Activities in Watford

With over 190-acres of grass and woodland to explore packed with two playgrounds, a miniature railway, two outdoor gyms, a croquet pitch and several sports pitches for hire, you’ll never be bored at Cassiobury Park. Once you’ve worn yourself out, there are two cafés and a nature reserve to check out and if you’re lucky, there might be a local act playing on the historic Bandstand. The park is to the west of the town centre and a 10-minute walk from our Croxley Green hotel.

Indulge your love of all things Gryffindor at Harry Potter World, a magical behind-the-scenes tour of the studio where all eight of the films were produced. Walk on authentic sets, discover how the special effects were put together and come face-to-face with some of the most memorable characters and animatronic creatures. The tour lasts around three hours and tickets need to be purchased in advance – it’s not cheap, with a family of four costing over £120, but it’s a genuinely magical experience that will last long in the memory.

Watford Topgolf isn’t your ordinary golf course. A vast golf-based entertainment venue several miles north of the town centre, there’s no stuffy club room, dress codes or long walks in the cold. Instead, there’s a two-level high-tech golf range with 49 bays where you can play a range of golf games as a group or on your own with an automatic ball dispenser and motion sensors telling you exactly how far and fast you’ve hit your ball. There’s also a mini golf course, a fully licensed bar, lounge and restaurant, all the live sport you can watch on giant screens plus lessons and a fully-kitted out pro shop.

A place all Beatles completists will want to visit, and for those with an interest in religion and spirituality, Bhaktivedanta Manor was donated by George Harrison of the Beatles to the Hare Krishna movement in the early 70s. The centre and its gardens are open to the public, with daily guided tours where you can find out more about yoga, meditation, seminars, workshops and their schooling and farm.

Less than 200m from our Watford Central hotel is the Watford Museum, an all-encompassing space that takes in everything from fine art to the history of Watford Football Club, including plenty of Sir Elton John memorabilia (he became the club’s chairman in the 70s and has a stand named after him). The museum is open from 10am-5pm from Thursday to Saturday with free entry.

If you want to get away from downtown Watford and discover an oasis of calm, Cheslyn House & Gardens is the place. A 3.5-acre park, the gardens are home to a pond, small aviary, a variety of formal gardens and natural woodland, perfect for exploring, dog-walking and jogging. There’s no café, but there’s parking nearby and plenty of benches for picnics.

A mile to the east of Watford centre just off London Road, Bushey Museum & Art Gallery is a small but charming museum that showcases the area’s local and artistic history from the 19th century onwards. The museum is open from Thursday to Sunday from 11am-4pm, with free entry for all.