Hitchin Lavender Farm
We came across Hitchin Lavender on social media- and thought it would make for the ideal escape from London and feel as if in Provence. The lavender farm was very easy to find and there are detailed instructions on the website on planning the visit, including on booking tickets in advance. We drove, but you could get the train from London to Hitchin station- then either a cab or Uber for a 10 minute ride or so.
As we went shortly after lockdown eased, there were quite a few restrictions in place- tickets had to be bought online beforehand for one of four sessions, each lasting around two hours. Picking lavender was also not allowed during our visit- but it seems previously visitors could have borrowed some scissors and picked the lavender. Perhaps this will return at some point.
The fields themselves were stunning- there are apparently in total around 35 miles of lavender- and not only one type, but of different varieties, including white lavender.
Parking was free and there are several picnic areas on site- one within the main lavender field, and one to the side near one of the car parks which you can enjoy prior to entry into the main field. There was a little cafe and shop selling coffees, cakes etc on site. We would definitely recommend taking a picnic with you and enjoying the lavender smell and the views. There is also a little shop selling lavender goods- such as essential oils, lavender jam and of course, lavender plants- you can browse the online shop here. We bought a couple of both white and purple lavender plants home with us.
As well as lavender fields, there is also a wildflower meadow, and a sunflower field- these only bloom from August onwards so we didn’t get to see them this time around. Worth noting that the lavender itself is in season from mid-June to mid-August so make sure you plan the visit in time! After our walk around the fields, we went for a little walk around the surrounding area- there are a few walks nearby which give good views of rural Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire around the farm.
A word of warning- this place has become quite popular due to social media, so you’ll find lots of people taking their time with trying to get the perfect photo for instagram or doing photoshoots. I guess given the scenery and the stunning fields, this is somewhat to be expected….
Visiting Knebworth House
Knebworth House is a stately home in Knebworth Village in Hertfordshire. It turned out be only a 20 minute drive from Hitchin Lavender so we decided to stop by on our drive back to London. It is also accessible by train- you can get the train to Stevenage station, then get a cab or Uber to the House from the station for a 15 min journey.
Similar to Hitchin Lavender, there were a number of restrictions in place during our visit- such as limiting numbers, hand sanitizer etc. However we were still able to walk around Knebworth Gardens and go on a tour of the House itself. There are other activities and things to do- such as the Dinosaur Trail- see more information here– and there is plenty to keep children entertained.
There is also a tea room on site- with cakes, sandwiches, snacks etc. and a gift shop selling various souvenirs and guide books.
Knebworth House
The House itself has been home of the Lytton family since 1940, after Sir Robert Lytton bought the reversion of the manor. Prior to belonging to the Lytton family, the house had gone through numerous renovations and remodelling- it was originally a red-brick manor house, was then reduced to just one wing, then remodelled into the current structure in the 1840s. During our tour of the House we were shown around the stunning interior as well as being given an overview of the history of the house and the residents. The most famous of these was Edward Bulwer-Lytton- the author of Last Days of Pompeii. Walking around the House and Gardens you could really see the influence and characteristics of the various residents and visitors- from tiger skin rugs to oriental wallpaper and trinkets. All the rooms are stunning- every room you walk into leaves you looking around in awe.
Knebworth House has also featured in numerous films and TV series- our tour guide mentioned that the recent Eurovision Netflix movie was in fact shot there recently, as well some scenes in films including Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Jane Eyre (full listing can be found on Imdb).
The current residents of the House are Henry Lytton-Cobbold and his family and they reside in one part of the house. There is a lot of interesting photos and family stories dotted around the House, as well as newspaper cuttings, posters etc. We would definitely recommend a visit!
Knebworth Gardens
The gardens were also stunning – they are listed grade II on the Register of Historical Parks and Gardens. A park has actually existed at Knebworth since as early as the 14th Century according to Histroric England, which contains a detailed account of the historic development of the house and gardens- see this link for more information.
The gardens are huge- 28 acres – and include many plants, trees, both formal and wilderness sections, a Victorian bowling alley, dinosaur trail, a maze and much much more. The maze was closed during our visit due to social distancing requirements however there was still more than enough to see and enjoy! Luckily there were maps dotted throughout as otherwise it would actually be quite easy to get lost. Similar to the house, each generation has left its mark on the garden- with the most recent being various carvings from wood.
Knebworth Park
It is also worth mentioning the other notable residents at Knebworth- herds of Red and Sika deer that graze amongst the 250 acres. These deer have actually been here for longer than the Lytton family!
Otherwise Knebworth Park is well known for being a rock concert venue, with the first concert occurring in 1974, with many big names playing- including Oasis, Queen and Red Hot Chilli Peppers. One of the biggest pop concerts also took place at Knebworth- in 2003 Robbie Williams performed in front of 375,000 people over a three-day period, with millions more watching live on television.
There are various other outdooor events that take place here- as far as we know, drive in cinemas were still taking place, however in the past events such as the Country, Steam and Craft fair and the Great British Food Festival would have also taken place in the grounds.
As well as concerts and fairs, the park provides the perfect setting for picnics, ball games and simply going for a walk. Just be sure to pack an umbrella just in case, but otherwise there is plenty to explore!
0 Comments