Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Berkhamsted (United Kingdom). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Bridgewater Monument, The Rex, and Berkhamsted Castle. Also, be sure to include Berkhamsted Town Hall in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Berkhamsted (England).
Table of Contents
Bridgewater Monument
Monument in England. The Bridgewater Monument is a Grade II* listed monumental column in the Ashridge estate in Hertfordshire, England. It was built in 1832 to commemorate Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, known as the "Canal Duke".[1]
Address: Near Ringshall, Ashridge Estate, Berkhamsted
The Rex
Movie theater in Berkhamsted, England. The Rex is a cinema in the town of Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England. Designed in the art deco style by David Evelyn Nye in 1936, the cinema opened to the public in 1938. After 50 years of service, the cinema closed in 1988 and became derelict. The building was listed Grade II by English Heritage, and following a campaign to save the Rex by a local entrepreneur, the cinema re-opened to the public in 2004.
Today, the cinema is a fully operational independent cinema, screening films 362 days of the year. The programme ranges from vintage classic films to modern blockbusters which often attract large box office queues.[2]
Berkhamsted Castle
Castle in Berkhamsted, England. Berkhamsted Castle is a Norman motte-and-bailey castle in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. The castle was built to obtain control of a key route between London and the Midlands during the Norman conquest of England in the 11th century. Robert of Mortain, William the Conqueror's half brother, was probably responsible for managing its construction, after which he became the castle's owner. The castle was surrounded by protective earthworks and a deer park for hunting. The castle became a new administrative centre of the former Anglo-Saxon settlement of Berkhamsted. Subsequent kings granted the castle to their chancellors. The castle was substantially expanded in the mid-12th century, probably by Thomas Becket.
The castle was besieged in 1216 during the civil war between King John and rebellious barons, who were supported by France. It was captured by Prince Louis, the future Louis VIII, who attacked it with siege engines for twenty days, forcing the garrison to surrender. After being retaken by royal forces the subsequent year, it was given to Richard, Earl of Cornwall, beginning a long association with the Earldom of Cornwall and the later duchy. Richard redeveloped the castle as a palatial residence, and made it the centre of the earldom's administration. King Edward III further developed the castle in the 14th century and gave it to his son, Edward, the Black Prince, who expanded the hunting grounds. The castle was also used to hold royal prisoners, including King John II of France and rival claimants to the English throne.
In the late 15th century, the castle became increasingly unfashionable and fell into decline. By the mid-16th century, it was in ruins and unsuitable for royal use. Stone was taken from the castle to build houses and other buildings in the town. The castle was almost destroyed during the construction of the London and Birmingham Railway in the 1830s. As a result, it became the first building in Britain to receive statutory protection from Parliament. In 1930, the castle passed from the Duchy of Cornwall to the government's control. It is maintained as a tourist attraction by English Heritage.[3]
Address: Fosse House Brownlow Road, HP4 1HD Berkhamsted
Berkhamsted Town Hall
Berkhamsted Town Hall is a municipal building in the High Street, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England. It is a Grade II listed building.[4]
Address: 185 High Street, Berkhamsted
Church of St Peter
Building. The Parish Church of St Peter, Great Berkhamsted, is a Church of England, Grade II* listed church in the town of Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, in the United Kingdom. It stands on the main High Street of the town and is recognisable by its 85-foot clock tower.
The building is medieval in origin, the earliest part dating from c.1200, and the architecture spans at least five architectural periods, mostly 14th and 15th centuries. The church was altered greatly during the Victorian era, most notably undergoing a restoration by William Butterfield. It is one of the largest churches in Hertfordshire.
Because of its proximity to Berkhamsted Castle, St Peter's has had a long association with Royalty, with the reigning monarch acting as patron to Berkhamsted rectors for several centuries. Many members of the congregation also worked in important positions for the Royal household. The church has counted among its worshippers such notable figures as the poet William Cowper and John Incent, who went on to become Dean of St Paul's Cathedral 1540–1545.
The church today has lost its direct royal ties and functions as the main parish church of the town of Berkhamsted. The feast of St Peter is celebrated annually with the Petertide fair.[5]
Address: Church Ln., HP4 2AX Berkhamstead
Ashridge House
Business school in England. Ashridge Executive Education is the executive education programme of Hult International Business School, housed in Hult's Ashridge Estate campus. Formerly an independent business school, known as Ashridge Business School, Ashridge completed an operational merger with Hult in 2015. Its activities include open and tailored executive education programmes, Master of Business Administration, Master of Science and diploma qualifications, as well as organisation consulting and applied research.[6]
Ashlyns Hall
Building in England. Ashlyns Hall is a country house at the edge of Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire, England. It is a Grade II* listed building.[7]
Address: Berkhamsted, Chesham Road, Berkhamsted HP4 2ST
173
Building. 173, High Street, Berkhamsted, is a medieval building in Hertfordshire, England. It is considered to be the oldest extant jettied timber framed building in Great Britain, dated by dendrochronology of structural timbers to between 1277 and 1297. At the time of the building's construction, the town of Berkhamsted was a relatively large, flourishing wool trading market town that benefitted from having an important royal castle.[8]
The Mansion
The Mansion, Berkhamsted is a historic property on Castle Hill in Berkhamsted. It is a Grade II Listed building.[9]
Dean Incent's House
Building in Berkhamsted, England. Dean Incent's House is a 15th-century timber-framed house in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England. It is reputed to be the birthplace of John Incent, a Dean in the Church of England who held office at St Paul's Cathedral from 1540 to 1545.
The two-storey house is situated on Berkhamsted High Street. Since 1950 it has been a Grade II* listed building.[10]
Address: Berkhamsted, 129 High Street
Clarke and Marshall Veterinary Surgery
Address: 2-4 High Street, Berkhamsted