London Colney between history, aviation and nature

London Colney can be explored through a variety of subjects: a 19th-century parish church, an aviation museum, historic buildings and a nature reserve with three lakes. Cycling is another way to take in the town and its surroundings. This mix offers something to appeal to different interests, without any one subject needing to define your stay.

Church, bridge and inn

The Church of St Peter is a parish church dating from 1825, designed by George Smith. Its east windows depict the Ascension. They were designed by the Dowager Marchioness of Waterford and made by Hughes in 1865. The church building and its windows therefore represent two different periods: 1825 and 1865.

Telford’s Bridge is also part of London Colney’s history. The Grade II-listed bridge is thought to date from 1774; apparently, it was not built by Thomas Telford. The Green Dragon Public House was probably built as an inn in the early 17th century. The dates for these buildings vary in certainty: 1774 is a presumed date for the bridge, while the early history of the inn is also considered probable.

Aviation history at Salisbury Hall

The de Havilland Aircraft Museum is located at Salisbury Hall in London Colney. It displays the fuselage of the first de Havilland DH106 Comet 1A. This airliner was the first of three aircraft of this type built in Hatfield for Air France in 1953. The exhibit thus links a particular aircraft type with its year of manufacture, place of production and airline. Visitors interested in aviation history can find a tangible connection here between the displayed fuselage and the early production run of these airliners.

Lakes and cycle paths

London Colney Nature Reserve has three lakes, formed from former gravel extraction sites. Between Long Lake and Small Lake, there is a bird hide with an unobstructed view of Small Lake. Two perspectives come together here: the lakes tell the story of the site’s former use, while the hide offers a particular vantage point over the landscape as it is today.

For a bike ride, a route runs from London Colney along Hill End Lane to the Alban Way, the cycle path between St Albans and Hatfield. The route passes through Highfield Park, which has several useful cycle paths. The Alban Way itself is a traffic-free route along a former railway line that can be used by several different groups. As route conditions may change, check them before setting out.

Nature watching and cycling offer different ways to experience London Colney: the lakes and the view from the bird hide offer a different focus from the route along Hill End Lane. When looking for a holiday rental, you can therefore consider whether you would rather shape your stay around architectural history and aviation or around nature and cycling. If your travel companions have different interests, you can make this choice together based on the subjects that appeal to you most.

Discover more destinations: Buntingford, Hoddesdon, Little Gaddesden, Tring, Potters Bar, Harpenden, Waltham Cross, Little Berkhampstead

For the regional travel overview: Hertfordshire.