Hatfield
Hatfield is a town in the English county of Hertfordshire 20 mi (32 km) north of London. It is perhaps best known as the location of Hatfield House, an historic stately home with strong royal connections that include Queen Elizabeth I. It used to be the base of De Havilland Aircraft (which was taken over by British Aerospace), and it was at Hatfield that the Comet commercial jet plane was produced. The former runway is now a commercial zone, with roads named after planes produced by De Havilland.
Get in
By road
The A1(M) is built to motorway standards and runs under the Galleria centre. Come off at junction 3 (Hatfield University, A414) or junction 4 (Oldings Corner, A414) for the town centre, Hatfield House and the Galleria. The A414 goes to Hertford and Watford. The A1057 goes to St Albans. The A6129 goes to Welwyn Garden City. The A1000 goes to Potters Bar.
By train
Services run by Great Northern operate to Hatfield station. Express services operating between London King's Cross and Cambridge call at Hatfield M-Sa every 30 minutes, Su every hour; these also serve Finsbury Park, Potters Bar Welwyn Garden City, and Stevenage. Stopping services also depart London Moorgate M-F every 20 minutes, Sa Su every 30 minutes, and call at a number of stations in North London, including Old Street, Highbury & Islington, and Finsbury Park.
By bus
Unō buses serve Hatfield from a number of London Underground and Overground stations:
- 602 from Watford High Street, on the Overground line from Euston to Watford Junction;
- 610 from Cockfosters, at the northern end of the Piccadilly line;
- 614 from High Barnet, at the northern end of the Northern line;
- 644 from Edgware, at the north-western end of the Northern line.
Pay by cash or contactless. Fares are not integrated with TfL, so you can't pay by Oyster and the zones don't apply.
Get around
Unō Buses which are operated by the university (they are pink and purple) serve the area and local community.
See
- 1 Hatfield House, Park and Gardens, ☏ +44 1707 287010. Summer months only, opening from Easter W-Su and Bank Holidays. Built by the first Earl of Salisbury who was Chief Minister to King James I from 1607 to 1611. The house has an extensive collection of pictures, furnishings and historic armour. Queen Elizabeth 1st spent much of her childhood here and it was here that she learnt that she had become Queen. The garden dates from the early 17th century. The West garden includes a scented garden, herb garden and knot garden.
Do
Buy
- The Hatfield Galleria. Over 80 shops, 15 restaurants/cafés, and a cinema.
- 1 Hatfield Town Centre (on north side of Queensway in centre of Hatfield). Shop times vary; Asda open most days 24 hours. At the centre of Hatfield. Asda Superstore anchor of this area. Also, has Boots, Barclays Bank, Halifax Bank. On Wednesdays and Sundays the small Hatfield market at Market Place. Town Centre has approximately 50 shops.
Eat
- Bar turan. Indian tapas restaurant.
- Happy Valley. Chinese restaurant and fish bar.
Drink
- Town Inn.
- Bar 12.
- Mai Tai. A popular student hangout.
Sleep
- Mercure Hotel Hatfield, Roehyde Way, Hatfield AL10 9AF, ☏ +44 1707 275701. Modern Hotel close to the A1(M). Special 'Real Deal' from £100 per coupls for one night including three course dinner, bottle of house wine and full English breakfast. From £59 per room.
- 1 Premier Inn, Lemsford Road, Hatfield AL10 0DA (at southeast corner where A10 and Comet Way meet), ☏ +44 871 527 8498. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Has 40 rooms. Hotel new and of decent quality. Continental or full breakfast available for additional price at Brewers Fayre, adjacent to hotel. £56.00 and up; if booked locally £29.00 and up.
Go next
Interesting places nearby include Ayot St Lawrence, the former home of George Bernard Shaw, and Hertford, the county town of Hertfordshire.
| Routes through Hatfield |
| Peterborough ← Welwyn Garden City ← | N  S |
→ Borehamwood → London |