Activities in Hemel Hempstead

Experience the fun and thrills of a skiing holiday without having to venture abroad by paying a visit to The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead. It’s London’s closest indoor real snow slope. The main slope is 160 metres of proper powder perfect for skiing and snowboarding all year-round. If you’ve never taken to the slopes before, The Snow Centre offers lessons to The Snow Centre hemelpeople of all ages and abilities. Their instructors are friendly and great at what they do, plus you don’t need to worry about getting in anyone’s way, as you’ll be learning on the largest indoor ski lesson slope in the UK.

Prices are good, and you can even enjoy the après lifestyle at The Lodge, the centre’s wood-panelled bar and kitchen that overlooks the main slope. In terms of food, the burgers are the most popular option. It’s fully licensed so you enjoy a well deserved drink after your ski.

Speaking of vino, guzzlers of the grape will want to visit Frithsden Vineyard to sample their rather delicious wines. It’s a boutique vineyard set in the foothills of the Chilterns. There’s been a vineyard on the site for nearly half a century. However, it wasn’t until a couple purchased it in 2006 that it’s started to make waves in the British wine scene. The Tooleys, who own Frithsden Vineyard, have planted rare varieties of vines that can deal with Britain’s colder climate.

The grapes are grown, picked, pressed and bottled on site. The vineyard currently only produces white wine and rosé. You can sample them and take a self-guided tour of the vineyard every weekend. Visit their website to see what’s on during your stay, as there are also guest wine tasting sessions, supper clubs and vineyard experiences which you can book. Our nearest hotel is our Hemel Hempstead Central, which is just a 15-minute drive from the vineyard.

Extreme sports enthusiasts will put XC right at the top of their to-do list in Hemel Hempstead. It’s an indoor activity centre with its very own skate park, a huge climbing wall, a bouldering space for those who want to let loose without the ropes and an indoor caving area for nutters who think crawling around tight spaces isn’t the most terrifying, claustrophobia-inducing thing in the world. You’ll find XC near your other extreme sports option, The Snow Centre. The prices are more than reasonable and help to support a local charity.

Come on a spiritual journey with a visit to the Chiltern Hills and the Amaravati Buddhist Monastery. The temple and surrounding monastery grounds are the embodiment of peace and tranquillity. You can watch the monks in prayer, and join them if you like. If you want to visit on the weekend, check the website and see when you can take part in the free meditation sessions – you’ll leave feeling like you’re floating on a cloud.

If you’re looking for somewhere pretty to go for a walk in Hemel Hempstead, one of your best options is to make your way to the top of town to Gadebridge Park, with its historic features, lovely open spaces and manicured flower beds. The walled garden is a delight, the river is picturesque and perfect if you enjoy fishing and the park’s even home to the ruins of a Roman villa. If it’s warm enough, then you’ll struggle to find a better place to go for a picnic than Gadebridge Park.

Don your skates and take to the ice at Planet Ice at Jarman Square. It’s one of the town’s popular leisure centres, centred on the local Cineworld, which is one of your top Hemel Hempstead entertainment options. If you’re a newcomer to skating, the centre offers lessons that’ll have you cruising around the rink in no time regardless of your age or ability.

Last of all, adrenaline junkies can visit Delta Force Paintball North West London for a few hours of high-intensity paintballing fun. The venue was formerly a WWII-era U.S. Air Force base. It’s a huge site with eight different game zones, including a Black Hawk helicopter and a 40-feet tall scud missile launcher. The equipment is all up to date and well-maintained, and the staff help you have as much fun as possible. Starting prices are cheap, but if you’re on the trigger-happy end of the spectrum – which, let’s face it, is basically everyone who has ever been paintballing – then your costs can quickly add up through having to buy more ammo.