Stevenage

Box Wood

Gresley Way. Daily, year round. Box Wood is a beautiful 27-acre wood which has a spectacular show of bluebells in springtime, lots of wildflowers and an array of wildlife (such as muntjac deer, rabbits, jays and woodpeckers- even some very rare waxwings were sighted last winter). There are several benches in the wood (although some have suffered vandalism), a gravelled path (as well as many other paths) and a few parking spaces dotted around its edge. There are some guided walks and tours of the wood throughout the year, organised by the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust. Box Wood is also called Pryors Wood, but Box Wood is historically its proper name. For the link, click on Nature Reserves and then 'Pryor's Wood' (which is under 'North Herts'). Free.

Chequers

Chequers is a nice pub and is probably the best bet if you're looking for more than a drink. It's an old pub with character, set back from the busy A602 right on the southern edge of the town. This gives the area a slightly villagey feel. The pub is a short walk from Van Hage's Garden Centre.

Knebworth House

This house is one of the greatest stately homes in Britain, and the site has been home to the Lytton family since 1490. Charles Dickens used to stay here often. Former owner Edward Bulwer Lytton wrote many historical novels including The Last Days of Pompeii. Many films have used its fantastic exteriors and Tudor great hall. Nowadays the estate comprises the Gothic mansion, gardens, deer park, church, mausoleum and playground & railway (Fort Knebworth). It is very popular with local families. The house is also famous for hosting a huge Robbie Williams concert a few years ago. Other major acts that have performed at Knebworth House park over the years include: the Rolling Stones, Oasis, Manic Street Preachers, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and the Chemical Brothers.

Open July & August: Grounds open 11AM-5:30PM, House open midday-5PM.·Adults £13.00, £9.50 excluding house

Old Town Stevenage

Plaque commemorating Henry Trigg, 18c. farmer who died in 1724 and whose coffin was fixed to a beam. Henry Trigg had his coffin placed in the rafters of 37 High St to avoid body snatchers. After his death in 1724 his brother, The Rev Thomas Trigg, put aside any scruples that he may have had and agreed to fulfil Henry's request. The remains were duly sealed in a coffin and placed in full view in the appointed location. In 1774 the house became the Old Castle Inn. In 1831, a new landlord Mr Bellamy, took over. His first task was to inspect the coffin. Henry, he confirmed, was still inside. A further check was made in 1906 when members of the East Hertfordshire Archaeological Society were allowed access to it. Their report shows that the coffin contained about two thirds of a human skeleton. However, during the first world war soldiers were stationed in the area. Several were reported to have plundered the coffin taking home bones as souvenirs. It was also reported that some soldiers sold on some bones to the local populous as trinkets. It would appear therefore that, despite all his precautions, poor old Henry finally fell foul of his dreaded bodysnatchers. The coffin remains in situ in the rafters of a building at 37 High Street, Old Stevenage. There is a plaque recording the event on the building.

Rooks Nest House

Weston Road, Stevenage & Forster Country. Forster Country is a relatively small area of countryside around Rooks Nest House, and it is the last remaining bit of green belt land in Stevenage Borough. Rooks Nest was the inspiration for the famous writer E.M. Forster's famous novel Howard's End. Forster lived at Rooks Nest during his childhood years, in the late 19th century. The farmhouse is a beautiful old building on a quiet lane situated on the edge of the Old Town of Stevenage. Forster Country starts at a modern sculpture inscribed 'Only Connect' (this can be reached via a path in the St Nicholas Church churchyard) and includes the fields near that (it has no clear border). Rooks Nest House is a private residence and not open to the public.

St Mary's Church

St Mary's is the ancient parish church of Shephall, which was once a hamlet separate from Stevenage, until it was swamped by the large Shephall housing estate. But Shephall Green remains a little enclave with a 'villagey feel'. The church is at least nine hundred years old and has many interesting features such as the rare Saxon stone relic inscribed with indecipherable runic letters. The church and its churchyard are beautiful.

Often locked due to theft and vandalism, sometimes open·Free but optional small donation.

St Nicholas Church

St Nicholas Church is the ancient parish church of Stevenage. The present Norman church replaced a much simpler Saxon church in 1100 AD and like many Hertfordshire churches it is built predominantly of flint. The current Anglican parish of St Nicholas stretches across the north of the town, but there are eight other Anglish parishes in Stevenage, but only the one civil parish. Free but optional small donation.

Stevenage Museum

Facilities: disabled toilet with baby changing, small coffee areas and gift shop. This small but fascinating museum is a real gem in Stevenage and acts as one of the few links between Stevenage's past and present. It tells the story of Stevenage before it was a new town, which is a time most know very little about and after it became a new town. It also has an archive of old photographs, documents etc. related to the town. The museum is very child friendly with regularly changing, fun exhibitions and lots of events.

Wed-Fri 10AM-4:30PM Sat 10AM-5PM, closed on bank holidays·Admission is free but a small donation is often expected but not essential

The Chequers

Chequers is a proper traditional local with a friendly atmosphere.

The Dun Cow

Offers excellent quality Extra-Cold Draught Guinness, the usual selection of Draught and Bottled Beers and Wines and Spirits including Scotch Whisky - "Isle of Jura". Entertainment at the Dun Cow includes the obligatory Pool table, Juke Box, Darts and the occasional Disco and Karaoke evening. The Dun Cow offers guest Real-Ales which are changed on a regular basis. The Dun Cow now offers a covered smoking area to the rear of the buildings. Ample parking space is provided by two car parks.

The Manor House

Manor House not open to public but the Lane is open all year all day. The Manor House is on a quiet lane which is an enclave of the Chells Manor housing estate. The secluded lane has a lovely duck pond, several nice houses, a few old cottages and the manor house itself. Chells Lane is a reminder that not that long ago Chells Manor was only a tiny hamlet in the middle of the countryside, not a housing estate that is home to 5-10,000 people. If you are visiting Chells Lane, Box Wood (about a 15-minute walk away) is also worth a look. The Manor House is a private residence, as are all the other houses.

Free

The Marquis Of Granby

The Granby is generally considered as the best local in town. It is a lovely old pub with plenty of character.

The Mulberry Tree

A very old pub on the High Street but it's not as classy as it looks from the outside. It's still OK though, but more a pub for the locals than tourists.

Whomerley Wood

The remains of a medieval moated homestead in Whomerley Wood is an 80-square-yard trench almost 5 feet wide in parts. It was probably the home of Ralph de Homle, and both Roman and later pottery has been found there.

Esquires Coffee House

The coffee here is highly recommended and rivals the likes of Caffe Nero and some London coffee houses. Esquires is a surprisingly excellent place for a snack or light lunch with coffee, and it's a place that Stevenage town centre had needed for a long time.

Events at Knebworth House

Where Oasis performed their historic, era-defining 1996 gig, Knebworth House continues to run a series of events throughout the year - including concerts, gardening events, motor shows and Christmas markets.

Fairlands Valley Park

Fairlands Valley Park (fondly referred to as 'Fairlands Valley', 'Fairlands', 'The Lakes' or simply 'the Park' by locals) is a lovely 120-acre park in the centre of Stevenage. As well as providing a beautiful place to walk and play, it has an 11-acre sailing lake. Fishing, sailing, rowing, canoeing, windsurfing and orienteering are the sports that are on offer. There are charges for each sport. Of course, you can play a game of football or frisbee in the park for free. There are also a couple of shallow paddling pools by the large play area.

George & Dragon

George & Dragon is a lovely pub with a cosy atmosphere that serves excellent food and good beer.

Great Ashby Country Park

The fairly quiet and secluded Great Ashby Country Park really is a hidden gem. It has a large circular field area in the centre for games of football, cricket, kite flying, frisbee, picnics etc., an access only road, a small car park, two extensive play areas full of excellent play equipment and a mound on its eastern edge (this has beautiful views of the surrounding countryside and woodland). There are also several paths. And all this is set in lovely, undulating countryside, surrounded by trees and opposite Box Wood.

Jade Palace

For Chinese cuisine. It's not a wonderful restaurant but the food is good and very reasonably priced. You can also order take-aways from it.

Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre

Lytton Way. The Leisure Centre is part of Stevenage Leisure Ltd. It has a 501-seat theatre (Gordon Craig Theatre), a concert hall, sports facilities, an art gallery (Boxfield Gallery), a restaurant, café and Youth Theatre, fitness centre and conference suites.

The Bull

The Bull is full of character with friendly service that serves good food and a good choice of ales. It's reasonably priced too.

The Lytton Arms

The Lytton Arms is a reasonable village pub known for its good range of regularly changing guest ales.

The Plough

An excellent small and friendly village pub with good beer, located just off Datchworth's lovely green.

The Westgate Indoor Shopping Centre

And the surrounding pedestrianised area has over 30 shops, such as Topshop, Next, River Island, New Look, Marks and Spencer, Dorothy Perkins. This pedestrianised area is Britain's first pedestrianised shopping area.There are also two coffee shops; the highly recommended Esquires Coffee House in the Westgate Indoor Shopping Centre and a brand new branch of Costa Coffee to serve the shoppers. If you wish to shop in this area the best car parks to use are Westgate Multi-Storey, St George's Way Multi-Storey or Southgate.

Costa Coffee

This is a branch of this good coffee house chain.

Bombay Tandoori Restaurant

79 High St

Coreys Mill Beefeater

Coreys Mill Lane, Old Town

Hyde Tandoori

20 The Hyde

Mohan Tandoori

116 High St