The Old Town of Hemel Hempstead features an array of Victorian, Georgian and Tudor architecture in a street described as “the prettiest street in Hertfordshire”. Boasting a diverse selection of specialist shops including fine art and antiques, a stroll around the Old Town area reveals historic buildings such as the Old Town Hall and St Mary’s Church together with a number of period pubs, retro cafes and cosmopolitan restaurants dotted along the High Street.

Gadebridge Park, which is situated opposite Heritage Gate, forms an attractive green wedge of urban countryside running into the heart of the town. The park extends to approximately 32 hectares and in addition to well-maintained parkland provides extensive recreation facilities including two bowling greens, a crazy golf course, croquet, play area and skate park. The park is also used for occasional events, such as cross-country and fun runs and much of the parkland to the north of the River Gade is scheduled as an area of archaeological importance.

Hemel Hempstead is home to two main shopping centres, The Marlowes and Riverside, which offer a wide selection of familiar high street retail names including a Debenhams department store. This is complimented by the exciting combination of independent retailers, antique and speciality shops situated closer to home in the Old Town. Supermarket shopping is well catered for; branches of Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Marks & Spencer are all within convenient reach.

Jarman Square is Hemel Hempstead’s number one leisure destination. Sit back, relax and enjoy watching the latest movie on the big screen at Empire Cinema, or let off some steam at Planet Ice – the perfect family day out. For fitness fanatics, you can take advantage of the action-packed fitness class timetable at ‘the gym’. There is also a wide selection of places to eat from Chiquito and Nando‘s to Frankie & Benny’s, Coast to Coast and Bella Italia.