Has anyone ever been here? Is it worth an afternoon? Friends and I will be in England and since I've been there many times, I'm looking for some less traditional things to see. It looks pleasant enough (of course, more pleasant with sunshine) but curious to know if there are any personal stories about visiting.
Thanks in advance!
Depends why you've chosen LGC and what your interests are. For a student of early 20th century suburban planning no doubt it is fascinating; it's a pleasant enough commuter town serving London.
Also in Hertfordshire is St Albans, which has Roman remains and a cathedral. That would be OK for a visit.
When you say less traditional what are you referring to? Last Fall I enjoyed a Friday adventure starting the day at the Bermondsey Square antique Market, then a look see at The Design museum, then continued walking along the Bermondsey Wall Path to The Angel, stopped for pint, then onward to the Brunel Museum in Rotherhithe. The walk is lovely, interesting POV of London. Some cute pocket parks and intriguing pieces of artwork. Also met up with a friend at the Sands Film Studio and enjoyed a meal and the evening at the Mayflower pub. Interesting day out in neighborhoods I'd never visited before.
Letchworth - Has anyone ever been here? Is it worth an afternoon? Yes and a very strong no, in that order. Letchworth is the oldest of the "new towns", built starting at the beginning of the 20th century. Which gives it no history at all. It is a very pleasant place to live, but BLAND. Trust me, I grew up 3 miles away.
Michal, you don't say where you will be based. Is it in central London. In which case there are hundreds of places to see as day trips outside London. How about Cambridge?
Thanks for your suggestions. Claudia, your walk through London sounds delightful and it would be nice to wander the neighborhoods of London that are off the beaten path for tourists.
Chris- we will be coming south to London- staying the night before in the Coventry area and going to Bletchley in the morning. I was looking for other places to stop with the car before dropping it off at St. Albans. I've already spent time there and have also gone on several day trips out of London (including Cambridge). I'm thinking that maybe we do Bletchley in the morning, drop the car off and then spend the rest of our afternoon/evening in London, since we will only have had a short visit the previous week. Again, many thanks for your input!
If you're looking for places in that area to stop and get out of the car, Hitchin is nice. I was there a few years ago for an event - I would have had no reason to go there otherwise - and I thought the historic town center was lovely. There's not much in particular to do there (or if there is, I didn't find it), but it's as good a place as any to walk around and maybe stop for lunch.
If your morning in Bletchley is at Bletchley Park, (the only reason to go there), this is a squeeze to fit it into a full day.
Letchworth is pretty unmemorable and your time would be better spent at Woburn Abbey or Whipsnade Zoo.
