Museums & places of interest

The Bishop's Stortford Museum is housed in the original Victorian building which was the birthplace of Cecil Rhodes, financier and founder of diamond company De Beers. The museum houses a unique collection of artefacts about Rhodes and his life. Children will love playing the African instruments, using the dressing up box (which includes Victorian and African outfits), lighting up the rooms in the model of the Victorian house, doing some brass rubbing and finding out more about local history via the interactive touch screens. Free Entry.

Bletchley Park, once Britain's best kept secret, is now a heritage site and museum, with exhibitions, events and ever increasing visitor numbers. The Park's breathtaking Second World War Codebreaking successes helped shorten the war by around two years. The Bletchley Park Trust's mission is to preserve and develop Bletchley Park as a world-class museum, heritage site and education centre. ... Read more

It is over 200 years since the first "Monitorial School" in Hertfordshire opened in Dead Street, but which now has the more cheerful name of Queen Street. The furnished classrooms are open to the public and equipped to show the history of elementary education from pre-Victorian times to the late 1960s. Here young and old can enjoy going back to school, to a place where "Learning Comes to Life".

A great day out for families, with more than 30 rescued historic buildings to explore, including an Iron Age roundhouse, 1940s prefab, Blacksmith's forge, Victorian tollhouse and tin chapel, nestled in 45 acres of woods and parkland. There are plenty of opportunities to dress up, play with historic toys and games, build models of the barns and lots of space to run around and discover.

The birthplace of the de Havilland DH98 Mosquito and also the oldest aircraft museum in the UK. Opening times: Summer HoursTuesday to Sunday and Bank Holidays 10:30am - 5pm (last entry to museum 4pm)- Wintwr Hours commence last week of October 10:30am to 4:00pm (last entry 3:00pm). get up close and into most of our aircraft exhibits or just stop by for a coffee/tea.

Discover Children's Story Centre is a place where children and their families can enjoy playing, learning and making up stories together. Let your imagination run wild at the UK's first Story Centre For 0-11 year olds and their grown-ups. Your Session gives you entry to our Story World and Story Garden for two hours. On top of your Session Pass you can book entry onto one additional event (storytelling... Read more

TEMPORARILY CLOSED. The world's oldest mechanised paper mill - the birthplace of paper's industrial revolution in 1803. Today it is still a working paper mill producing around 100 tonnes of specialist grade paper every year on historic paper machines. Much historical innovation occurred in the Gade Valley, with many world changing inventions, largely overlooked as paper is a commodity in constant use... Read more

Enjoy a house steeped in history, built by Robert Cecil, in the grounds where Queen Elizabeth I spent much of her childhood.


The Gardens date from the early 17th Century, when Robert Cecil employed John Tradescant the Elder to collect plants from all over Europe for his new home.

The stunning, historical woodland that surrounds Hatfield House is yours to explore... Read more

The Museum offers a fascinating and inexpensive day out for the family with many interesting displays and artefacts to see relating to farming, country life, trades and professions plus many other exhibits, including three model railways, a 37 HP Crossley gas engine, stationary engines, vintage wirelesses, computer room, photographic and electrical apparatus, plus a new 'History of Sound' exhibit showing the development of sound recording and reproduction. We are a dog friendly site. Tractor rides are available to the Pitstone Windmill. Nine open days each year between Easter and October. Please check the website for details.

Hertford Museum aims to collect and preserve evidence of the history of the county town and surrounding parishes for the interest, enjoyment and understanding of the local community and other visitors. The museum offers displays on two floors as well as things to touch and play with. It also runs regular events for families and children.