If you’re looking for a hotel in Broxbourne, start by asking what you want your stay to focus on: historic buildings, river history or routes through wetlands. The town offers clearly distinct points of interest, from a mill first mentioned in 1086 to the Water Vole Trail around Silvermeade. Decide on your focus before including different types of routes and attractions in your plans.
Mill heritage and the New River
The mill at Broxbourne Old Mill and Meadows was first mentioned in 1086 in the Domesday Book. Surviving remains there include a 16th-century brick floor and window frames from a two-storey mill house dating to the 19th century. These dates point to different historical traces: the mill’s first recorded mention and building elements from later centuries.
The New River adds another dimension to this picture as a water engineering project. It runs through Broxbourne and was built between 1608 and 1613 by Sir Hugh Myddelton, with financial support from King James I, to bring drinking water to London from springs near Ware. The New River Footpath is a public footpath offering views of historic buildings and attractive open spaces. The Broxbourne section of the New River Shared Path is separate: it connects Cozens Lane West with the Wormley playing fields and is open to cyclists and pedestrians.
Churches and historic sites
St Augustine's Church in Broxbourne was completely rebuilt and extended in the 15th century, around 1460. The church also has a late 12th-century font. An older ecclesiastical object and a later building phase therefore sit side by side, though they belong to different periods.
Perrior's Manor is believed to be the site of a 13th-century aristocratic residence. Nearby in Hoddesdon, Rye House Gatehouse is considered the only surviving remnant of a 15th-century fortified brick manor house. The Gatehouse is a Grade I listed building and is designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Those interested in historic buildings will find sites with different historical connections and designations.
Silvermeade and routes through the landscape
Silvermeade is one of only four surviving remnant floodplain meadows in Lee Valley Regional Park and an important refuge for the endangered European water vole. The Water Vole Trail is one mile long and follows a circular route through the wetland around Silvermeade. Another natural landmark is Broxbourne Woods, Hertfordshire’s only National Nature Reserve.
The Water Vole Trail and the River Lee Trail differ in route type: the former is described as a circular route, while the River Lee Trail initially follows the New River and returns along the towpath of the River Lee Navigation. The New River Shared Path is oriented by its two endpoints. You can choose a route according to whether a circular walk, a particular route or a connection between named points matters most to you. Check current path conditions before your trip.
Starting point and rental options
The Water Vole Trail starts at the car park at Broxbourne Old Mill and Meadows. Its starting point is five minutes from Broxbourne railway station; check your travel connections before setting off. This information helps with planning your journey without assuming a particular way of getting to the starting point.
There are different rental options for activities on land or water: LVCC by Lee Valley Boats in Broxbourne offers bicycle hire, while the Lee Valley Boat Centre rents day boats there. If either option is important to your plans, check availability in advance. When choosing your focus, you can weigh up historic sites, the wetland around Silvermeade and routes that each follow a different course.
Discover more destinations: Saint Albans, Stevenage, Ardeley, Boxmoor, Bayford, Meriden, Standon, Tewin
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