Things to do with kids - Hemel area?

TTC40

I've booked to take friends & their kids to Warner Brothers studio tour. We will be travelling from a couple of hours away so are staying the night before at the Holiday Inn at Hemel.

So need to find something to do on the afternoon we arrive.

So ideally, somewhere to go from about midday to 4ish. We can then go to the hotel & swim/ eat etc.

Any recommendations of parks/ places to visit in the area? 5 kids age from 5 to 11.

Try to be :money:about the trip so nothing too expensive ideally!

pinkzebra

I would recommend visiting Ashridge. It is National Trust land, about 20 minutes drive from Hemel. There is a monument you can go up (small charge), an abundance of beautiful walks through the woods, lovely fields to run around in, and more importantly a great little cafe (outdoor seating only).

If you didn't want to drive 20 mins, then there is Gadebridge park, near Hemel Old Town - but this park is nowhere as nice as Ashridge.

If it is wet, then there is the cinema and aquasplash watersides (however Aquasplash is very expensive and very horrible - see the reviews on trip advisor). There is the 'XC' where you can go skateboarding or rock climbing (not sure on prices). There is also Quasar (laser gun shooting thing) in the town centre.

There is the Natural History museum in Tring (about 20 minutes drive - off the A41) - that is free. Tring is a nice town to walk around too.

To be honest, Hemel is an ok town to live in, as it is close to the station and motorway. But the town centre is not the best, and there is not a great deal going on.

Personally, I would do Ashridge if it is dry and The Natural History Museum in Tring if it is wet.

TTC40

Thanks. Very helpful.

Any other ideas from anyone?

converted-lurker

another vote for natural history museum in tring, perfect for a few hours in afternoon. Hemel is less than 20mins drive away and your children are the right ages for it. Its free and kids love it.

Or if you want a walk ashridge is fab.

wallbash

If it is wet, then there is the cinema and aquasplash watersides (however Aquasplash is very expensive and very horrible - see the reviews on trip advisor). There is the 'XC' where you can go skateboarding or rock climbing (not sure on prices)

Sign posted Jarman Park , just off the Moterway .
Tring /Ashridge are nice ideas but you have just driven 2 hours from where?? do you really want another round trip of an hour?

So give us some help . where are you traveling from . which direction are you entering HH .
My vote as I live here is St Albans ,a thousand times nicer than HH

TTC40

I will be travelling from the north via the m1. My friend is coming from Gloucester.
Thanks

wallbash

Another reason for St Albans , get off at junction 9 ( wave to me as you pass) straight down the A5 , third roundabout , rht turn , park is on the left .

Roman Ruins ,

http://www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/Your-Visit/Verulamium-Museum/Roman-Mosaic-and-Hypocaust

And plenty of space to let off steam .

End of visit , A4147 back to HH ( passing Jarman Park )

Very little out of your way , not expensive , you can kid yourself its educational . If it rains you have the city of St Albans to walk around

converted-lurker

wallbash tring is really only 15minutes drive from hemel as long as you are not going works traffic time, so it would be no where near 1 hr round trip.

I would of thought the journey to st albans would of been harder traffic wise.

warehouse

Take a drive around Hemel, there are lots of parks and open spaces all over. Don't go near Jarman Park or the shopping centre, both Chav central. I'd also recommend Tring museum, it's really good. Berkhampstead is close and has a beautiful canal walk with a few pubs to have a drink or nibbles at, (children friendly).

wallbash

OP is coming down the M1 , how much closer to St Albans do you want to be. They have a 5 year old , after a two hour car journey ...... 15 mins / 30 mins extra going in the wrong direction makes no sense .

ps I also enjoy my many trips to Tring ( via potton end / Berko ) but was answering OP query.

PPS Nothing wrong with the Tesco at Jarman Park

redned_2

how about milton keynes on the way down? willen lake just off j14