Harry Potter Studio Tour
Right on our doorstep are Leavesden Studios where the Harry Potter series were filmed. Now turned into a major tourist attraction you can visit the sets and see the props created for the films
- visit the Harry Potter Studio Tour website
London Attractions
London is in easy reach of Chesham Underground Met. line
Windsor
Home of the Queen! Windsor has many activities & sights to keep even the most overactive of Beavers, Raindow, Cubs, Brownies, Guides or Scout entertained. Windsor is also the home of Lego Land!
Woburn Abbey & Safari Park
Woburn Abbey with outstanding collections of paintings, furniture and antiques, with pleasure gardens andwhich is set in a beautiful 3,000 acre Deer Park, Woburn Abbey has been home to Dukes of Bedford for almost 450 years. Over 1,000 deer roam here, including the Pere David deer saved from extinction at Woburn.
At Woburn Safari Park Visitors drive their cars through the animal enclosures which gives visitors the opportunity to view the animals at close quarters. There are five adventure playgrounds for children with opportunities for hands on experiences. Animal talks and demonstrations take place throughout the day
Whipsnade Zoo
A wildlife park set in around 240 hectares and 2500 animals, it claims to release 50 animals into the wild for everyone that is captured.
Over 3,000 animals can be viewed on foot, by car or on the park’s own railway. There are Animal Encounters sessions where you can meet the animals and talk to the keepers. Open all year round from 10.00am to sunset
- click HERE to visit the Whipsnade Zoo website
Hatfield House
Hatfield House: The Jacobean House, home of the Marquess of Salisbury, was built in 1611, and contains famous portraits, rare tapestries, fine furniture and armour. Within the gardens stands a wing of the Old Palace (circa 1485), childhood home of Elizabeth I. It is now the venue for Elizabethan banquets, weddings and private functions throughout the year.
- click HERE to visit the Hatfield House website
St Albans
One of Britain’s most historic cities, built on the ruins of the Roman town of Verulamium. There its lots to do including the St Albans Museum, St Albans Abby and a great swimming pool!
RAF Museum, Hendon
The Royal Air Force Museum, Britain’s National Museum of Aviation, celebrates the story of aviation from before the Wright Brothers to the RAF of the 21st Century with one of the world’s finest collections of legendary aircraft and associated exhibits.
- click HERE to visit the RAF Museum website
Natural History Museum, Tring
The Zoological Museum has been part of the Natural History Museum since 1937, but it was once the private museum of Lionel Walter, 2nd Baron Rothschild.
- click HERE to visit the Natural History Museum, Tring
Watford Museum
Watford Museum tells the story of Watford past and present. Housed in the former offices of Benskins Brewery, the Museum has displays of local history and industry, as well as paintings and sculpture.
- click HERE to visit the Watford Museum website
Vue Cinemas, Woodside
The local multi-screen cinema showing the latest blockbusters! There is also Ten Pin Bowling at the same location
- click HERE to visit the Warner Cinema website
Jarmans Park, Hemel Hempstead
With a multi-screen cinema, ice skating rink and a range of restaurants
Watford Swimming Baths
The local swimming baths
Whippindell Woods
Whippindell woods is a very large area of woodland right next to Leeswood. Used as one of the locations for the resent Star Wars Episode I film its already world famous! There is also a very good orienteering course spread throughout the woods.
Cassiobury Park
Cassiobury Park, Watford’s largest green space, features a range of recreational resources including a children’s paddling pool, tennis courts, a bowling green and croquet lawn. A miniature railway is a popular attraction during summer months, and in July, the park serves as a venue for the annual Rainbow Festival.
A carnival procession, music, entertainment and environmental activities are the highlights of a day of festivities. Cassiobury’s acres of green space also provide a perfect setting in which to simply relax.
Cassiobury park (www.watford.gov.uk/cassioburypark) can easily be reached by a half hour walk from Lees Wood, directly through Whippindell Woods (see above).
Grand Union Canal
The Grand Union Canal, at the bottom of Cassiobury Park (see above) was formed as part of the Grand Junction Canal (started immediately after the Act of 1793), reaching Watford about 1796. Later on, it was merged with the Grand Union system, from where it takes it’s present name.