PPRREESSSS IINNFORRMMAATTIIOONN P PAACCKK 2 2001919
W W W . V I S I T H E R T S . C O . U K C O N T E N T S
Page 3... A brief history of Herts
Page 4... Why Herts?
Page 5... Where is Herts?
Page 6... What's in Herts? Family Fun Attractions, Countryside & Golfing, Food & Drink, Iconic Attractions, Famous Faces, Accommodation, Arts, Culture & Shopping
Page 8... What's new in 2019?
Page 10... Feature ideas
Page 11... 2018 summary
Page 12... Annual events calendar
Page 14... How can we help?
B R I E F H I S T O R Y O F H E R T S App. 350,000 BC… The earliest evidence of human occupation in Hertfordshire.
App. 500 BC… The Celtic tribe of ‘Catuvellauni’ occupies the area now known as Hertfordshire today.
30-40… A Roman soldier called Alban, becomes Britain’s first Christian martyr after his arrest in Hertfordshire, and he gives his name to the modern day town of St Albans.
App. 50... The Roman city of Verulamium is the second-largest town in Roman Britain, after Londinium.
1086… The Doomsday Book lists 168 settlements in Hertfordshire.
1155... Thomas Becket is granted the honour of Berkhamsted by King Henry II. He rebuilds Berkhamsted Castle to befit his new status and house his large staff.
1455... The First Battle of St Albans traditionally marks the beginning of the Wars of the Roses.
1803... Frogmore Paper Mill is founded as the world's oldest mechanised paper mill.
1903... The world's "First Garden City" Letchworth Garden City is formed.
1909... UK's first roundabout was built in Letchworth Garden City
1914… Elstree Studios, British film and television studios, opens.
1920… The first house in Welwyn Garden City, one of the flagship ‘garden cities’ in England, becomes occupied.
1952… Hatfield Technical College opens. It goes on to become the University of Hertfordshire.
2010… Warner Bro. completes the purchase of Leaveseden Studios (the former aerodrome), and as of 2016 Warner Bros. Studios becomes one of the largest and most state-of-the-art filmmaking facilities in the world. 3 W H Y H E R T S ?
Hertfordshire is brimming with fantastic things to see and do, so you're sure to discover something wonderful on your visit, whatever your age or interests.
Escape the rat race and immerse yourself in stunning countryside and incredible historic sites. Pack your bags for a weekend getaway in a picturesque market town, enjoy a chic city break in historic St Albans or at a luxurious golf resort. Or, bring the kids and seek out exotic beasts, farmyard favourites and magical movie stars. The choice is endless.
Explore the magic of Hertfordshire.
4 WHERE IS HERTS?
Hertfordshire is just north of London, and is easy to access by road, rail and by air. With a fantastic range of transport links from Govia Thameslink and Abellio you can say goodbye to the stresses of getting here and simply focus on all the fun things to do when you arrive.
To plan your journey and to learn about the various options available to you throughout the county, head to
www.visitherts.co.uk/getting-here/
5
www.thameslinkrailway.com/ WHAT'S IN HERTS?
F A M I L Y F U N A T T R A C T I O N S
Paradise Wildlife Park Standalone Farm Ventura Wildlife Park The XC Vertigo Adventures National History Museum, Willows Activity Farm Tring Warner Bros. Studio Tour London Frogmore Paper Mill The Snow Centre
C O U N T R Y S I D E & G O L F I N G
Golf at The Grove Hotel Rickmansworth Aquadrome Hanbury Manor Country Club Tring Park Benington Lordship Gardens Verulamium Park, St Albans Ashridge Estate (National Trust) Gadebridge Park Cassiobury Park Leavesden Park Fairlands Valley Park Golf at Brocket Hall Aldenham Country Park Heartwood Forest
F O O D & D R I N K
Auberge du Lac at Brocket Hall The View Tring Brewery Lussmanns Fish & Grill Brewery Tearooms Rump & Wade at Hotel Cinnamon Square Cromwell Puddingstone Distillery Ye Olde Fighting Cocks The Mad Squirrel Brewery Dalling & Co. Kings 6 Langley I C O N I C A T T R A C T I O N S F A M I L Y A T T R A C T I O N S Brocket Hall Hatfield House St Albans Cathedral Knebworth House F A M O U S F A C E S Lord Byron Lewis Hamilton Samuel Pepys George Orwell Sir Arthur Conan Doyle George Bernard Shaw Olympic Gold Medallist, Laura Trott Henry Moore Olympic Gold Medallist, Max Whitlock Samuel Ryder Paralympic Gold Medallist, Jess Stretton Grahame Greene
A C C O M M O D A T I O N
The Grove Hotel Abodebed Champneys Tring & Champneys Pendley Manor Hotel Henlow Cheshunt Marriott Hotel Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel & Down Hall Hotel Country Club The Stables - Country Retreat De Vere Theobalds Park Holiday Inn, Elstree Hotel Cromwell Camping and Caravanning Club Brocket Hall Tewin Bury Farm Sopwell House Melbourne Lodges, Brocket Hall Torrington Hall Clarion Collection St Albans Hotel
A R T S , C U L T U R E & S H O P P I N G Letchworth Heritage Foundation Verulamium Museum St Albans St Albans Cathedral Henry Moore Studios & Gardens Natural History Museum in Tring St Albans Museum + Gallery Hertford Theatre Watford intu Shopping Centre 7 Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage Watersmeet Theatre W H A T ' S N E W 2 0 1 9 ? New
New Visitor Centre at St Albans Cathedral- A brand new Welcome Centre at St Albans Cathedral will open on the 22nd of June 2019 as part of the transformation project Alban, Britain's First Saint. Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the project will transform the way the Cathedral welcomes visitors. The project will deliver a fresh new telling of the cathedral's story, an exciting programme of events, improved access, new education and visitor facilities and a new Welcome Centre. https://www.stalbanscathedral.org/
New Opening of the Intu Watford Extension- The £180 million extension at Intu Watford is set to open in late 2018 and early 2019. The expansion will transform the shopping centre into one of the largest in-town malls in the UK. The extension will expand the centre by 400,000 sq ft, adding a new Debenhams anchor store, 13 new shops, 11 restaurants, a Hollywood Bowl and a 9 screen IMAX Cinemaworld cinema. https://intu.co.uk/watford
New Attraction at Paradise Wildlife Park- To mark the 35th anniversary of Paradise Wildlife Park's opening a new attraction will arrive at the park centred centred around their lions. There will be a new lion enclosure built that will offer many unique experiences for both visitors and for the animals. A transparent tunnel will be constructed separating different lion enclosure but will make visitors feel like they are there with the big cats. There will also be a 'tug-of-war' experience where visitors will be able to play tug-of-war with the kings of the jungle! https://www.pwpark.com/
8 W H A T ' S N E W 2 0 1 9 ? New
Hertford Art Hub's New Gallery- Hertford Arts Hub is creating a new gallery space to provide a permanent home for a collection of Alan Davie works. Concept plans and architecture models have been created to convert the Old Hertford Brewery into a high-quality public gallery. This site will enhance Hertford’s facilities for artists and other creative practitioners, build Hertford’s reputation as a regional cultural centre and contribute to the culturally led regeneration of the town. There are also less developed plans to convert the nearby Old British School into an educational and research centre for Hertford Arts Hub. https://www.hertfordartshub.org/
Marlowes Shopping Centre Development- Major development plans are underway to transform Marlowes Shopping Centre (in Hemel Hempstead) into a superb shopping experience. Plans include new- state-of-the-art toilets and a family area for kids to play in whilst their parents go shopping. This will later be accompanied by a nine screen cinema, a wide range of family-friendly restaurants and new retailers. https://www.themarlowes.co.uk/
Looking Forward (2020)
Welwyn Garden City's 100th Anniversary- 2020 will mark the 100th anniversary of Welwyn Garden City and to celebrate a whole host of activities and events will take place throughout the year. All sports clubs, sporting organisations, schools and youth groups have been invited to arrange events throughout 2020 to symbolise healthy living in which the garden city paradigm stems from. In addition new art pieces will be showcased, as well as a new centenary garden, a centenary walk, a carnival and the restoration of the Dell. http://www.wgccentenary.org/ 9 F E A T U R E I D E A S
Lights, Camera, Action! – Whether it’s providing toe-tapping entertainment on a Saturday night, transporting you to another world of movie magic, or gripping you to the sofa as you catch up on the latest reality TV, Hertfordshire swells with studios, sets and famous film locations.
48 hours in St Albans – Pack your bags and head to Hertfordshire’s unique cathedral city for the weekend. Take your time browsing independent shops, discovering the beautiful 11th Century St Albans Cathedral and unravelling the history of one of England’s first Roman settlements.
Share the Adventure of Herts – From relaxed days spent trailing the links on Hertfordshire’s finest courses and long walks around the county's lush parkland, to adrenaline-filled action at The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire offers days of sport, adventure and outdoor fun.
Family Fun in Herts - Lions, tigers, wizards and high wires! Family attractions like the magical Warner Bros. Studio Tour, wildlife parks and high-wire thrills at Vertigo Adventures will keep the whole family entertained. 10 I N C A S E Y O U M I S S E D I T I N 2 0 1 8 . . . St Albans Museum + Gallery opened to the public on Friday 8 June 2018 and looks to be a leading centre for arts and culture at the heart of one of Britain’s most historic cities. Scenes of the Dame Judi Dench movie, Victoria & Abdul were filmed at Hertfordshire hero Knebworth House. Paradise Wildlife Park opened its highly successful World of Dinosaurs. Comprising of 15 unique bedrooms, ideally situated within the historic estate of Hatfield House, boutique 11 accommodation Lawn House opened. KEY ANNUAL EVENTS
J A N U A R Y J U N E
Carnival at the Castle, Hertford Hogwarts in the Snow, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London The Alban Pilgrimage - part of Alban Weekend
A P R I L Hertfordshire Festival of Music, Hertford
Hertford Arts Festival, Hertford J U L Y
Herts Big Weekend Farr Festival, Bygrave Wood
M A Y A U G U S T J U L Y
Hertfordshire County Show Meraki Festival, St Albans
Ricky Week & Rickmansworth Benington Chilli Festival, Canal Festival Benington Lordship Gardens 12 KEY ANNUAL EVENTS
S E P T E M E B E R D E C E M B E R
Balstock Festival, Baldock Harpenden Christmas Carnival
Herts Jazz Festival, Welwyn Garden City St Albans Christmas Market
St Albans Food & Drink Festival Winter in Watford
Stevenage Town Centre O C T O B E R Christmas Market
Watford Food & Drink Week
Old Town Halloween Party, Hemel Hempstead
Arts & Culture Family Food & Drink Heritage Music Nature Halloween
13 H O W C A N V I S I T H E R T S @visithertsuk H E L P ?
Our PR team is happy to create bespoke press trips to suit your /visitherts publication or feature needs, and can liaise with our partners to ensure you get the best out of your trip to Herts. We welcome pitches @visithertsuk from bloggers and vloggers, and can support trips through social media and with bespoke digital activity.
We can assist with:
• Story ideas & feature planning • Itineraries for press trips • Familiarisation visits • Introductions to attractions, accommodation and destinations • Hi-res images • Regular news updates and social media liaison • Meals, accommodation and public transport
Katy Towse In-House PR Consultant Email: [email protected]
Lana Crouch Brand Manager (Destinations) Email: [email protected]
Please visit www.visitherts.co.uk for further information 14