitHertfordshire, you will receive a warm welcome wherever you go,

Enjoy! Hertfordshire

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Tim Hutchings Chair of Hertfordshire Tourism and Leisure Partnership

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Whereto stay

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To help you with choosing aplace to relax after your busyday, here are a selection ofplaces to stay during yourvisit to Hertfordshire

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Bring Your Party To Our Party…Join us for a 3 course Festive Lunch or

Christmas Party NightFrom £18.95 p.p. throughout December

Watford

Tel: 01923 422 807Email: [email protected]

31-35 Clarendon Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD17 1JA

Have an EXCEPTIONAL CHRISTMAS with

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A HAND IN MARRIAGE WITH RAMADA HEMEL HEMPSTEAD

RRIAND IN MMAAANA H

GE WITHAARIIA

RRIAND IN MMAAANA HEMEL HADAMMARAAM

Set in 6 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and wwn marquee situated in the hotel grounds. hotel has its o

marquee can accommodate up to 180 guests.

ailable on selected dates.vSpecial offers a

or more information or to book call: Ramada Hemel Hempstead on 01582 F791500 or email: amadahemelhmeetings@rr

hen making an enquiry and, if yPlease quote QH001 wade to Champagne for ye a free upgrvou will receikage, ypac

amadahemelhotel.co.uk.rwww

GE WITHAARIIADASTEEMPH

oodland, this picturesqueSet in 6 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and wear round theailable all yvAwn marquee situated in the hotel grounds.

or more information or to book call: Ramada Hemel Hempstead on 01582 amadahemelhotel.co.uk

ou book a £5k wedding hen making an enquiry and, if yal drink.vour arriade to Champagne for y

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The Lord Lister Hotel

This listed building has a character of it’s own - all the beautifully furnished rooms have their own personality with en-suite bathrooms, TV, hair dryers, tea and coffee making facilities and direct dial telephones.

1 Park Street, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG4 9AH

Email: [email protected] Tel: 01462 432712

www.lordlisterhotel.co.uk

hotel

atmosphere

affordable tariff

for 2 nights

available

request

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Watford is a vibrant, busy, culturally diversetown with lots to offer. With a fantasticrange of hotels, shopping, dining, leisure

and entertainment venues, there is something for allthe family.

For those looking for some retail therapy, Watford ishard to beat. The Harlequin Centre has over 140stores including John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, KarenMillen, Waterstones, the Disney Store, Zara andMonsoon.

Alongside the Harlequin is Charter Place with shopslike Top Shop, New Look, a traditional butcher and ourindoor market. Watford Market has over 300 stalls sell-ing everything from fruit to fish and cakes to cosmetics– it is open every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from8am until 5.30pm. Look out for the speciality marketsalong The Parade, which include continental and art &craft markets.

Watfordfor you!

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Look out for the Christmasthemed markets in WatfordCharter Place on 3 & 17December. Perfect for buying spe-cial gifts for Christmas, you willfind art & craft stalls alongsidevintage and specialist food stalls.Watford Charter Market has alarge collection of independenttraders, ranging from clothes toplants. There is always someoneto help you and somewhere to sitdown and have a cup of tea!Regular opening hours of the mar-ket are Tuesday, Friday & Saturdayfrom 7.30am to 8pm. Look onwww.watfordmarket.org.uk formore information.

For sports fans, you can watchChampionship football at VicarageRoad home of Watford FC. Familytickets and special offers are usu-ally available. Check out www.wat-fordfc.com for offers. The groundis currently also home to SaracensRugby Club, so if the oval ball ismore your game look onwww.saracens.com. Saracens areplaying Ospreys at WembleyStadium on December 10, a greatfamily day out with pre matchentertainment from TinchyStryder and Ronan Park.

With so much to see and do,you’ll need to stay over. Watfordhas a great selection of nationalchain hotels including Jurys Inn,Holiday Inn, Ramada, Hilton, ParkInn, Premier Inn and Travelodge, aswell as The Grove - a five star lux-ury hotel, golf and spa resort,which is popular with film starswho film at the nearby Leavesden Studios. Look on www.herts-hotels.com for discounts.

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Enough shopping – time to relax! This popular towncentre has a colourful mix of cafes, restaurants, barsand nightclubs as well as a comedy club and numerouslive music venues - with both new and establishedbands and artists on the line up. Across the town is a selection of traditional, local pubs – all with theirown character.

For a quieter time in the outdoors,Watford has over 40 areas of park-

land and open space for you toenjoy, including the wonderful

Cassiobury Park. Situated a shortwalk from the town centre,

Cassiobury Park, a four time GreenFlag award winner, is a green oasis,a park rich in natural beauty and

steeped in heritage. With two newchildren’s playgrounds, a much-

loved miniature railway, paddlingpools, the Grand Union Canal and

access to Whippendell Woods, it’s agorgeously green day out in itself.

And if you can squeeze just onemore cup of tea and slice of cake

in, visit the lovely Café Cha Cha Cha.

Watford has over 4,500 parkingspaces in seven car parks in and

around the town centre but we arealso well connected by public

transport and encourage visitors touse the bus, train or tube wherever

possible. Overground services,including the Abbey Flyer, and a

huge number of buses call into thetransport hub of the town at

Watford Junction station, with thetube calling at Watford

Metropolitan station (on the Metline). If the sun is shining – we

have well marked cycle paths withplenty of bike racks dotted around.

For those visitors less mobile, wehave a Shopmobility scheme that

runs seven days a week.

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Back in the town centre, and you will find the won-derful Palace Theatre. Opened in 1908, it enjoys a highprofile and a reputation for quality productions, youwill often see a show before it transfers to the WestEnd or tours nationally. The beautiful Grade II listedtheatre has a popular café and bar.

Watford Colosseum, at the top of town, hasreopened following a £5.5million refurbishment whichincludes a spectacular glass fronted side extension, anew café & restaurant. Acts include Jimmy Carr,Stephen Merchant and Jools Holland. Previously knownas Watford Assembly Halls it originally opened in 1940.The design of the hall resulted in acoustics which stillhave the reputation for being some of the finest inEurope.

Visit: www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk for moreinformation on programming or telephone the boxoffice on 0845 075 3993.

Fantastic events are always taking place across thetown. To sign up for regular email alerts, please visitwww.watford.gov.uk/signup

For information about Watford visit:www.WatfordForYou.org

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Agarden shed in Stevenage Old Town is home tothe unique Le Mare Chocolat. This is not justany old garden shed though. It has been

converted to Food Standard Agency level and is fullyair-conditioned, essential to keep the chocolates attheir best. As you walk through the door the delicioussmell of chocolate hits your senses!

Mick Le Mare is our very own Herts basedChocolatier. He decided to change career and trainedwith one of the World’s leading chocolate producingcompanies, Barry Callebeaut, who are based inSwitzerland. Learning basic tempering techniques tocreating specialised hand finished pralines, Mick nowmakes his own high quality personalised/themedchocolates with fresh cream or caramel centres andbeautiful structured spheres and hearts that includeedible 23 carat gold and sterling silver leaf.

Chocoholicsbeware

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Le Mare Chocolat can also befound at the Henry MooreFoundation shop where they selltheir own bespoke chocolatesshowing Henry Moore’s sculp-tures. Based in Perry Green, it isthe former home of artistMoore. With 70 acres of coun-tryside with outdoor sculpture,his restored house and studiosand a gallery with changingexhibitions, it is well worth avisit. It opens for the season inthe spring, but look out for spe-cial events. Check the websitewww.henry-moore.org for open-ing times and more information.

If you want a nostalgic trip backto your childhood a visit to theSweet Shop at Hatfield House isa must. Part of the Stable Yardshops, it is open 11.30am to4.30pm Tuesday to Sunday, itsells an impressive range of tra-ditional confectionery. Theyhave an amazing sweet basketgift selection which would makethe perfect Christmas or Easterpresent. The Schooldays Baskethas all your schoolday favouritesincluding rhubarb & custard,popping candy, sherbet dabs &fountains, pink shrimps & sugarmice….or you might prefer theSeriously Sour or LiquoriceBasket. Gifts can of course betailor made with your choice ofsweets. Look on www.thesweet-shophatfieldhouse.com or tele-phone 07721 392336 for moreinformation.

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A trained graphic designer Mick’s chocolates start onhis computer where he designs the artwork. This isthen transferred using edible inks, onto a clear pvctransfer sheet. As the inks are translucent each transferis backed up with a layer of white chocolate whichimproves the definition of the design. The normalprocess of chocolate making then takes place, formingthe shell, ganache/caramel filling, sealing, taking out of the mould and packaging. Willy Wonka would be so proud.

Lessiter’s is another independentchocolate manufacturer and was

founded in North London in1911. One hundred years later, it

is still very much a family runbusiness. The Lessiter’s Factory

Shop can be found at LondonRoad in Woolmer Green. Here

you can buy limited editionchocolates and truffles or choose

your favourites from the delicounter. Opening times are Mon– Fri: 9-5.30pm and Sat 9-5pm.Look on www.lessiters.co.uk or

telephone 01438 817338 formore information.

The Waffle House in St Albansoffers a variety of savoury andsweet waffles which are made

using wholewheat, white and Speltflours which are organically

grown, produced and stonegroundat Redbournbury Mill just a cou-ple of miles upriver. For manyyears they have used organically

farmed meats, free range eggs andhams from naturally reared pigs.The coffee and teas are organic

and /or fair trade and they onlyuse organic milk. Established forover 25 years the Waffle House is

located within a working 16thCentury watermill overlooking theRiver Ver. Winter opening hoursare 10am to 5pm, 7 days a week.Look on www.waffflehouse.co.uk/

st-albans or telephone: 01727 853502.

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These amazing chocolates are made with premium

Belgian Fair Trade chocolate and ingredients for the

soft centres are sourced locally. They are then

presented in beautiful gift wrapped boxes, with hand

tied trimmings, which make the chocolates look even

more tempting!

These fabulous chocolates are ideal for weddings,

special occasions and corporate events and you will be

able to buy them for yourself at Stevenage Old Town’s

Farmers’ Market on Saturday 17 December.

They will make the perfect special gift or just as a

treat, they taste and look amazing! Look on

www.lemarechocolat.co.uk

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Panshanger Aerodrome in Welwyn Garden City isone of the remaining historic aerodromes in theUK. Panshanger was born during WW2 as a

decoy aerodrome and was created by film experts. It was complete with dummy aircraft, cars, smokingchimneys and deliberate black out leaks operated byswitch. These measures were taken to divert theGerman pilots from the real Hatfield airbase. It was sosuccessful that many of our own fighter pilots landedat Panshanger by mistake!

In the early 1940s the aerodrome became a base forthe RAF as an elementary flight training school. In the1950s the RAF pulled out and it became a civilian airport for General Aviation. Today it is the base forthe North London Flying Club and the Out of the BoxCafé which serves light snacks, homemade cakes and afine selection of hot and cold drinks. The Out of theBox Cafe is for members only and membership is aone off £30 for life membership, which gives you 10%of all food and drinks in the café and invitations toevents at the Aerodrome, including the Vintage FlyingDay and regular Open Days.

Look on www.northlondonflyingschool.comfor more information.

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Why not give someone an amaz-ing flying experience forChristmas? The Vintage Flightpackage includes afternoon teaand a 30 minute flight in a vintage Piper Super Cub over thebeautiful Hertfordshire country-side and costs just £89. Youmight want to send someoneupside down this Christmas, givethe person you love a specialtaster flight in an aerobatic aircraft, 15 minutes of exhilarating fun for just £120.

Christmas pilot starter packagesare available and start at just£220. This package involves a 60minute flight with an instructorin a 2 or 4 seater aircraft with abriefing along with a log book tolog your first hour plus thePilot’s Manual, all presented in abeautiful engraved gift box.

The Flying School offers flying lessons and pilot training for aselection of licences and cater forbeginners to advanced checkouts.You can book some time withone of the fully qualified instruc-tors to start flying today orattend one of the Open Days inthe New Year to find out more.

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For information on membership,events and flying packages contact: [email protected] , telephone 01707391791 or look onwww.northlondonflyingschool.com

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Enjoy hundreds of greatdays out on your doorstep

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We have 200Enjoy!Hertfordshirecheque books upfor grabs in ourFREE draw competition.

The spotlight is going to be on Hertfordshire in 2012 whenwe host the Canoe Slalom event as part of the world’sbiggest sporting event – the London 2012 Olympic &Paralympic Games. The Lee Valley White Water Centre isthe only brand new Olympic venue to open for you to usebefore the Games www.gowhitewater.co.uk

The cheque book is made up of over 20 cheques that giveyou discounts on accommodation and meals, two for oneentry to attractions and other exciting offers across Hertfordshire. It offers you many opportunities to explore, relax and Enjoy! Hertfordshire in the run up to and during the Games.All cheques are valid up to September 2012 and total value of the Enjoy! Hertfordshire chequebook is over £550.

Just answer the question below and you could be in with a chance of winning a cheque book.

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Enjoy! Hertfordshire Cheque BookCompetition, Economic Development, CountyHall, Pegs Lane, Hertford, Herts, SG13 8DN.No later than 15 March 2012.

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Enjoy! HertfordshireCheque Book

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Visit

MUSEUM OF ST ALBANS9a Hatfield Road, St Albans AL1 3RR 01727 819340

VERULAMIUM MUSEUM St Michaels,

St Albans AL3 4SW01727 751810

www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk

St Albans Museums

St ALBANS SCHOOLHMC Day School 820 pupils

Headmaster: Andrew Grant MA

ENTRY FOR BOYS at 11 and 13ENTRY FOR BOYS and GIRLS at 16+

94% A and B at A level 87% A* and A at GCSE

Coach services at 4pm and 6pm Finest games facilities in the county Extensive extra-curricular activities

Bursaries and Scholarships (up to 100%) awarded at each entry level Easy reach by train from London, West Hampstead,

Luton and BedfordOpen Mornings 17 September, 8 October, 12 November and 3 December

16+ Evening 1 November

NONNOBIS

NATI

Admissions Officer, St Albans School,Abbey Gateway, St Albans, Herts AL3 4HBTelephone : 01727 855521email: [email protected]

the first School in Hertfordshire

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Since before the First World War Hertfordshirehas been the home to more movie and televisionproduction than any other place outside of

Hollywood, USA.In 1914 the first silent film studio in Borehamwood

opened and heralded the start of what was to becomeknown as the ‘Hollywood of England’. Six more studioswere to follow and in the 1980’s six of the top tengrossing films worldwide were produced in this hub ofthe British film industry. While those films, the IndianaJones and Star Wars series, were American-financed, it was local talent, especially in the craft skills, thatmade them possible.

Since the 1950’s television shows have played their

HollywoodHerts

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The First Impressions project wasestablished in the spirit ofencouraging people to rediscover our unique film legacy and ofrecognising the local talentswhich helped create it. ElstreeScreen Heritage was a drivingforce behind the film project andfocus on keeping the local filmheritage alive. They record, pre-serve and share the legacy of film& television, past, present andfuture. Look on www.elstree-screenheritage.org for more infor-mation on the work they do.

Hammer Films had continuingsuccess at the Studios from themid 1960s. They released manysuspense, horror and glamourfilms one after another, includingShe, One Million Years BC and theclassic The Devil Rides Out.Christopher Lee did some of hisstalking of victims as Dracula innearby Aldenham Country Parkwhich is now home to 100 AkerWood and the Winnie the PoohTrail. Look onwww.hertsdirect.org/aldenham

In 1976 a young George Lucaspicked Elstree Studio as the placehe wanted to make his plannedspace epic Star Wars. Hereturned in the 80s with his twoStar Wars sequels, the EmpireStrikes Back and Return of theJedi and with his old palSpielberg also created daringarchaeologist Indiana Jones. In1999, two new soundstages,named after Lucas were openedby HRH Prince Charles.

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part in using these talents. Many ‘dream factories’ havebeen lost over the years: the MGM British Studiosonce stood in over 110 acres of Hertfordshire land,complete with film stages, backlots and its very owncastle, sadly long gone. This famous studio, was thehome of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Ivanhoe, Village of theDamned, The Dirty Dozen, Where Eagles Dare and somany other famous films. The BBC Elstree Centre andElstree Studios, recently home to the King’s Speechcontinue to be hives of activity.

If you are interested in exploringfilm locations and discovering

what scene was shot where andhow you can tread in the foot-

steps of the stars check outwww.sceneonscreen.co.uk.

Hertfordshire along with thecounties of Cambridgeshire,

Essex, Bedfordshire, Norfolk andSuffolk have a wealth of tantalis-

ing filming heritage. Many bigfilms were made on location inHerts. Hatfield Business Park

was previously the film locationfor Spielberg’s Saving PrivateRyan and the series Band of

Brothers. Both Hatfield Houseand Knebworth House are also

popular locations for block-busters and TV series.

The film industry is still veryimportant to Hertfordshire. TheHarry Potter films were all made

at Leavesden Studios nearWatford and exciting news fornext year is that the Warner

Bros Studio Tour, the Making ofHarry Potter is due to open in

spring 2012. You can experiencethe original Harry Potter sets,

costumes and models for your-self. Tickets must be booked in

advance, but they are on salenow. Book your date and time

on www.wbstudiotour.co.uk

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And now some of these iconic film and televisionimages are on display in the streets of Borehamwoodfor you to explore and learn more aboutHertfordshire’s film heritage.

Arriving train passengers are greeted by a frieze ofimages around the walls of the booking hall.

Step outside and follow the trail of stars in the pave-ment. Look up and see the banners proclaiming Lights,Camera, Action.’ Next to the pathway to the town cen-tre you can see an original metal sculpture of a filmcrew hard at work which celebrates the Hertfordshirefilm industry.

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Making his home inHertfordshire, legendary directorStanley Kubrick was a familiarface at the Studios. He directedgroundbreaking masterpiecessuch as 2001:A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange and JackNicholson in his signature role inThe Shining.

Borehamwood has two marketdays, on Saturday and Tuesday ofeach week. They sell fruit andvegetables, flowers, clothes andother household goods, both aretraditional Charter markets, sodo pop along for a bargain ortwo. The annual Town Festival for2012 is 16 to 30 June and kicksoff with the Carnival Parade andends on the 30 June with thefree Family Day in Meadow Park.Look on www.elstreeborehamwood-tc.gov.uk for more special events.

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Stroll on through the town centre, following the filmand TV heritage trail of 20 information panels whichlead you from the train station down Shenley Road tothe gates of Elstree Studios. Barbara Windsor, CliffRichard, Hammer Films, Stanley Kubrick, ChristopherLee, John Mills, Elizabeth Taylor, George Lucas andSteven Spielberg, Simon Cowell, Roger Moore… thelist goes on and on.

Look up and you will see more banners and iconicimages on the lampposts, including John Mills in IceCold in Alex, Jack Nicholson in The Shining and DarthVader and C3PO from the Star Wars films.

It is hoped one day to create a permanent film andtelevision heritage centre, a fitting place to remember,to experience and to celebrate the exciting creativeworld which has made Elstree and Borehamwoodunique for almost 100 years.

So come along and follow the film trail and then relaxin one of the many cafes or restaurants in the busyHigh Street.

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OFFER Should you decide to makeElstree & Borehamwood your centrefor exploring this corner of Hertford-shire, with neighbouring St. Albansand our surrounding rural villages,why not stay at the BorehamwoodIbis? Simply quote ENJOY! Impressionsand claim your special discount of£47 per room and 50% discount onbreakfast. Email your booking toDaniel on [email protected] great price is subject to avail-ability and must be booked byemail: Look on www.ibishotel.comfor more information on the hotel.

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21 High Street, Kings Langley, Herts WD4 8AB. Tel: 01923 263800

www.oscarspizza.co.uk

Oscars Pizza Co. VIP Member ProgrammeEach pound spent will earn you 1 loyalty point, we’ll also offer more

points on some promotional purchases. Collect points to receive a Reward Certificate, which you can use as cash the next time you

stop by. It’s our way of thanking you for your loyalty.

Mediterranean - Bar - Restaurant - Al Fresco DiningOscars Pizza Company encompasses the spirit of the Mediterranean

& al fresco dining located in the heart of Kings Langley.

Oscars is an award-winning restaurant priding ourselves on our “family friendly” atmosphere. Our extensive menu includes a variety of fresh seafood, meat and poultry dishes. Without mentioning our pizza and pasta selection or weekly specials. All of Oscar’s dishes

are freshly made while you wait; nothing is pre-cooked

Kids eat free 3:30 - 5:30pm dailyLunch menu 12 - 3pm daily. 2 courses for £10

CHRISTMAS BOOKINGS

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Al - estaurant RRe- Bar - Mediterranean izza Company encompasses the spirit of the Mediterranean Oscars P

& al fresco dining located in the heart of Kings L

Diningresco FAl izza Company encompasses the spirit of the Mediterranean

.angley& al fresco dining located in the heart of Kings L

, Herts WD4 8AB. Tangley21 High Street, Kings L

.oscarspizza.co.ukwww

Oscars Pizza Co. VIP Member ProgrammeEach pound spent will earn you 1 loyalty point, we’ll also offer more

points on some promotional purchases. Collect points to receive eward Certificate, which you can use as cash the next time you a R

. It’s our way of thanking you for your loyaltystop by

” atmosphere. Our extensive menu includes a variety family friendly“of fresh seafood, meat and poultry dishes. Without mentioning our pizza and pasta selection or weekly specials. All of Oscar

are freshly made while you wait; nothing is pre-cooked

Kids eat free 3:30 - 5:30pm daily. 2 coursesLunch menu 12 - 3pm dailyy.

el: 01923 263800TTe

.oscarspizza.co.uk

Oscars Pizza Co. VIP Member ProgrammeEach pound spent will earn you 1 loyalty point, we’ll also offer more

points on some promotional purchases. Collect points to receive eward Certificate, which you can use as cash the next time you

.. It’s our way of thanking you for your loyalty

” atmosphere. Our extensive menu includes a variety of fresh seafood, meat and poultry dishes. Without mentioning our

’s dishes pizza and pasta selection or weekly specials. All of Oscarare freshly made while you wait; nothing is pre-cooked

Kids eat free 3:30 - 5:30pm daily. 2 courses for £10

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Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter

Set to open on 31st March 2012, Warner Bros. Studio TourLondon is a behind-the-scenes walking tour which immersesguests into the world of film-making, featuring authentic sets,costumes and props that showcase the British artistry, technology and talent that goes into producing world famousand successful movies.

Housed in two purpose-built soundstages, the Studio Tour willinitially focus on the Harry Potter film series. For the first timeever, visitors will be able to step on to the actual sets, includingthe Great Hall, Dumbledore’s office, Hadgrid’s hut and theMinistry of Magic, as well as marvel at the groundbreaking special effects that made Harry Potter the most successful film series ever.

Located at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, the productionhome of Harry Potter for over 10 years, this is a must-see forHarry Potter fans, as well as film buffs. Adults £28, children £21.Tickets must be booked in advance viawww.wbstudiotour.co.uk or via approved tour operators.

Fundaysout

Opening 31st

March 2012

• Go behind the scenesof Harry Potter

• Step onto the actualsets including the GreatHall & Dumbledore'soffice

• See the real costumes

• Learn how the specialeffects were created

• Book your tickets now atwww.wbstudiotour.co.uk

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BOX OFFICE 01438 363200BOOK ONLINE www.gordon-craig.co.uk

Saturday 26 November 2011 - Sunday 22 January 2012

Saturday 26 November 2011 - Sunday 22 January 2012

BOOK NOW!

NOW!BOOK NOW!BOOK

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Natural HistoryMuseumDiscover the fascinating range ofanimals collected by Lionel WalterRothschild in this beautifulVictorian Museum. It is home toover 5000 specimens collected onbehalf of Rothschild and includesmany examples of Victorian taxi-dermy. As well as collecting manymounted animals he kept anastonishing variety of live animalsin the grounds around the muse-um and in Tring Park. From thecassowary to the zebra he collect-ed them all. He was fascinated byanimals and dedicated his life tostudying zoology, he even usedzebras to draw his carriage. TheDiscovery Room at the museumhas many hands-on exhibits aimedat children and there are gallerytrails and activity sheets availablefor just 50p each. The WildlifePhotographer of the year exhibi-tion is on from 3 December to 22January. Images celebrate thebeauty and magnificence of theworld in which we live and show-cases talented young photogra-phers and gifted amateurs withleading lights of the professionfrom around the globe. Entranceto the museum and the exhibitionis free and it is open Monday toSaturday 10am to 5pm, and 2pmto 5pm on Sunday. Look onwww.nhm.ac.uk/tring for moreinformation on events.

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experience

Rye House Kart RacewayRye House, in Hoddesdon is the legendary karting hotspotwhere you can experience the thrills of high speed go kartingalong UK’s leading all weather outdoor tracks, where LewisHamilton spent his early years. It’s fun, fast and furious in thehigh-powered racing machines along this challenging circuitdesigned to bring out the ‘driving force’ in you.

With tailor made packages for children’s parties, corporatedays out, team building, stag/hen and birthday parties – RyeHouse delivers all the excitement of a competitive world-classracing circuit, and much more. you never know it may be thebeginning of your own Formula 1 career.

Open 7 days a week from 10.00am – 10.00pm, look onwww.rye-house.co.uk or telephone 01992 460895 Ext 2

Fundaysout

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Visit us in 2012!From 14th February - 27th November 2012.

Open Tuesdays 10 - 4; Saturdays 10 - 1; Sundays 2 - 5

Small admission charge; free entry to cafe

Lots to see & do - rain or shine!Explore this fascinating Museum that brings

the history of education to life.

Queen Street, Hitchin, SG4 9TStel: 01462 420144

www.britishschoolsmuseum.co.uk

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Jazz at the Hawthorne SuiteCampus WestWelwyn Garden CityEvery Sunday evening Music from 8pmBooking advisablewww.hertsjazz.co.uk

Bovingdon MarketAll year around every Saturdayand Bank Holiday Mondayswww.bovingdonmarket.co.uk

3 Dec - 22 JanuaryWildlife PhotographyExhibitionNatural History Museum atTringwww.nhm.ac.uk/tring

9 December – 1 JanuaryAladdinHertford Theatrewww.hertfordtheatre.com

9 – 31 DecemberSleeping BeautyBroxbourne Civic Hallwww.broxbourne.gov.uk

10 December – 1 JanuaryJack & the BeanstalkWyllyotts TheatrePotters Barwww.wyllyottstheatre.co.uk

11 DecemberWildlife WatchRye Meads Nature ReserveStanstead Abbotts01992 708383www.rspb.org.uk/ryemeads

23 DecemberThe SelecterHertford Corn Exchange01992 584322www.hertfordcornexchange.co.uk

5 & 12 JanuaryBoutique MarketThe Green HouseLetchworthwww.letchworthgreenhouse.co.uk

11 - 15 JanuaryRobin HoodHertford Theatrewww.hertfordpanto.com

15 – 31 JanuaryBeryl Cook Art ExhibitionThe Radlett Centre01923 859291www.artexporadlett.co.uk

15 JanuaryArt & Antiques FairThe Radlett Centre01923 859291www.artexporadlett.co.uk

DECEMBER

ALL YEAR ROUND

JANUARY

What’s On 2011-12w

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Great Hertfordshire events throughout the Winter & Spring

3 FebruaryDrop Another Hat Tribute to Flanders & SwannLetchworth Arts Centre01462 670788

4 FebruarySawbridgeworth Farmers’MarketBell Street Carpark, 9am-1pmwww.eastherts.gov.uk

4 FebruaryHertfordshire Chorus ConcertSt Albans Cathedral0870 4580445www.hertfordshirechorus.org.uk

4 – 26 FebruarySnowdrop WalksBenington Lordshipwww.beningtonlordship.co.uk

18 FebruaryNavarra String QuartetHawthorne TheatreWelwyn Garden Citywww.welhat.gov.uk

22 FebruarySt Albans Pancake Race01727 864511www.stalbans.gov.uk

10 March Community Fun Day Campus WestWelwyn Garden Citywww.welhat.gov.uk

17 – 25 MarchMusic City 2012Various gigs around St Albanswww.stalbans.gov.uk/musiccity

24 & 25 MarchArt ExhibitionSawbridgeworth Memorial Hall10am to 4.30pmwww.eastherts.gov.uk

6 & 7 April Alice in WonderlandEaster Tea PartyKnebworth Housewww.knebworthhouse.com

21 AprilSt Georges Day FestivalGrundy ParkCheshuntwww.broxbourne.gov.uk

28 AprilRed Cross Aerial ChallengeWestmill Farm, Nr Ware01992 585969www.redcross.org.uk

4 MayRat Pack Vegas SpectacularRhodes Arts ComplexBishops Stortford01279 651746www.rhodesbishopsstortford.org.uk

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

FEBRUARY

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STARTING FROMJUST £150 FOR 60PEOPLE THAT’SJUST £2.50 EACH!

BOOK NOW!

SKATEPARTIES!

W E L W Y N G A R D E N C I T Y

Tue 15 to Sat 19November. Tickets:£10 per showAmerican PoodleUnder Milk Wood Fern Hill Animal FarmShylock

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SIMON CALLOWREADS EXCERPTS FROM HIS NEW BOOK

Live On Stage at theHawthorne TheatreTHURSDAY 8 DECEMBER to SUNDAY 1 JANUARY

This year’s exciting magicalfamily Pantomime is...

Friday 10 February | 7.30pmTickets £19.50

www.hawthornetheatre.co.uk

St Albans marketsCharter MarketWednesdays and SaturdaysIn St Peters Street every week the best street market in the whole of Hertfordshire, full of atmosphere and variety.

St Albans Farmers Market2nd Sunday Morning every monthAlso in St Peters Street, home grown produce a gourmets delight.

Wheathampstead Market3rd Sunday Morning Every monthBehind the Bull Public house, bring your kids or walk the dog, friendly atmosphere and pleasant surroundings, free parking.

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experience

Animal CrackersAre you looking for that extra special gift fora loved one? How about pulling a Christmascracker with their favourite animal atParadise Wildlife Park? This fantastic dayincludes welcome drinks, an animal crackerwith materials to decorate it with and festivefillings with the animals’ favourite goodies. A keeper will take you into the animal enclosure so you can pull the cracker withyour chosen furry friend. Crackers forGibbons, Squirrel Monkeys, Meerkats, Lemurs.Coatis & Raccoons are £45 each and BigCats £65. You must buy your cracker before31 January 2012. To purchase your crackercall Sarah on 01992 476 573 or [email protected]. For opening times lookon www.pwpark.com

Get Your Skates On...Experience the magic of ice skating on realice at Van Hage, Gt Amwell, nr Ware thisChristmas. The fantastic 625m2 rink is

surrounded by a fully heated marquee with amouth-watering Café Bar. Skate hire isincluded in the admission price and the rinkis open until 8 January 2012. To book your45 minute skating session look on www.vanhage.co.uk or telephone 01920870811. Off peak tickets start at £9 foradults and £7 for children.

Across the county at Hatfield House youcan also skate in the Stable Yard on their arti-ficial skating rink. It is open from 1 to 23December, 10am to 5pm and costs just £5for adults and £3 for children per 25 minutesession. Book on line on www.hatfield-house.co.uk or telephone 01707 357117.

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Tiptoe Through the

SnowdropsVisit Benington Lordship during 4 to 26February, 12 to 4pm to see the famousBenington Lordship snowdrops. If you are amember of the Royal Horticultural Society itis free entry 4 to 10 February. Admission is£5 for adults and £2 for children. You will seea spectacular display of snowdrops aroundthe remains of the Norman Castle and surrounding moat. There are guided walks onMondays and Wednesdays at 2pm. Tickets are£1 and are sold on a first come first servedbasis on the day for a maximum of 30 people.For more information look on www.beningtonlordship.co.uk

All That JazzHerts Jazz Club meets every Sunday at theHawthorne Studio, The Campus, WelwynGarden City. Performances start at 7.45pmand tickets are £13 on the night or £11 ifbooked on line. Acts lined up for 2012 includethe Jim Mullen Reunion Band, Damon Brown’sUgetsu and the Frank Harrison Trio. Annualmembership of Herts Jazz is £40. For moreinformation look on www.hertsjazz.co.uk

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• The ever popular festive reading ofCharles Dickens’ a Christmas Carol byactor Colin Greenslade takes place atKnebworth House on 16 to 18 December.Start with a glass of mulled wine and amince pie, and enjoy Christmas carols performed from the Minstrels’ Gallery.Admission is £21.50 per person. Bookonline on www.knebworthhouse.comor telephone 01438 810931 for moreinformation.

• St Albans Symphony Orchestra’s ‘TheFestival of Britain Family Concert’ takesplace on 2 January at 7pm at St AlbansAbbey. From Elgar’s Pomp andCircumstance March through to theDambusters and Chariots of Fire comealong and celebrate in music all that isgreat about Britain in the Queen’sDiamond Jubilee year. For ticket pricesand other concerts look onwww.saso.org.uk or [email protected].

• A warm welcome awaits you at WillowsFarm Village where you can visit farmyardanimals, enjoy the daily programme ofshows and activities including Woolly’sShowtime Theatre and Ferret Fun. WillowsFarm Shop supports local producers witha butchers, deli counter and coffee shop.Santa’s Grotto and the Magical Ice Rink isopen until 24th December, visit Santa toreceive the golden key to his Toy Shop.Enjoy the Festive Woodland Ride and theReindeer Hunt. Telephone 0870 129 9718or look on www.willowsfarmvillage.comfor more details, times and admissionprices.

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We cater for up to 360 guests and areavailable for exclusive party hire fromNovember to February 2012. Or join ourshared party nights in December. Get intouch today and let us make yourChristmas party an unforgettable one.

01582 [email protected]

zsl.orgRegistered Charity in England & Wales: no 208728

Make this year’sChristmas partymemorable.

www.benslow.orgTel: 01462 459446 Email: [email protected]

Little Benslow Hills, Benslow Lane, Hitchin, Herts, SG4 9RBA Company limited by guarantee Registered in England No 408404 Charity No 313663

.oww..benslowwww.o@bensloinf01462 459446 Email:: el:: TTe

Hitchin,,,, w LaneBenslow Hills,,Little Bensloed in England No 408404 Charity No 313663y guarantee Registery limited bA Compan

.org.orgwo@benslo

SG4 9RBts, Hered in England No 408404 Charity No 313663

01992 552 900www.foxholesfarm.com

Foxholes Farm, London Road,

Hertford, Herts SG13 7NT

Opening HoursMon to Weds 8.30am - 5.30pm

Thurs & Fri 8.30 - 6pm Sat 8am - 5pm

Sun 10am - 5pm

foxholesFarm Shop

Butchery and DelicatessenTraditional Quality

Beef and Pork straight from the

heart of Hertfordshire

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Perry GreenOpen 1 April to 30 October 2011Telephone 01279 844 104 www.henry-moore.org

S G 1 0 6 E E

2for1with this advert

Set in delightful grounds alongside the River Lea; Hertford Castle is an

exclusive, historic venue Civil Weddings or corporate meetings.

The Downshire Suite in the South Wing comprises three syndicated rooms,

to offer complete flexibility to suit your needs, and can accommodate up

to 50 seated delegates/guests or up to 100 for informal gatherings.

A programme of family events organised from April

through to December include Band Concerts,

Open Days, Wedding Exhibitions, Fun Day,

Scottish Country Dancing, Charity Rock Festival.

Private tours of Hertford Castle by request please contact

Hertford Town & Tourist Information Centre on 01992 584322

THE CASTLE HERTFORD SG14 1HR01992 552885 [email protected]

www.hertford.gov.uk

Enjoy! Hertfordshire museums

Hertfordshire boasts dozens of museums, large andsmall, which unlock the rich and fascinating heritage of the county from prehistoric times

to the present day.

Unlock the past - Visit a Museum

To discover what your museum has to offer

visit the Herts Museums websitewww.hertsmuseums.org.uk

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The newly restored Myddelton House Gardens,at Bulls Cross are an enchanting place to visitat any time of the year. Following a two year

Heritage Lottery Funded project which has funded therestoration of several areas of the gardens, there is anew Visitor Centre, Tea Room and newly restoredKitchen Garden, and entry is free.

All of the hard work has paid off and the gardenshave been awarded a prestigious Green Flag and also aGreen Heritage Award.

Delve into the enchanting six acres of MyddeltonHouse Gardens and discover the compelling story ofone of Britain’s most famous self-taught gardeners,artists and expert botanists - Edward Augustus Bowles.He lived in Myddelton House from 1865 to 1954 anddedicated much of his life to transforming the gardenswith his love of unusual and exotic plants.

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Mill Green Mill & Museum nrHatfield offers you the opportu-nity to see a working watermillin action. It is open all day on

Tuesday, Wednesday and onSundays and Bank Holiday after-noons. On milling days [Tuesdayand Wednesday] you can feel the

power as the stones turn tomake pure fresh flour the tradi-tional way. You can get close tothe majestic wooden machineryin all its glory. You can even buy

yourself a bag of wholemealorganic flour to take home.

Don’t miss the VictorianChristmas Fair on Sunday 4th

December, 2pm to 4.30pm.The museum also runs some

great craft workshops for chil-dren throughout the year,

Christmas crafts are planned for20/21/22 December. These mustbe booked in advance on 01707

357117 or look onwww.welhat.gov.uk/museum formore information. Admission to

the Mill is just £2.50 for an adultand children are free.

explore

OFFER: you can buy an annualseason ticket for just £10, this

will give you unlimited free entryto both Mill Green Mill & Museumand to Welwyn Roman Baths forone year, what a bargain and a

great family Christmas gift

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There’s an impressive range of flora and fauna tostimulate the senses each season. Explore the unusualplants of the Lunatic Asylum, the newly restoredKitchen Garden, the colourful Alpine Meadow and theextensive snowdrop collection which bring the gardensto life during February. You can visit the potting shedand step back in time and see the original gardeningtools hanging on the walls.

Benington Lordship is situatedjust four miles east of Stevenagein the picturesque village ofBenington. The gardens arespread over seven acres sur-rounding a fine Georgian manorhouse with the remains of aNorman Castle and moat.Visitors of all ages will enjoy thepeaceful location, a haven forwildlife that offers unspoiltviews over the Hertfordshirecountryside. The popularSnowdrop walks take place from4th to 26th February, 12-4pm.Admission is £5 Adults & £2Children. The collection of rareand unusual Snowdrops has beenbuilt up over the years. Thereare masses of Hellebores flowerwith Aconites and winter flower-ing shrubs, plus coloured stemsof Acers, Cornus and Willowaround the lakes. Look onwww.beningtonlordship.co.uk

The RSPB Rye Meads NatureReserve in Stanstead Abbotts isa twitchers delight and a fantas-tic day out for all the family.There are ten hides and you maywell catch sight of bitterns, king-fishers and lots of wading birdson your visit. Check out thewatervole feeding stations. Youcan borrow children’s explorerbackpacks or bird bingo sheets.The reserve is also home toseven Water Buffalo, you won’tfind many of those inHertfordshire! Look onwww.rspb.org.uk/ryemeads

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The gardens are also home to a beautiful carp lake, aVictorian conservatory and a number of historicalartefacts collected and treasured by Mr Bowles, includ-ing pieces from the original St Paul’s Cathedral and theEnfield Market Cross. The cross and two 280 year oldVan Nost lead ostriches are now housed in the VisitorCentre, which also tells the Bowles life story.

Once you have had a gentle stroll through the gardens, relax with a cup of tea and a slice of cake orsandwich in the Tea Room.

Look on www.leevalleypark.org.uk for moreinformation.

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Newly opened contemporary art space PalaceGreen Gallery offers an exhibition space forHertfordshire artists, and the chance for

buyers to purchase artworks from quality makersnationwide, but 75% of the artworks on offer are fromlocal artists.

Launched in the palatial grounds of Hatfield House,Palace Green Gallery features works in ceramics andglass, as well as original prints, etchings, screen printsand works on canvas in a brightly lit, open space withvaulted ceilings.

Currently displaying work by the prestigious cerami-cist Jane Muir and local London scene painter PaulHiles, Palace Green Gallery allows work to be viewedfor every taste and budget.

Accessed via George’s Gate, Palace Green Gallery issituated a short walk along the front of the Old Palaceinto the Stable Yard. . Parking and entry to the Gallery,the Stable Yard Shops and the Coach HouseRestaurant at Hatfield House is free.

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The shops at Hatfield HouseStable Yard provide a wide selection of gorgeous gift

opportunities. There is lots oftemptation to treat you or a

loved one to that extra specialpresent. The Oak Room

showcases an inspiring blend ofunique and interesting beautiful

things for your home and family,kitchenware, toys, ribbons, cards& jewellery. It is open 10am to

5.30pm, Tuesday to Sunday. It isclosed from 25 December to

February 2012. www.oakroomshop.co.uk

Westmill Farm is also home tothe Aerial Adventure Park. It is a

huge high ropes course withover 50 individual challengingelements. It has five zip linesincluding the BIG Zip which is

over 100m in length. There aresix separate courses to suit allabilities, suitable for 8yrs plus.

Look on www.westmillfarm.co.ukfor opening times and prices.Advance booking is essential.

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Palace Green Gallery is open 6 days a week, Tuesday toSunday from 11.00am to 5.30pm. Contact the galleryat [email protected] or phone (01707)872551. or look on www.palacegreengallery.co.uk

Westmill Farm has its owncamping and caravan site, closeto the A10 and A1M routes. Pitch prices are extremely competitive at only £18 for anycaravan, motor home, tent ortrailer tent.

They have 18 pitches with electric hook up and 20 pitcheswithout hook up. They havebrand new washing/shower facilities on site too. If you arecamping it makes a good centrallocation to explore EastHertfordshire.

Also on site are the Rib ValleyFishing Lakes made up of threestill-water lakes; Rib Lake,Millennium Lake, and WestmillLake. The lakes are open for fishing throughout the year andare open from 7.00 am to dusk,seven days a week. Any of thelakes may be booked for exclusive use either for matchfishing, corporate days or partybookings.

All tickets must be purchasedfrom the tackle shop on site,near the main entrance duringshop opening hours, The tackleshop sells an excellent range ofcoarse and fly fishing tackle aswell as bait. For more informa-tion, call 01920 462200 or [email protected]

Look on www.westmillfarm.co.ukfor more information on camp-ing and fishing.

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Artshed Arts Creative Skills Centre is a contempo-rary art venue situated on the Rib Valley LeisureComplex at Westmill Farm, Ware in Hertfordshire.

The combination of gallery space and workshop studios for fine art and ceramics and jewellery construction are unique in Hertfordshire. The classesare suitable for all ages and abilities. There is full dis-abled access throughout the centre.

New for 2012 is the jewellery making courses whichinclude brooch making and enamelling. Artshed is alsohosting a Christmas Craft Fair at Westmill Farm on 17& 18 December.

Artshed has a ceramics and sculpture supplies outlet.They stock a good selection of tools, clays, glazes andhave a selection of equipment. You can order on lineon [email protected]

If you wanted to stay overnight the traditional markettowns of Ware and nearby Hertford has several hotelsand B & Bs where you can rest your weary head. Bothtowns have an excellent café culture, so you will bespoilt for choice for where to have your dinner or chillover a glass of wine or real ale.

Look on www.artshedarts.co.uk for more detailsabout the fair and art classes on offer.

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If you are looking for seasonal produce or a specialgift for someone, why not pay a visit to one of themany farmers’ markets that take place across

Hertfordshire. You will be pleasantly surprised by thequality and selection of local produce on offer.

The markets feature a wide range of produce varyingfrom area to area. What they all share is a passion forquality, for service and for providing good value formoney. The atmosphere at the markets is alwaysrather special, largely created by the enthusiasm of thestallholders in selling their products. Apart from awide range of foods, the markets often sell other itemssuch as soaps, bath products, lavender, flowers & plantsand crafts. At Christmas and Easter time you will findseasonal crafts and gifts available too.

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The village of Wheathampsteadhas a great smaller farmers’ mar-

ket on the 3rd Sunday of themonth, 10am to 3pm. Here you

will find a range of the best localfood you can buy, including the

famous Whitwell watercress fromNine Wells Watercress Farm. The

cress is grown in free flowingspring water and is still hand

harvested in the traditional way.The result is beautifully fresh and wonderfully peppery watercress.There is also a hall which hosts

indoor craft stalls and where thelocal Women’s Institute offer

home made cakes and refresh-ments if you need to recharge

your batteries.

Pearce’s Farm Shop nrBuntingford can be found just offthe A10 and has a large choice offruit and vegetables, meat, cakes,bread, cheese, plants, herbs and

flowers. From May to Octoberyou can pick your own soft

fruits, mainly raspberries andstrawberries. Later in the season

you will see sunflowers, pump-kins and gourds. They also stock

compost, hay, straw, logs and kindling, you can easily spend anhour pottering around the shop.

New for December is the caféwhere you will be able to samplehomemade cakes and snacks. For

opening times look onwww.pearcesfarmshop.com or

telephone: 01920 821246

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The great thing about the markets is you can sourcethe provenance of your food and support our localproducers and farmers.

Two of the biggest farmers’ markets take place in StAlbans on the 2nd Sunday of each month from 8am to2pm and in Hatfield in White Lion Square the 1stSaturday of each month, except January, from 9am to1pm. There are over 55 stalls at the Hatfield marketwith a varied mix that includes seasonal fruit & veg,meats, fish, cheese, pies, pickles and crafts. It is wellworth a visit.

Church Farm Ardeley is wellworth a visit and the FarmStore, café and Jolly WaggonersPub are open 7 days a weekserving the best food from thefarm. It is free to walk the foot-paths to see the animals, woodsand veg growing area at anytime.The farm takes a biological andecological approach to farmingand is a farm that grows foodfor local people and for cus-tomers. They are now takingorders for Christmas food boxes,but seasonal vegetable and meatboxes are available all yearround. For more information onChurch Farm and opening hourslook on www.churchfarmardeley.co.uk or telephone: 01438861447.

St Albans traditional street market takes place along StPeter’s Street every Wednesdayand Saturday. It dates from the9th Century and was granted a special Royal Charter in 1553. Ithas over 160 stalls selling every-thing from fish to fabrics. Whereelse could you buy a wholesalmon, cut-to-size foam, healingcrystals or herbs all in one place?You could do all your shoppingby just walking through the market and probably be temptedto buy more than you planned.Look on www.stalbans.gov.uk for more information.

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Hertford farmers’ market takes place the 2ndSaturday of the month and is home to the HertfordPorker made by local butcher Ronnie Macleod. Theseaward winning sausages are made from 70% porkshoulder with a little belly fat. The meat is minced justonce which gives them a great texture and is thenmixed with the secret Hertfordshire blend of herbsand spices. The meat is then put into natural hog casesand the sausages are then individually hand linked.Many local pubs and cafes are now including theHertford Porker on their menus including the Salisbury Arms Hotel in Hertford. Look on www.hertfordporker.co.uk for more information.

Whatever your tastes you will find a farmers markettaking place near you most weekends, so support yourlocal businesses and buy local. For the dates of markets across the county see page 46. For informa-tion on local producers look on www.bigbarn.co.uk

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These are our regular markets in the

county. Watch out for other seasonal

markets and events throughout the year,

like French markets

Contact your local Tourist Information Centre(TIC) for further details. See pages 47-48

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Touristinformation

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information

For more information about places to visit, accommodation,events, restaurants, pubs and much, much more, a visit or atelephone call to one of our Tourist Information Centres willprovide you with the answers. Trained, professional staff willhelp you get the most from your visit.

i D7 Bishop’s Stortford Tourist Information Centre2 Market Square, CM23 3UUTel: 01279 655831Email: [email protected]

i C5 Hertford Tourist Information Centre10 Market Place, SG14 1DGTel: 01992 584322Email: [email protected]

i E4/5 Letchworth Garden City Tourist Information Centre33/35 Station Road, SG6 3BBTel: 01462 487868Email: [email protected]

i C3/4 St Albans Tourist Information CentreTown Hall, Market Place, AL3 5DJTel: 01727 864511Email: [email protected]

You will also find tourist information at the following places:

i E4/5 Baldock LibrarySimpson Drive. Tel: 01438 737333

i C2 Berkhamsted LibraryKing's Road. Tel: 01438 737333

i E6 Buntingford Tourist Information PointThe Manor House, High Street.Tel: 01763 272222Email: [email protected]

i B6 Cheshunt LibraryWindmill Lane. Tel: 01992 785592

i B5/6 Goffs Oak LibraryGoffs Lane. Tel: 01992 785592

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information i C/D3 Harpenden Tourist Information PointTown Hall, Leyton Road.Tel: 01582 768278

i C2/3 Hemel Hempstead Tourist Information PointCivic Centre, Marlowes. Tel: 01442 234222www.dacorum.gov.uk

i B4 Hertsmere Tourist Information PointBorough Council Offices, Elstree Way, Borehamwood.Tel: 0208 207 2277 Email: [email protected]

i E4 Hitchin Town Centre Initiative27 Churchyard. Tel: 01462 453335Email: [email protected]

i E4 Hitchin LibraryPaynes Park. Tel: 01438 737333

i C6 Hoddesdon One Stop Shop42 Tower Centre. Tel: 01992 785592

i A/B2 Rickmansworth Information Point3 Rivers House, Northway. Tel: 01923 776611Email: [email protected]

i F6 Royston LibraryMarket Hill. Tel: 01438 737333

i D/E4/5 Stevenage Central LibrarySouthgate. Tel: 01438 737333

i C1 Tring Tourist Information Point99 Akeman Street. Tel: 01442 823347Email: [email protected]

i B6 Waltham Cross One Stop Shop123 High Street. Tel: 01992 785592

i D6 Ware Tourist Information PointThe Priory Lodge, High Street. Tel: 01920 487848

i B3 Watford One Stop ShopTown Hall. Tel: 01923 226400

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Opening Hours:Tuesday - Thursday 10:00am - 4:00pm,Friday 10:00am - 5:00pm, Saturday 10:00am - 4:00pmT: 01992 509596 E: [email protected]: www.courtyardarts.org.uk Registered Charity Number: 104469.

Courtyard ArtsHertford’s leading visual arts venue

Art GalleryUnique Gift shopArt Workshopsfor everyoneCaféCar park at rear

NEW

for this year

over 400

model aircrafts

to see

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Main line stations serve Hertfordshire

from London including Kings Cross,

St Pancras and Liverpool Street.

The M1 and the A1(M) run through the

county and Stansted Airport is situated to

the east with Luton Airport on the northern

border. Buses and trains link the towns and

there is an extensive network of roads with

many idyllic country lanes. Hertfordshire really

is something special.

Herts TravelInformationfrom Intalink

traveline0871 200 22 33 (0700– 2200). (Calls fromBT Landlines cost 10pper minute, mobileand other providers’charges may vary)www.intalink.org.uk(For timetables, maps,journey planning andbreaking news).

National RailEnquiries24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Tel: 08457 48 49 50www.nationalrail.co.uk

How toget here

useful contacts

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Stop and stay a while, experience, discover, explore and relax.

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