Hemel Hempstead: Old Town and New Town Hertfordshire
Hemel Hempstead is a large Hertfordshire town northwest of London. Its layout reflects its development as a postwar new town, but an older High Street, a medieval church and the canal-side district of Apsley give it a longer story. It is more an everyday place to live and work than a traditional tourist stop. Still, its parks, waterways, indoor ski slope and unusually laid-out Magic Roundabout give visitors plenty to recognize. Its location also makes it useful for people exploring this part of Hertfordshire or traveling into London.
A postwar town built around an older one
From the High Street to Apsley's paper mills
Green corridors and London connections
What is there in Hemel Hempstead?
A quick overview of the most notable things you can find in Hemel Hempstead.
Old Town High Street
An older stretch of shops, places to eat and historic buildings with a different feel from the modern town center.
Grand Union Canal
A canal through Apsley with towpaths that make for straightforward waterside walks.
Boxmoor
Open land and paths on the western side of town, alongside the River Bulbourne and the canal.
Paper-making heritage
Apsley's former paper industry remains visible through Frogmore Paper Mill.
Indoor skiing
The Snow Centre has an indoor slope for skiing and snowboarding.
Marlowes shopping area
The modern commercial center serves everyday shopping and contrasts with the older High Street.
What to see in Hemel Hempstead?
Notable places and attractions connected to Hemel Hempstead.
Gadebridge Park
A large public park near the Old Town, with open lawns and paths beside the River Gade.
St Mary's Church
A medieval church beside the Old Town and one of Hemel Hempstead's most distinctive historic buildings.
Frogmore Paper Mill
A historic mill in Apsley that preserves the area's paper-making story; check current opening arrangements before visiting.
The Magic Roundabout
An unusual road junction composed of smaller roundabouts, best appreciated as a local curiosity rather than a sightseeing stop.
The Snow Centre
An indoor snow slope that gives the town a year-round skiing and snowboarding attraction.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓Direct rail services toward London Euston make trips into the capital straightforward.
- ✓The Old Town, canal and paper mill give the town more variety than its new-town reputation suggests.
- ✓Gadebridge Park and Boxmoor put open space close to residential areas.
- ✓The Snow Centre provides an activity that is unusual for a Hertfordshire town.
- ✓Nearby major roads make Hemel Hempstead convenient for travel around the region.
Cons
- −The town is spread out, so seeing several areas in one trip may require a bus, bike or car.
- −The railway station is not in the main shopping center.
- −Busy roads and complex junctions can make driving through town stressful.
- −Much of the modern center has a functional rather than historic feel.
- −Its sights are fairly modest if you are looking for a full sightseeing weekend.
Location
Hemel Hempstead is located in Hertfordshire.
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