Who doesn’t love a bank holiday weekend? No Sunday scaries, no annual leave to use and, in the case of the spring and summer bank hols we’re talking about, hopefully a little sunshine too!
With a bumper year of bank holiday weekends to come, we’re taking you from Easter to that four day weekend that marks the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and sharing some of our top tips for making the most of your time and booking up a break in our very own Hertfordshire.
Ready to start dreaming? Read on.
We’re starting off with the festivals. Tring Together Spring Fayre will be blooming over the early May bank holiday weekend with music, wellbeing and crafts to help you shake off the winter blues! While you’re here, this pretty market town has plenty of IG-worthy spots that are sure to bring spring to your grid.
Ah, movies on the big screen, how we’ve missed you! Catch live West End or international shows, from ballet and opera to theatre live from the RSC, Royal Opera House and even the New York Met in this independent cinema. While families can enjoy colour and fun at Soft Play City or music on wheels at Roller City. Adults, we’ve thought of you too as Friday night equals adult skate with DJs and a licensed bar!
Here in Herts spring means the opening of Henry Moore Studios and Gardens, the incredible sculpture garden created by artist Henry Moore in the heart of the Herts countryside. From April the doors will be reopened with a new exhibition Henry Moore: The Sixties, a display of rarely seen sculptures, drawings and graphics. With 30 sculptures on display, the real highlight has to be the never-before-exhibited plaster for Large Spindle Piece, and models for some of Moore’s most acclaimed pieces.
Honestly, a getaway to Herts is a real getaway, with our manor houses and estates making the perfect country retreat. Hanbury Manor is no exception. Here you’ll find a Jacobean-style manor, 200 acres of countryside and cosy fireplaces (here’s hoping that won’t be necessary) and luxurious rooms. While away the weekend playing a round on the championship golf course, or go for the relaxed approach with a trip to the day spa.
While we wouldn’t blame you for never wanting to leave, the local town of Ware holds plenty to discover, with Scott’s Grotto at its heart, a 20 metre wonderland covered in shells and fossils.
Welcome to luxury, welcome to everything you need all in one beautifully wrapped weekend. Spend any one of the bank hols here and you’ll return to work on Tuesday recharged and full of delicious food and drink. The Grade II listed building is an absolute beauty, boasting boutique-styled bedrooms and a fantastic restaurant, dishing up Mediterranean-style dishes, or if you fancy, a bottomless brunch and bubbles.
Once you’ve managed to pull yourself away from these delights, explore the local town of Royston, perfect Instagrammable moments and coffee and cake, and independent shopping in the heart of the town.
We know what you’re thinking…another beautiful manor house where I can stay the night? It’s a good job we’ve got so many bank holiday weekends coming up. Sopwell House’s 4 star Georgian manor offers luxury, rest and relaxation and all just a short hop from St Pancras. Check into one of the independently styled rooms, tuck in at the 2 AA Rosette restaurant, or sink into relaxation in the beautifully calming Cottonmill Spa. Trust us, this long weekend will have you revived and rested in no time.
And because it would be rude not to make the most of what’s on your doorstep, we recommend heading into charming St Albans, where the weekend market is packed with fantastic finds and street food and Roman ruins and heritage beckon. Oh and did we mention, this is also a perfect spot for a shopping with a side of brunching?
Talk about a quick hop on the train, Watford boasts the fantastic Atria shopping centre, exceptional food and drink options (we’ve spoken about The Florist before, right??), and an expanse of green parkland at its heart. From June to September Cassiobury Park hosts a jam-packed programme of live music in its bandstand every Sunday FOR FREE, making it our go-to for those lazy bank holiday weekends.
