Our village
A day in Old Welwyn
We love our little village, and we think you will too.
Most people only know Welwyn as a sign on the A1(M). Turn off at junction 6, though, and you find a proper old village tucked into the valley of the River Mimram, with a church across the road from us, old inns, a Roman bath house and plenty to do for a day or an evening. Here are the things we tell our own friends to do when they come to visit.
See and do
In the village and close by
Start here
A walk round the village
Start at St Mary’s Church, right across the road from us, with the Wellington and the old inns all around it. People have worshipped on that spot for well over a thousand years. Wander down to the old ford over the river and look out for the bust of Vincent van Gogh: he once walked all the way from London to visit his sister, who was teaching here. On the way you pass the White Hart, an old coaching inn from the days when Welwyn was a stop on the road north.
End your walk at our door: we are right opposite the church, so sit down to a long lunch or dinner, and in summer take it out into our garden. Book a table
A mile down the road
Welwyn Roman Baths
This one surprises everyone. Underneath the motorway there is a real Roman bath house, around 1,800 years old, found by local volunteers in the 1960s and saved when the A1(M) was built over the top. It is small, but well worth an hour.
Make a morning of it: we are two minutes back into the village. Settle in for a Saturday lunch of plates to share, from the grill and the sea. Book a table
Ten minutes away
Knebworth House
A big Gothic house with lovely gardens, a deer park, a dinosaur trail and a playground that keeps children busy for hours. You may know the name from the famous concerts.
On your way home: after a day in the park or a big concert, we are ten minutes down the road. Come in for grills, fresh fish and a glass of Greek wine. Book a table
Five minutes up the road
The chocolate factory
Between Welwyn and Knebworth, in Woolmer Green, The Secret Truffletier makes chocolate right there on site. Pop into the shop and cafe for a hot chocolate made with their own cocoa, or book a chocolate-making workshop or a chocolate afternoon tea.
Savoury before the sweet: we are five minutes down the road for lunch, so you can save the chocolate for afterwards. Book a table
Ayot St Lawrence
Shaw’s Corner
The home of George Bernard Shaw, who lived and wrote here until 1950. His rooms are just as he left them, and in the garden is the little writing shed he could turn to follow the sun.
In Shaw’s own spirit: ten minutes back to us for a long lunch with good conversation, a bottle of wine and no one rushing you. Book a table
Near Hatfield
Mill Green Watermill
A working watermill where they still grind flour, with a small museum and a tea room. Take a bag of their flour home with you.
Sunday sorted: Mill Green opens on Sundays and so do we, fifteen minutes away, with our Sunday set menu or the full menu. Book a table
Fifteen minutes away
Hatfield House
Where Elizabeth I grew up. The house, the gardens and the big park make a full afternoon.
After a day with the Tudors: fifteen minutes to us for dinner on the way home: plates to share, a traditional spit roast or fresh fish from the grill. Book a table
Every June
Welwyn Festival
The whole village gets involved: a street market, a family fun day and parade, a classic car show, the Welwyn 10K, open gardens and guided heritage walks. It is one of the best times to visit.
Right in the middle of it: we are on Church Street, in the heart of the village. Festival week gets busy, so book your table ahead. Book a table
A little further
- St AlbansThe Roman town of Verulamium, the cathedral and the market
- de Havilland Aircraft MuseumAt London Colney, home of the first MosquitoWebsite
- Warner Bros. Studio TourWhere the Harry Potter films were madeWebsite
- Panshanger ParkA huge country park between Welwyn Garden City and Hertford, with wetlands, kingfishers and an oak said to date from the time of Elizabeth I
- Campus WestThe theatre and cinema in Welwyn Garden CityWebsite
- Welwyn Garden CityShops, the Howard Centre and the famous garden city lawns, a mile down the road
- Paradise Wildlife ParkBig cats, animals and dinosaurs at Broxbourne, a favourite with families
- Willows Activity FarmAnimals, play barns and rides for little ones at London Colney
- Stanborough ParkLakes in Welwyn Garden City, with paddleboarding and water sports in summerWebsite
Wherever the day takes you, we are just off junction 6 of the A1(M), on your way home. Book a table
Fresh air
Walks, woods and a viaduct
- The River MimramQuiet green walks from the village, and dogs love it
- Danesbury ParkA nature reserve of old trees and meadows on the edge of the village
- Mardley HeathWoods next to Danesbury Park, full of bluebells in spring
- The Digswell ViaductForty brick arches carrying the trains high over the valley since 1850
- Ayot St LawrenceA country walk out to Shaw’s Corner, the ruins of the old church and a pub lunch
- Sherrardspark Wood and Heartwood ForestAncient woodland down the road, and a young forest near St Albans
Back from a walk with muddy boots and a hungry dog? Come and see us. Well-behaved dogs are welcome at lunchtime and in the early evening for bookings up to 17:30. Simply let us know when booking if you’ll be bringing a dog, and we’ll find a suitable spot for you. Assistance dogs are welcome at any time.
Our neighbours
Pubs, cafes and restaurants
For a small village we have a lot going on, and it is all a few minutes’ walk apart on the High Street, Church Street and Mill Lane.
The pubs
- The WellingtonRight in the heart of the village at the top of the High Street. Said to date back to 1352, with modern British food and rooms looking over the churchWebsite
- The White HartA coaching inn on Prospect Place since the 1600s, with roomsWebsite
- The Rose and CrownA 17th-century coaching house on Church Street with a big garden and home-made food, a short walk from the Roman BathsWebsite
- The TavernOn the High Street, with music on Saturdays
- The White HorseOn Mill Lane
- The SteamerOn the edge of the village
A short drive away: the Cowper Arms in Digswell, the Goat in Codicote and the Waggoners at Ayot Green.
Cafes and restaurants
- Brew and CruCoffee, breakfast and lunch on the High Street, and dogs are welcomeWebsite
- Laura Kate Cake BoutiqueA tea room on the High Street for afternoon tea and cakes
- Simmons BakersOn the High Street, for something sweet
- Taj MahalIndian food on the High Street
- Lemon PlaiceFish and chips on Church Street
- Roy’s RestaurantBritish cooking on the High StreetWebsite
Have a look around
Shops and services
- XO Wine MerchantsOn the High Street, if you want a bottle to take home
- The Old Welwyn FloristFlowers on the High Street
- Isabel Hospice shopA charity shop on the High Street, open every dayWebsite
- Danesbury and QVM charity shopOn the High Street, raising money for the local Danesbury and Queen Victoria Memorial hospitals
- EverydayA Tesco Express and a chemist on the High Street, for anything you forgot
Hair and beauty
- Chic Beauty of WelwynBeauty treatments on the High Street
- Elegance4u BeautyFacials and threading on the High Street
- The Nail BarNails on the High Street
- The Barbers RoomA barber on the High Street
- No 15 HairA hair salon on Church StreetWebsite
- Sasha Dowler HairdressingA hair salon on Church Street
- The Laser CoLaser and skin treatments in the village
Welwyn Parish Council looks after the village, from the car parks to the Heritage Trail. Their website
Opposite St Mary’s Church
Finish the day with us
After all that walking you will have earned a good meal. Rodi is a family-owned Greek and Mediterranean restaurant at 1 Church Street, right opposite the church. Plates to share, food from the grill, fresh fish, Greek wines and, when the sun is out, our garden. At Christmas we have our own festive menus, and you can see what else is on through the year.
Lunch set menu: Wednesday and Thursday 12:00 to 15:00, Sunday 12:00 to 17:00. Evening set menu: Sunday to Thursday from 17:00. Our set menus are not available on bank holidays or during festive periods.
How we would do it
A day out, or an evening
- MorningCoffee at Brew and Cru, then a walk round the church and down to the ford.
- Late morningThe Roman Baths if it is a Saturday, or the watermill on a Friday or Sunday.
- AfternoonKnebworth House, Shaw’s Corner, the chocolate factory or a riverside walk.
- EveningA drink at the Wellington or the White Hart while it is still light, then a long dinner with us. Some nights we have live music.
Getting here
From London and nearby
- By trainAbout half an hour from London King’s Cross to Welwyn North, every 30 minutes from Monday to Saturday and every hour on Sundays. The station is about a mile from the village: a short taxi ride or a 25 minute walk.
- By carCome off the A1(M) at junction 6, and follow the signs for Welwyn. Coming from further away? Here is how far we are from towns across Hertfordshire.Directions on Google Maps
Welwyn Parish Council runs several free car parks in the village, open all day: Titmus Yard (AL6 9LW), Ottway Walk (AL6 9AS), Lockleys Drive (AL6 9NT) and Whitehill (AL6 9FN). Some have a height barrier, and Titmus Yard is a tight space to turn in. The High Street car park (AL6 9EQ) is short stay: 90 minutes between 08:00 and 18:00, Monday to Saturday. There is more on the Parish Council’s parking page.
Opening times change with the seasons, so please check before you set off.
Questions
Good to know
Have a walk round the old village, past St Mary’s Church and the old inns and down to the ford. Visit the Roman bath house under the A1(M), walk by the river, or head to Knebworth House, Shaw’s Corner or Mill Green watermill, all close by. Then finish with lunch or dinner in the village. We are about ten minutes from Knebworth House, in the next village on the way back towards London. Rodi is a Greek and Mediterranean restaurant at 1 Church Street, open for lunch and dinner. Book online or give us a call on 01438 717499. The village is about a mile from the Roman Baths, and there are cafes, pubs and restaurants in it. We are on Church Street, serving Greek and Mediterranean food at lunch and dinner. Yes. The Secret Truffletier in Woolmer Green, between Welwyn and Knebworth, has a shop and cafe and runs chocolate-making workshops and chocolate afternoon teas. Afterwards, we are a few minutes away for lunch or dinner. The village has pubs, cafes and restaurants all a few minutes’ walk apart, from the Wellington and the White Hart to Brew and Cru, Taj Mahal, Roy’s and Lemon Plaice. Rodi is the Greek and Mediterranean restaurant at 1 Church Street, opposite St Mary’s Church, open for lunch and dinner. Old Welwyn is about ten minutes from Shaw’s Corner and fifteen from Hatfield House. Come to us at 1 Church Street for Greek and Mediterranean food at lunch or dinner, and book online so your table is ready. Well-behaved dogs are welcome at lunchtime and in the early evening for bookings up to 17:30. Simply let us know when booking if you’ll be bringing a dog, and we’ll find a suitable spot for you. Assistance dogs are welcome at any time. Old Welwyn is about ten minutes south of Knebworth Park, just off junction 6 of the A1(M), so it is on your way back towards London. Rodi serves Greek and Mediterranean food, and on busy concert days it is worth booking ahead online. Yes. The village is about a mile from Welwyn North, a short taxi ride. Rodi is at 1 Church Street, opposite St Mary’s Church, open for lunch and dinner. We are open on Sundays from 12:00, with our Sunday set menu as well as the full menu, so it is an easy way to finish a morning at Mill Green or a walk by the river. Book online or call 01438 717499. Families are always welcome at Rodi. We have a children’s menu, high chairs and baby changing, and everything is on one floor. See our family dining page. Rodi has tables for two, bigger tables for families and semi-private areas for parties, just across from St Mary’s Church. See our birthdays page. Yes. Rodi is a Greek and Mediterranean restaurant in Old Welwyn, a few minutes from Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield and Knebworth, just off junction 6 of the A1(M). On Saturdays, 10:00 to 16:00. It is worth checking with Welwyn Hatfield Museums before you go. Take the train from King’s Cross to Welwyn North, about half an hour. The station is a mile from the village. By car, come off the A1(M) at junction 6. Yes. The Parish Council runs free car parks in the village that you can use all day, a short walk from us.What is there to do in Old Welwyn?
Where can we eat near Knebworth House?
Where can we eat near Welwyn Roman Baths?
Is there a chocolate factory near Welwyn?
Where can we eat in Welwyn village?
Where can we eat near Shaw's Corner or Hatfield House?
Can we bring our dog to Rodi?
Where can we eat after a concert at Knebworth?
Is there a restaurant near Welwyn North station?
Where can we have Sunday lunch in Welwyn?
Where can we eat with children near Welwyn?
Where can we celebrate a birthday in Welwyn?
Is there a Greek restaurant near Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield or Knebworth?
When are the Welwyn Roman Baths open?
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Is there parking in Old Welwyn?
