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Historic Towns & Picturesque Villages

Beamish: omnibus

Beamish

in the county of County Durham

Our Lady of the Sea

Lowestoft

a Seaside Town in the county of Suffolk

Penzance in Cornwall

Penzance

a Seaside Town in the county of Cornwall

Pictures of Berkhamsted

in the county of Hertfordshire

About Berkhamsted

It is not surprising to find Berkhamsted mentioned in the Doomsday Book for it was here that William the Conqueror took the Throne of England from the Saxon's in 1066.

Shortly afterwards the king built a nearby castle where he entertained other kings, queens, princes and distinguished nobles. It is known that the Black Prince was fond of Berkhamsted Castle, also after the Battle of Poitiers in 1356 King John of France was incarcerated in the castle. Later, in medieval times the town became a focal point for trade, its market attracting folk from miles around.

Berkhamsted has a lovely old High Street where you will find several noted buildings and comfortable hotels. To the rear of the High Street lies the picturesque Grand Union Canal which runs through the town, and is at its most scenic when passing the Kings Road where it by-passes old bridges, lofty warehouses buildings, and swoops through ancient locks towards the gentle countryside on the outskirts of the town. Another splendid vantage point from which to view the canal is from Raven's Lane Bridge, looking towards Crystal Palace. Truly transformed from the days when it was a working canal carrying goods to the town, the canal is now home to a wealth of wildlife with a constant stream of pleasure craft plying its waters.

Amazingly, Castle Street is over 900 years old. It is dominated by Berkhamsted School, founded in the 16th-century but showing handsome additions from the Victorian period. The parish church of St.Peter was begun early in the 13th-century, stands close to a collection of old timber-frame buildings and opposite the Tudor school house. It has a strong Norman tower adorned with a clock, whilst in the hallowed interior there is a intricately carved screen, splendid stained glass, brasses, tombs and a magnificent organ. There are many other treasures, making this lovely old building well worth a visit.

The town was the home of William Cowper, poet and hymn writer, he was born here in 1731. Another writer who lived in the town was Graham Greene, his father was headmaster of Berkhamsted School.

With so much to see and experience this fascinating little town makes the perfect destination for a relaxing weekend away from it all. It is a place where you can 'do' the sights or simply sit on the canal bank watching the world (or rather the boats) go by.

Places to visit include: The Grand Union Canal, Berkhamsted Castle, St.Peter's Church, The Ridgeway Path, and Wildfowl Park at nearby St. Leonard's.

Recommended towns & villages near Berkhamsted

Hemel Hempstead

Hemel Hempstead (24 Pictures) in the county of Hertfordshire

(5.1 miles, 8.3 km, direction E of Berkhamsted)

Set in a delightful valley of the Chilterns, formed by the River Gade, the town is noted for its variety of old buildings which include the Norman church dedicated to St.Mary...

St Marys church, Rickmansworth

Rickmansworth (168 Pictures) in the county of Hertfordshire

(9.3 miles, 14.9 km, direction SE of Berkhamsted)

This is a lovely old town where three rivers meet, it has lakes and watermeadows, and during the 20th-century was known for having one of the finest bathing lakes, close to.....

St Albans Cathedral

St Albans (54 Pictures) in the county of Hertfordshire

(9.8 miles, 15.8 km, direction E of Berkhamsted)

One of the most pleasant parts of St.Albans is quaint Fishpond Street. The street derives it's name from a fishpond which lay nearby in medieval times where the monks used to fish...

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Wheathampstead (5 Pictures) in the county of Hertfordshire

(12.3 miles, 19.8 km, direction E of Berkhamsted)

An abiding feature of Wheathampstead is it beautiful 14th-century church dedicated to Saint Helen...

St Etheldreda's Church, Hatfield

Hatfield (21 Pictures) in the county of Hertfordshire

(14.8 miles, 23.8 km, direction E of Berkhamsted)

Hatfield is a town with two histories. There is the history of the ancient market town whose roots are firmly embedded in Saxon times, and the modern-day history of a town that grew to meet the demands of the housing population...

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Nearby attractions..

Whipsnade Wild Animal Park

Whipsnade Wild Animal Park (36 Pictures)

(6.1 miles, 9.8 km, direction N)

Where better to go for a great family day out than the zoo. Here, at Whipsnade, under the great open sky you can enjoy the.....

Coombe Hill, near High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

Coombe Hill (4 Pictures)

(8.8 miles, 14.2 km, direction W)

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Geese in Verulamium Park, St Albans, Hertfordshire.

Verulamium Park St Albans (12 Pictures)

(9.1 miles, 14.6 km, direction E)

This park is the site where one of the biggest cities in Roman Britain once stood - Verulamium...

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St Albans Cathedral and Abbey Church (17 Pictures)

(9.7 miles, 15.6 km, direction E)

Dominating the city skyline on every main approach, the magnificent Abbey Church is a former Norman Abbey Church set in the.....

Bekonscot Model Village, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire

Bekonscot Model Village (56 Pictures)

(10.7 miles, 17.2 km, direction S)

For many the idyll of rural life as it was in the 1930's has gone forever, but it's charm can be re-discovered at Bekonscot Model.....

Hughenden Manor

Hughenden Manor (21 Pictures)

(11.0 miles, 17.7 km, direction SW)

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Wardown Park & Museum

Wardown Park Museum (7 Pictures)

(11.3 miles, 18.1 km, direction NE)

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