Hertfordshire Historic Houses

Brocket Hall

One of finest stately homes with a long and intriguing history.  Situated in 543 acres of mature parkland, affording stunning views over the Broadwater Lake. Built by renowned architect James Paine for the owner, Sir Mathew Lamb in 1760 and now a luxury hotel.

Brocket Hall, Welwyn,  AL8 7XG, Tel: 01707 335241 Email

Hatfield House & Gardens

This Jacobean house was built between 1607 and 1611 by Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury and Chief Minister to King James I. It has been the family home of the Cecils ever since. The interior decoration was the work of English, Flemish and French craftsmen, notably Maximilian Colt. The State Rooms include world-famous paintings including The Rainbow Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I and The Ermine Portrait by Nicholas Hilliard. Other paintings include works by Hoefnagel, Mytens, John de Critz the Elder and Sir Joshua Reynolds, Fine furniture from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, rare tapestries and historic armour can be found in the State Rooms. The 42 acres of gardens now include formal, knot, scented and wilderness areas which reflects their Jacobean origins.

Hatfield, AL9 5NQ  Tel: 01707 262030  Email

Knebworth House

Home of the Lytton family since 1490, and still a lived-in family house and is a high gothic fantasy house of with turrets, griffins and gargoyles. The interior contains various styles including a Jacobean Banqueting Hall, a unique example of the 17th century change in fashion from traditional English to Italian Palladian. There is a high gothic State Drawing Room and a Regency elegant bedroom. There is the 20th century designs of Sir Edwin Lutyens in the Entrance Hall, Dining Parlour and Library. There are 25 acres of gardens including pollarded lime avenues, formal rose garden, maze, Gertrude Jekyll herb garden and newly designed Walled Garden. 250 acres of gracious parkland, with herds of red and sika deer. The gardens include a children’s giant adventure playground and miniature railway.

Knebworth, SG3 6PY  Tel: 01438 812661  Email

Shaw’s Corner 

An Edwardian Arts and Crafts influenced house, the home of George Bernard Shaw from 1906 until his death in 1950. The rooms remain much as he left them, with many literary and personal effects evoking the individuality and genius of this great dramatist.

Ayot St Lawrence  Welwyn Garden City  AL6 9BX  Tel: 01438 820 307   Email

St Albans Town Hall  

The Town Hall is a Grade II listed building dominating the city centre of St Albans, with its classic features providing an impressive venue for speciality events. A unique feature of the Town Hall is the old court room and cells used up until 1966 and now a popular film location regularly used by Eastenders and period dramas.

The Old Town Hall,  Market Place,  St Albans   AL3 5DJ  Tel: 01727 842632  Email