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Step outside and breathe

If you’re at your best outdoors, you’ll find plenty of ways to enjoy green space, fresh air and open landscapes alongside your studies. From campus nature spots and nearby parks to countryside escapes and riverside routes, there are endless opportunities to switch off, reset and explore.

Local green spaces

Outdoor space is part of everyday life here, so you don’t have to go far for a natural reset.

Our campuses include open green areas where you can relax, meet friends or spend time between lectures without ever leaving your study environment.

Right next to de Havilland campus, Ellenbrook Fields transforms the former runway and taxi path of the old de Havilland airfield into a wide, wild, natural landscape. With walking routes, open fields and wildlife habitats, it’s a favourite for runners, ramblers and dog walkers – and a free, easy escape to do at your own pace.

Upgrade your outdoor experience with a trip to Hatfield Park. On the estate of the historic, Grade I listed Hatfield House, it blends perfectly manicured lawns with meticulously sculpted topiary and vibrant, flora and fauna.

Hatfield House

Countryside and woodland escapes

If you're up for travelling a bit further, Hertfordshire’s lush countryside, filled with rolling hills, ancient woodlands and picturesque market towns, is ideal for longer walks and slower-paced days outdoors.

Heartwood Forest, located in St Albans (around 10–15 minutes by car or bus) gives you miles of walking trails through one of the largest new native forests in England. Expect sweeping wildflower meadows, peaceful woodland paths and plenty of scenic spots perfect for slowing down or capturing a standout photo.

For something more wildlife-focused, Rye Meads Nature Reserve in Ware offers wetland habitats and birdwatching areas where you can experience nature up close.

People walking through a woodland

Stay active outdoors

Want to build up a sweat? There are plenty of ways to make your day more active without stepping into a gym or sports hall.

Across the county, you’ll find cycling routes, running paths and open recreational spaces that make it easy to stay active in natural surroundings. Stanborough Park in Welwyn Garden City offers lakeside walking and running routes just a short distance from campus, while Heartwood Forest provides miles of trails through woodland and open countryside. Whether you’re exploring locally or heading further out, these accessible outdoor spaces make it easy to fit activity around student life.

People running

Urban parks and green spaces

London is home to some of the UK’s best-known urban outdoor spaces.

Hyde Park offers large open green spaces, lakes and walking routes right in the centre of the capital, giving you a full outdoor escape with a striking city backdrop.

Richmond Park to the south west, provides a more rural landscape, including woodland and freely roaming deer, just minutes from the city.

Walk or cycle the banks of Regent’s Canal and you’ll drift from the quiet charm of Little Venice to the buzz of Camden, on through to the leafy stretches of Islington. Waterside cafés, narrowboats and hidden corners invite you to linger, turning a day out into a beautiful adventure.

Photos of trees

Outdoor adventure

For something more structured, there are bigger, purpose-built outdoor spaces designed for proper exploration.

One of the best is Lee Valley Regional Park, a vast green corridor stretching across Hertfordshire, Essex and into London. Around 30–45 minutes from Hatfield by train, it offers everything from cycle trails and open walking routes to water sports and activity hubs, making it easy to turn a quick trip into a full day outdoors.

Closer to the capital, the Thames Path traces the River Thames through London and beyond. Reachable in around an hour from Hatfield, it’s a long-distance route that shifts between city and nature, taking you from busy riverside stretches to quieter, greener pockets. It’s the kind of walk where the pace naturally slows, giving you space to take in the landscape as it changes around you.

People kayaking