North London and Hertfordshire is a special area accessible with great ease from both West Lodge Park Hotel and Beales Hotel. A mixture of quiet villages, rolling open countryside, stately homes, rivers and canals, and vibrant towns and suburbs.

The area is certainly not on the main tourist trail and probably the better for it with few queues or bus loads of tourists.

Ideal for weekend breaks although regular guests to the two hotels find enough to do in the area time after time.

My personal favourites include the woods at Ashridge, the Brocket Arms at Ayot St Lawrence, and the Norman abbey in St Albans.

Andrew Beale
Managing Director
 
 
List of places:
 

www.hertspolo.co.uk Set in 250 acres of stunning parkland, Hertfordshire Polo Club is easily reachable in less than 15 minutes drive from both of the Beales Hotels. Throughout the summer visitors are welcome to watch the polo tournaments held there and enjoy the hospitality of the Clubhouse. The club offers great facilities for Corporate Activity Days and Entertainment Packages. They also cater for those who want to learn how to play Polo; from complete beginners to seasoned players.

www.enjoyhertfordshire.co.uk The best source of information for finding out what’s on in the local area complete with opening times

www.stalbanscathedral.org.uk The wonderful Norman abbey of St Alban is always worth a visit
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-ashridgeestate/ the Ashridge Estate - free entry to thousands of acres of bluebell woods, rolling Chiltern countryside, glorious views
www.hatfield-house.co.uk One of the jewels in the crown of Hertfordshire, home to the 7th Marquess of Salisbury and minutes from Beales Hotel in Hatfield. Princess Elizabeth (later Elizabeth 1) lived here under the protection of Robert Cecil and came down to West Lodge to hunt in the Enfield Chase
www.knebworthhouse.com Home of the Lytton family since 1490 and more widely known for huge rock concerts in the grounds. But the gardens and house are always worth a visit. And lots to keep restless families occupied too! Main Contact Martha Lytton-Cobbold
www.capel.ac.uk/gardens/index.html Capel Manor is the internationally renowned horticultural and arboricultural college minutes from West Lodge Park, with over 30 acres of incredibly varied gardens. Main contact Steven Dowbiggin, Principal
www.hadleywoodgc.com Hadley Wood Golf Club, about a minute from West Lodge Park, offers special rates for hotel guests at both hotels (click here for further information on Beales Hotels privileged green fees). A very fine course, designed by Alister Mackenzie of Augusta fame. Main Contact Bill Beckett General Manager
www.waterscape.com/Grand_Union_Canal/introduction The Grand Union Canal which meanders northwards through Hertfordshire from London to Birmingham is a wonderful place for a walk or a boat trip. One truly feels away from it all here.
Only minutes away from West Lodge Park are Trent Park, Forty Hall and Myddleton House, jewels in the crown of this under rated North London borough
www.pwpark.com Paradise Wildlife Park is about 20 minutes from both hotels – a wonderful zoo that is ever increasing in size and provides a great day out for families staying at the hotels. Main contact Steve Samuels
www.zsl.org/zsl-whipsnade-zoo/ Whipsnade wild animal park is world famous for its thousands of acres on the Chiltern escarpment and animals from all over the world that are able to live in much more natural surroundings than in a cramped zoo. Well recommended.
www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/verulamium_museum.htm An unmissable museum charting the rise and fall of the Roman Empire in St Albans and Hertfordshire.
www.rnrs.org/about_the_garden/ The Royal National Rose Society Gardens of the Rose in St Albans have just re-opened after being completely redesigned. Very convenient for both hotels but a limited summer season only

www.willowsfarmvillage.com 500 acres of farm attractions within 10 minutes of each hotel. Wonderful farm shop and enough to keep the family occupied for the whole day
www.leevalleypark.org.uk 10’000 acres of countryside on the doorstep – a wonderfully varied country park with lakes, rivers, meadows, RSPB Rye Meads bird reserve – very handy for guests at West Lodge Park
Shaws Corner is about 15 minutes from Beales Hotel and a world away – George Bernard Shaw found peace and quiet here and the house is unchanged since his death in 1950. Enjoy a pint in the nearby Brocket Arms with the landlord Toby Wingfield-Digby after your visit.
www.english-heritage.org.uk/server.php?show=conProperty.106 Further into London, yet only 30 minutes from West Lodge Park is Kenwood House, the wonderful Robert Adam house in the middle of Hampstead Heath. Ideal in all weathers as the house holds the wonderful Iveagh bequest art collection, while outside are thousands of acres of glorious countryside – London at its best.