Historic buildings, waterside landscapes and specific sporting activities offer different ways to shape a stay in Hemel Hempstead. The range of interests spans architectural history and public art, as well as green spaces and skiing, snowboarding, climbing and skateboarding. If you’re looking for a hotel, it helps to decide first which of these interests will shape your trip.

Historic Buildings and Public Art

The Hemel Water Gardens are listed Grade II for their special historic interest. The Church of St Mary dates from around 1140–1180. Its floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross, with a crossing tower and a 13th-century spire. The crossing is the area where the arms of the cross-shaped floor plan meet. The church therefore offers several specific architectural features to explore, rather than focusing on its age alone.

The Tile Mosaic Map is a mosaic mural designed by Rowland Emett and painted by Phyllis Butler of Carter Tiles Ltd. It was installed on the south façade of the multi-storey Marlowes car park in 1960. As public art, it is part of Hemel Hempstead’s New Town heritage. Its creation in 1960 contrasts in time with the 12th-century Church of St Mary.

Waterside Landscapes and Paths

The Jellicoe Water Gardens surround the River Gade, which runs alongside Hemel Hempstead town centre. Here, the river and gardens are closely linked. If you’re looking to make water and landscaped green spaces a focus of your stay, you can take this connection into account.

The Box Moor Trust estate includes water meadows, chalk hills, woodland, pastures, chalk streams, former clay pits and recreational areas. Most of its land is freely accessible; access arrangements may vary in some areas, so please follow the signs on site. Bunkers Park covers 47.8 hectares, and its footpaths are suitable for walking and running. The Trust’s appeal lies in its variety of landscapes, while Bunkers Park stands out for its size and paths.

Comparing Sporting Activities

The Snow Centre has a 160-metre main slope and offers skiing and snowboarding lessons for adults and children aged three and over. Check operating arrangements and current lesson availability before your trip. The Snow Centre gives journey times of five minutes from junction 8 of the M1 and ten minutes from junction 20 of the M25. Allow extra time in case traffic conditions affect your journey.

XC offers a different kind of activity: it has a 60 × 14 metre climbing wall and an indoor skatepark made of concrete and wood. Check current operating arrangements here too before you travel. The two venues therefore differ clearly by sport: skiing and snowboarding are the focus at the Snow Centre, while XC is dedicated to climbing and skating.

For the wider travel overview: Hertfordshire.