London Colney offers a range of ways to enjoy a stay: church and monument history, a specific aircraft exhibit, as well as lakeside scenery and cycle routes. Local highlights range from the east windows of the parish Church of St Peter to the bird hide at Small Lake. If you want to plan your time around a theme, you can focus on culture, aviation, nature watching or cycling.
Church architecture and historic buildings
The parish Church of St Peter dates from 1825 and was designed by architect George Smith. Its east windows depict the Ascension. They were designed by the Dowager Marchioness of Waterford and made by Hughes in 1865. The church and its windows are therefore four decades apart: the windows belong to a later phase of furnishing than the construction of the church.
Telford's Bridge is a Grade II listed structure. It is thought to date from 1774; apparently, it was not built by Thomas Telford. The Green Dragon Public House in London Colney was probably established as an inn in the early 17th century. Both the date and attribution of the bridge should be treated with caution; for the Green Dragon, it is the early date that is considered probable. These buildings offer different historical clues, from a specific designation to cautiously worded details about their origins and authorship.
An aircraft exhibit at Salisbury Hall
The de Havilland Aircraft Museum is located at Salisbury Hall in London Colney. On display is the fuselage of the first de Havilland DH106 Comet 1A. The aircraft was the first of three examples of this type built in Hatfield for Air France in 1953. Salisbury Hall is the museum’s location, while Hatfield is where the aircraft was built. To understand the exhibit’s history, both its specific place in the museum and its origins as part of a particular production run are relevant.
Lakes and birdwatching
London Colney Nature Reserve has three lakes, formed from former gravel extraction sites. Their origins give the lakes a direct connection to the area’s previous use. Between Long Lake and Small Lake, a bird hide offers an unobstructed view of Small Lake. These details appeal to different interests: the lakes’ origins tell the story of the landscape, while the bird hide identifies a specific place for birdwatching.
Cycling on the Alban Way
A cycle route runs from London Colney via Hill End Lane to the Alban Way, the cycle route between St Albans and Hatfield. It passes through Highfield Park, which has several useful cycle routes. The Alban Way is a traffic-free route along a former railway line that can be used by several types of visitors. Two aspects should be distinguished: the cycle route describes the connection from London Colney via Hill End Lane, while the former railway line defines the course of the Alban Way. Route conditions may change; check them before setting out.
When planning a stay, you can choose according to your interests: church windows and historic buildings, the Comet exhibit, or a combination of lakeside scenery and cycling. These distinct features can help you decide which topics best suit your interests, without suggesting a particular order or a shared route.
Discover more destinations: Waltham Cross, Markyate, Little Gaddesden, Wigginton, Watford, Tring, Hatfield, Saint Albans
For the broader travel overview: Hertfordshire.
