Herts and beyond

There's plenty to do in and around Hatfield.

With excellent transport connections, it's just as easy to explore other areas of Hertfordshire, such as Stevenage, St Albans, and Watford. And don't forget, London is only a 25-minute train ride away.

Whether you enjoy shopping for your favourite brands or exploring the local parks, you can have fun planning days out with friends and family without needing to travel far. Discover our variety of student picks below.

Restaurants

Explore culinary diversity! From sizzling Tex-Mex to perfect puddings, these are our top picks for student-friendly dining.

• Harpsfield Hall Wetherspoons; a favourite for Herts students for years. Located within walking distance from both campuses.
• Turkish Kitchen; with over 30 years' dedicated to crafting traditional Turkish cuisine, this restaurant is one of the most popular restaurants in Hatfield.
• Happy Valley; a family run business and a go-to Chinese takeaway amongst Herts students. Locals love it, so why not treat yourself.
• The Pudding Stop; enjoy handmade British puddings, pastries, doughnuts as well as handcrafted pudding wines, craft beers and coffee in a relaxed space with a rustic feel.
• D20 Board Game Café; book a table and choose from hundreds of exciting new and familiar games. Grab a coffee or a signature D20 milkshake and settle in for an immersive gaming session with friends.

Culture and green spaces

If you enjoy relaxing green spaces, the University has plenty to offer. If you have friends or family visiting or just want to get outside and explore, check out our recommendations.

• Ellenbrook Fields; a large nature reserve open to the public and right next to de Havilland campus. The area is popular with walkers, runners and cyclists and is host to Hatfield's weekly parkrun.
• Hatfield House is one of the finest Jacobean houses in the UK and within easy reach of both campuses. Step inside the home of Elizabeth I during part of her childhood, and then take a walk around the beautiful gardens.
• Tate Modern; London’s free gallery of modern and contemporary art. On display are works by Picasso, Dali, Rothko and Matisse, with events running throughout the year.
• Hertfordshire Zoo; if you're an animal lover, a visit to the local zoo is perfect for you.
• Knebworth House is the ideal historical house; take a stroll through the 28-acre formal gardens, including a dinosaur trail.

Entertainment

Whether you want to watch the latest movie or plan an exciting day out with friends, you'll never run out things to do in and around Hatfield.

• Odeon; catch the latest blockbusters in Hatfield, just walking distance from both campuses. With nine screens, it’s your go-to spot for big screen entertainment.
• Elstree Studio is home to popular TV shows, including Eastenders, Big Brother and the first two Star Wars trilogies. You can also attend the annual Elstree Film Festival.
• Covent Garden; a popular shopping and entertainment hub in London’s West End which is a must visit. Home, fashion and beauty stores as well as some of the best theatre shows in London.
• Ware Escape Rooms; immerse yourself in the thrilling experience of coming up with a strategy and finding all the clues. Choose from ten different storylines to solve, but don’t forget – time is of the essence!

Shopping

Enjoy a shopping trip of your favourite high street brands, independent shops and local markets.

• The Galleria shopping mall is located between College Lane and de Havilland Campuses, perfect for students with a variety of brands and enticing deals available.
• Hatfield Farmers and craft market; held on the first Saturday of each month, based in Hatfield town centre and over 50 stalls to explore.
• Howard Centre; shopping centre located in the neighbouring town of Welwyn Garden City, just fifteen minutes away from our campuses.
• Coal Drops Yard is less than 30 minutes away by train, a shopping and dining hotspot is at the heart of King’s Cross.
• Canopy Market; just a 5-minute walk from King’s Cross is the Canopy market. A variety of market stalls, street food, drinks and entertainment available every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Night life

Fancy a night out? From nightclubs to bars and pubs, here are our top picks.

• The Forum Hertfordshire; housing The Loft and Seventy7, the Forum is our on-campus bar and nightclub offering you some of the best nights out in the area!
• Ele House; our on-campus bar and kitchen is the perfect spot to relax and socialise with friends. Whether you're looking for a drink, want to join in on karaoke or quiz nights, or to catch your favorite sports teams on the big screen, it’s the place to be.
• Alexandra Palace; get a direct train in under 30 minutes and enjoy a variety of live music, festivals, sport, comedy and theatre.
• Club Veeda has three floors of different types of music ranging from hip-hop and R&B to 90’s, 00’s and contemporary hits, Club Veeda has something for everyone.
• The Woodman; a traditional country pub and carvery restaurant in Hatfield, perfect for friends and family get togethers to enjoy a roast dinner.

Sports and fitness spaces

Discover the perfect activities to keep you active and have fun with friends.

• HertSquad Sports teams; whether you’re interested in competitive sport or just want to play for fun, HertSquad has something for you.
• Hertfordshire Sports Village; go rock climbing, swim in our olympic sized pool, play a friendly game of squash or take a gym class all in one location.
• Hatfield Swim Centre boasts of a 33-metre swimming pool, wellbeing spa, fitness classes and a fully equipped gym. Memberships are available monthly.
• Stanborough Park is a beautiful, award-winning countryside park with two lakes and a range of water sports for all to enjoy. Less than a 10-minute drive from both campuses.
• Topgolf; score points by hitting golf balls off a driving range at dart-board like targets, indulge in food and drinks at the lounge bar or even enjoy a round of crazy golf in Watford.