RSPB Rye Meads
I visited RSPB Rye Meads, having used google to find me a list of places I could go. Entry is free but it costs £3 to park your car in the car park if you are not a member. There is a loop trail you can follow, or you can turn back at the one way turnstile. It is wheelchair accessible too. There are lots of hides along the route, in which you can bird spot. I am not an avid bird watcher so I generally didn't stay long in the hides and predominantly all I saw was ducks. You can hire binoculars if you are so inclined and spend as long as you wish bird watching, as long as you know the car park is locked at 5pm (the lady at the desk made that very clear). I spent about 2 and a half hours walking the trail and looking at birds from the hides. It was very pretty and I even got in a little bit of plane spotting.
Paradise Wildlife Park
This is in Broxbourne and is home to some of the world's big cats. The highlight for me was seeing a jaguar cub and a cheetah. I would recommend buying your ticket online as it is cheaper than buying it at the door. I can't say that it was a great day out, although it did come with free parking. If you want to see animals you are better off going to the zoo - either London or Whipsnade. It was quite a small park and I felt sorry for the 2 zebra in the concrete pen. It also annoyed my that there was only one place near the entrance that sold a range of hot food, even if it was at high prices. There are a good few playgrounds for the kids, but at £16 for my online ticket I think it is definitely more of a day out to take small children out with you, as it is smaller than a zoo and maybe just a little bit cheaper.
Aldenham Country Park
This is a lovely place, although a little bit costly to park. It is the home of 10 Aker Wood, complete with associated Winnie the Pooh references. It is a good place to walk round on a nice day and comes complete with a restaurant. There is also a lake with ducks to sit by.
Tring National History Museum
This is a combination of the legacy of the Rothschild's and an association with the Natural History Museum in London. It is full of taxidermies and highly educational. It wasn't as busy as the London museums, but just as good. There is a car park tucked away in a nearby field, which allows you to explore the local area and high street should you wish.
Rickmansworth Aquadrome
Once you find the entrance to the car park, there are two loops you can follow around the reservoir. It is a nice place to go if you want to go for a walk and relax.
Frithsden Vineyard
This is a relatively small vineyard that you have to be careful not to miss and has a rather small carpark. It grows 3 different types of grape and only costs a few pounds to walk round and taste the wines (provided they still have stock). It has a shop where you can buy their wines and they do a very nice afternoon tea.
So given that Hertfordshire is only a short hop from North London and is relatively accessible by train and car, there is a lot to see and do. As always, check where you plan to go online, as sometimes the tickets are cheaper if you buy them online, even for the same day. Plus websites give you useful information about how to get there and parking costs.
Paradise Wildlife Park
This is in Broxbourne and is home to some of the world's big cats. The highlight for me was seeing a jaguar cub and a cheetah. I would recommend buying your ticket online as it is cheaper than buying it at the door. I can't say that it was a great day out, although it did come with free parking. If you want to see animals you are better off going to the zoo - either London or Whipsnade. It was quite a small park and I felt sorry for the 2 zebra in the concrete pen. It also annoyed my that there was only one place near the entrance that sold a range of hot food, even if it was at high prices. There are a good few playgrounds for the kids, but at £16 for my online ticket I think it is definitely more of a day out to take small children out with you, as it is smaller than a zoo and maybe just a little bit cheaper.
Aldenham Country Park
This is a lovely place, although a little bit costly to park. It is the home of 10 Aker Wood, complete with associated Winnie the Pooh references. It is a good place to walk round on a nice day and comes complete with a restaurant. There is also a lake with ducks to sit by.
Tring National History Museum
This is a combination of the legacy of the Rothschild's and an association with the Natural History Museum in London. It is full of taxidermies and highly educational. It wasn't as busy as the London museums, but just as good. There is a car park tucked away in a nearby field, which allows you to explore the local area and high street should you wish.
Rickmansworth Aquadrome
Once you find the entrance to the car park, there are two loops you can follow around the reservoir. It is a nice place to go if you want to go for a walk and relax.
Frithsden Vineyard
This is a relatively small vineyard that you have to be careful not to miss and has a rather small carpark. It grows 3 different types of grape and only costs a few pounds to walk round and taste the wines (provided they still have stock). It has a shop where you can buy their wines and they do a very nice afternoon tea.
So given that Hertfordshire is only a short hop from North London and is relatively accessible by train and car, there is a lot to see and do. As always, check where you plan to go online, as sometimes the tickets are cheaper if you buy them online, even for the same day. Plus websites give you useful information about how to get there and parking costs.
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