Highlights of Hertfordshire

Sunday

We visit Hatfield House - a quintessential English manor house fit for a Queen - Hatfield was once the childhood home of Elizabeth I and is now a treasure trove of historic mementos, period detail, and sumptuous scenery. This historical English landmark is awash with famous paintings, tapestries, period furnishings, and armour and is a sight to behold if you are a fan of English history. The garden at Hatfield House dates from the early 17th Century and includes a scented garden, herb garden and knot garden. From Hatfield we continue to our hotel, arriving in time for dinner and our 2-night stay.

Monday

Today, we visit St Albans. The beautiful 11th-century St Albans Cathedral, on the oldest site of continuous Christian worship in England, stands proudly in the city centre surrounded by parkland. Home to the Shrine of St Alban and the longest nave in England, the cathedral is packed with fascinating artefacts and features, and the cathedral's expert guides can fill you in on its rich and varied history. St Albans was once named Verulamium - the third largest city in Roman Britain, and the Verulamium Museum unravels the district's rich history with interactive displays, and some of the finest Roman mosaics and wall plasters outside the Mediterranean.

Tuesday

Set in 250 acres of rolling Hertfordshire countryside, Knebworth House is one of England's most colourful stately homes. It is remarkable for having been home to the Lytton family for more than 500 years and for its exterior complete with turrets, domes and gargoyles, which conceal a red brick house dating from Tudor times. We make our way homewards during the afternoon.