To mark English Tourism Week this year (25th May - 31st May) we’re taking a leisurely walk (or should we say scroll…) down memory lane, revisiting some of the most striking photos taken of our wonderful county over the past year.
Now, we couldn’t possibly narrow down our favourite snaps of Hertfordshire to just 10 (in fact, we're not sure we'd even be able to whittle it to 100), so we’ve approached this endeavour the fairest way we know how by passing the baton over to you, our wonderful Visit Herts followers.
That's right, we've crunched the numbers and totted up those likes over on our Instagram, and today we're delighted to share with you 10 of our top feel good photos as determined by you. Drum roll please...
Surrounded by parkland, and just a stone’s throw from the city centre, St Albans Cathedral is home to the Shrine of St Alban, the longest nave in England, and architecture that spans a millennia. Oh, and it photographs pretty well too, if you hadn't already guessed...
We're soaring high above Hertfordshire next, to admire Digswell Viaduct in all its glory. Fun fact, this staggering structure was opened back in 1850 by Queen Victoria, who actually never travelled across it on the day because she was frightened of the height. We're sure she'd be able to appreciate the beauty of this sky-high snap, though!
Oh don't mind us, we're just indulging in a spot of house window-shopping (we can dream, right?). Our charming county is positively peppered with towns and villages rich in heraldry, nostalgia, and perfect for snapping postcard-worthy pictures, just like this one from Wheathampsted. #WishYouWereHere...
We have to say, there's nothing quite like fresh flowers to put a big smile on our face, and we're positively grinning from ear to ear at the sight of this carpet of brilliant, bright poppies stretching as far as the eye can see! A sea of radiant reds...
With its Roman ruins, iconic cathedral, and impressive collection of independant boutiques and brunch spots (not to mention the oldest pub in the country), the historic streets of St Albans are seriously Instagrammable aren't they?
A pretty pastel sky? Check. A sea of stunning sunflowers? Check. Far reaching views across Hertfordshire's rolling hills? Check. There's just something about a serene sunset snap that has the ability to take our breath away, and this one's ticking all the boxes!
With its cobbled streets and mix of beautiful buildings, the pretty market town of Hitchin is the ideal spot for enjoying a leisurely stroll. But hey, don't just take our word for it...
"Let the sun shine, let the sun shine". We don't know about you, but we consider ourselves pretty lucky to have so much green space right on our doorstep. And, how could we feel anything but calm and at peace when gazing at this photo of Hertfordshire's rolling countryside bathed in glorious, golden light?
Mirror mirror on the wall, isn't this photo of Aldbury the fairest of them all? We're pausing for 'reflection' whilst admiring one of the many hidden gems Hertfordshire has to offer. With its quaint tudor cottages and white picket fence, this photo gives us the feeling that we've just stepped straight out the pages of a story book...
Now we don't like to boast, but we're pretty proud of Hertfordshire's array of pretty parks and glorious green spaces. The beautiful sea of blues and greens in this photo of Verulamium in particular, have us lacing up our trainers and heading straight outside for a dose of fresh air.
And b-r-e-a-t-h-e...