Follow in the Footsteps of Elizabeth I at Hatfield House
Elizabeth I is one of my favourite historical figures so I was always going to love Hatfield House. This is where Elizabeth grew up, spent periods of house arrest, and found out she had become Queen.
I absolutely loved my visit. If there was an adventure play area, it would be a definite 5/5 for children too.
The Old Palace
The Old Palace was originally called the Royal Palace of Hatfield and was used by Henry VIII as a nursery for his children.
The Royal Palace was originally a quadrangle built around a central courtyard.
The building you see today is one wing of the quadrangle. The courtyard is now a manicured garden.
The rest of the Royal Palace was demolished after Elizabeth I died and the bricks used to build Hatfield House.
Hatfield House
This was closed when I visited because of Covid restrictions but I was reliably informed that it has secret doors used by the servants to disappear when necessary!
As well as the Tudor connection, Hatfield House has rolling parkland, ancient trees,
and little robots that mow the lawns!
Elizabeth Oak
This is said to be the spot where Princess Elizabeth was told she had become Queen in 1558. The original oak tree she was sitting under died about 100 years ago. Elizabeth II planted this replacement tree in 1985.
The Grounds
The grounds of Hatfield House roll down to the River Lea and include parkland and woodland to explore. Everywhere you look there are twisted trees that look like they are about to stand up and walk away.
Some areas are busy and others feel isolated. I had a picnic in a spot that was so peaceful a deer walked right past me.
The Trails
There are a few marked trails to choose from. I tried the Red Walk, which is a little over 3 miles and takes you into the woodland, along the River Lea, past Elizabeth Oak and then back through the parkland.
The paths were easy to walk on, with some hills. Lots of families were using buggies without any trouble.
The Guides
I visited in connection with another project and would like to say a huge thank you to Dermot and Alan, two of the guides who made my visit extra special. They were both very knowledgeable and helpful and went out of their way to explain the history of the Old Palace.
Visit the Hatfield House website
Further Information
Nearest Town: Hatfield, near Watford
County: Hertfordshire
Nearest Postcode: AL9 5NQ
Adult Cost Range: Various depending on where you want to go.
Child Cost Range: Various depending on where you want to go.
Free if: Under 3 years old.
Opens: Various depending on which parts you want to visit.
Where to Eat: A shop, a cafe or bring a picnic.
Facilities: Snacks, cafe, ice cream, picnic area, toilets and accessible toilets.
How Long We Spent There: 4 hours.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.
Parking: There is a large car park.
Cost of Parking: Free
Wildlife You Might See: Insects, ducks and other birds and deer.
Information Written: July 2020
Ratings
Our visit to Hatfield House in Hatfield, near St Albans, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.
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