facilities & services

If you need to borrow toys or books to while away the hours, let the kids go sport crazy or find someone who might help you understand your teenager, then take a look below for everything you need to know about family-friendly Harpenden.  You can view the exact location of these facilities on our map.

Harpenden Town Council  is very active and only too willing to help you find your way around Harpenden. Just be aware that their Information Point opening times are Monday, Wednesday & Friday 10am - 2pm.  In recent years the council have created the brilliant new play area at Porters Hill in Batford and taken back a couple of the parks that were previously under St Albans District Council. For more information on the parks and play areas in Harpenden see our Things to do. They also organise a lot of great local events such as the Farmer's Market, the Teddy Bears Picnic and the Harpenden Carnival.  Keep an eye on our events page for details.  

Harpenden Town Council offer, on behalf of Hertfordshire Police, a Lost and Found service from the Town Hall in Leyton Road.

Harpenden Town Council, Town Hall, Leyton Road, Harpenden, Herts AL5 2LX (opposite Busy Bees, next to the entrance of Rothamsted Park)  Tel: 01582 768278 Fax: 01582 760026 Email: [email protected]

Harpenden Police Station is located on Vaughan Road.  It is not open to the public and does not offer a front desk service, but it does have an outside telephone where you can make a free call directly to 101.

Harpenden library on the High Street is all hi-tech which makes borrowing books, CDs & DVDs incredibly easy. The very helpful staff are knowledgeable and friendly and won't laugh at you when you forget to unlock your DVD and make it all the way home before realising...again! And, did you know, that once you are a member of the library you can renew your books online? It has baby-change and disabled toilets and free public wi-fi.

Opening Times:

Monday    9am -6pm
Tuesday   9am - 1pm (Library Express*) 1pm - 6pm (Normal service)
Wednesday 9am - 1pm (Library Express*) 1pm - 7pm (Volunteer-run Library Express*)
Thursday 9am - 7pm
Friday    9am - 1pm (Library Express*) 1pm - 6pm (Normal service)
Saturday    9am - 5pm
Sunday    CLOSED

*Library Express is a reduced service where only the small front section of the library (not the children's section or the public computers) is open.  During this time you can borrow from the selection of books available at the front, return books and renew using the self-service.

Story and Rhyme Times on Tuesdays 2.15 – 2.45pm are great for pre-schoolers and the Baby Rhyme Time is held every Thursday 11 – 11.30am.

Harpenden Library, 27 High Street, Harpenden, Herts AL5 2RU  Tel: 0300 123 4049

You can find Places of Worship in Harpenden listed on a separate page.

Harpenden Children's Centre is the best place to know about when you are pregnant, just had a baby or new to the area. They have fantastic resources for all parents from First Aid courses to drop-in sessions where you can meet other new mums to one to one outreach appointments.  Whether you need to upgrade your parenting skills, learn about special needs or just to have a chat with an expert in children and their little foibles (the children, not the experts!) this is the place to go.

The Toy Library at the Children's Centre gives you the opportunity to try before you buy! There is a small hire charge of 40p per toy and a two week lending period of up to four indoor or outdoor toys. It also gives you the chance to meet with other parents and carers in the area. It is open during the term time only, on Fridays 12.30 – 2.30pm. 

Harpenden Children's Centres, Batford Early Years Centre, Holcroft Road, Harpenden, Herts AL5 5BQ  Tel: 01582 718372 Email: [email protected]
harpendenandruralcc.org

Harpenden's Public Toilets and Baby Change Facilities are located next to Pizza Express and are the world's cleanest (in MGT's opinion!) public toilets and baby change facilities. They also have very exciting (according to the children) hand washing and drying machines (very reminiscent of McDonald's ones!).

The Library has a baby-change and disabled toilet, Sainsbury's have public facilities just inside the store, as does the Co-Op on Southdown Road.  

If you are in Rothamsted Park you can use the toilets located inside the Sports Centre.

Post Offices are located in Kinsbourne Green (393 Luton Road), in the Co-Op in Southdown (which rarely has queues but doesn't offer a full range of services) and the main one in WH Smith on the High Street where, amongst other things, passports can be checked.

Should you need one you can find a Launderette located in Southdown.

With frequent trains to London it is no wonder Harpenden Station is so busy. However, if you are unfamiliar with the station it is good to know what to expect. The new lifts to the platforms make life easier for buggies and wheelchairs. Also, if you are parking in the station car park with the entrance opposite Carlton Road be aware that the ticket office is on the other side of the station.  There are automatic ticket machines on both sides of the station. The three pick-up and drop off car spaces are on the ticket office side and the rest of that area is used by taxis. 

Harpenden Station, Station Road, Harpenden, Herts AL5 4ST

Harpenden Sports Centre has classes from tots to teens that are very affordable and with a drop-in crèche you may even find time for a little exercise yourself. From a young age children can begin tennis, football, gymnastics, trampolining, badminton and swimming. For older children there are outdoor tennis courts, 5-aside football pitches, a 3^rd Generation Astro Turf, badminton and group training as well as a continuation to a higher level of the tots' sports. For more information see our Activity Classes.

 MGT Tip: If you are using the leisure centre make sure you pick up a valid parking ticket from the swimming pool reception as all parking in Harpenden is regularly patrolled.

MGT Special Offer: The leisure centre have kindly offered a free 3 day pass to try out their facilities when mentioning Mum's guide to Harpenden!

Harpenden Leisure Centre, Leyton Road, Rothamsted Park, Harpenden, Herts AL5 2HU  Tel: 01582 767722 Fax: 01582 767987 Email: [email protected]

Harpenden Swimming Pool has everything a town's pool needs. The main pool is 25 metres long and has 7 lanes. There are often classes being held in the furthest two lanes and in the baby pool, which is delightfully warm, so knowing the pool's timetables are crucial! And so is knowing there is a health suite hiding just beyond the deep end of the main pool where you can sink into a jacuzzi or steam in the sauna.

Harpenden Swimming Pool, Leyton Road, Rothamsted Park, Harpenden, Herts AL5 2HU  Tel: 01582 460683 Email: [email protected]

If you have reached the door-slamming and life being "so unfair" stage then you will probably be ready for Youth Connexions. This service, for 13 -19 year olds (up to 25 years for young people with disabilities), parents and carers allows you to access advice, information and support in all areas of teenage life from education and career paths to guidance for those with anxieties about life's challenges. 

As part of Youth Connexions the Harpenden Youth Project has a wonderful facility located above Harpenden Library with cafe, dance studio, meeting room, widescreen TV and computers where teens can hang out with friends and take part in a variety of activities.  Opening hours are every Monday 4.30pm-6.30pm (Creative Spark for 13-17 with learning difficulties) and 7.30-9.30pm (Creative Spark for 18-24 with learning difficulties), Friday 4-6pm (After school project) and 7pm-9pm (Friday Night Youth Café including sexual health drop-in) & Saturday 2-4pm (the Saturday Project). Entry is by buzzer and it is fulllt wheelchair accessible with disabled toilet facilities.

Harpenden Youth Connexions, Above Harpenden Library, 27 High Street, Harpenden, Herts AL5 2RU
Email: [email protected]

The Harpenden Trust's mission statement reads, “Funded by Harpenden people. Run by Harpenden people to benefit Harpenden people in need”. Their help, financial or otherwise, is carried  out confidentially. Their help, financial or otherwise, is carried out confidentially.  If you find yourself, for example, struggling to afford school uniform, this is where to turn.  They also are in a position to help community organisations and groups which enhance the lives of Harpenden people.

The Harpenden Trust, 90 Southdown Road, Harpenden, Herts AL5 1PS  Tel: 01582 460457 Email: [email protected]

Citizens Advice give free, independent, impartial and confidential advice and information on a range of subjects including: Benefits, housing and council tax benefits, Consumer Rights and issues, Debt and money advice, Family and relationships, Housing, Legal issues and Employment.  They also hold foodbnk vouchers. They are at the High Street Methodist Church on Mondays and Thursdays, 10m - 1pm.  You can also call the advice line on 03444 111 444. 

St Albans District Foodbank works with frontline care agencies based in St Albans, Harpenden, Wheathampstead and the surrounding areas.  These frontline agencies are registered foodbank voucher distributors, holding the vouchers and giving them directly to an individual or family in crisis who then collects the food parcel from one of the distribution centres. If you find yourself falling on hard times contact one of the registered care agencies listed on the St Albans District Food Bank website for help.