Apsley Marina : Local Info

Chenies Manor House (6 miles)

Chenies Manor House is of great historical and architectural interest. It was built in the mid 15th Century and is surrounded by various beautiful gardens - a sunken garden, a white garden and a ‘Physic’ garden. This contains a major collection of plants used in present-day medicine as well as non-medicinal herbs. Additionally, the gardens contain underground passages, a medieval well and a penitential maze. The house has been no stranger to nobility over the years, being owned by Sir John Russell - subsequently to become the First Earl of Bedford - and entertaining none other than Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and their courts.

De Haviland Aircraft Museum

London Colney
Tel: +44 (0)1727 822051

Museum of St. Albans (5 miles)

You can discover how St. Albans developed after Roman times into the modern commuter city it is today. The story of this historic cathedral city is a fascinating one. Growing up around the medieval abbey, St Albans was a market town and coaching centre after the Romans left. Amongst the lively displays and collections, you’ll find the famous Salaman Collection of trade and craft tools. Raphael Salaman was the author of the "Dictionary of Leatherworking Tools" and of the "Dictionary of Woodworking Tools". This easily-accessible collection is an extension of his great, personal interest and enthusiasm.

Royal National Rose Garden (4 miles)

Covering more than five acres, The Royal National Rose Garden is owned and run by Royal National Rose Society. The current garden was designed and built by Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal winners. Michael Balston handled the design work, Adam Frost Landscapes turning those designs into reality. Planting detail and combinations were carried out by the Society. The gardens are intended to showcase roses as garden plants while also displaying rose species from around the world. The garden’s central core contains a profusion of roses, grown in a garden setting with shrubs, bulbs, herbaceous plants, small trees and grasses.

St. Albans Cathedral (5 miles)

Standing on a hill and overlooking the Valley and river Ver, St. Alban’s Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of St Albans. It’s properly entitled “The Cathedral and Abbey Church of Saint Alban” and is believed to have been built on the site of St. Alban’s martyrdom. St. Alban was a Roman citizen who was put to death for his faith in Christ. There’s a shrine to him at the heart of the cathedral, and it’s a site of national pilgrimage as well as a place of prayer and meditation. Pilgrimage has been made to St. Alban’s Cathedral since early times.

Tring Museum & Art Gallery

Akeman Street, Tring
Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 6163

Verulamium Museum (5 miles)

You can discover what everyday life was like in a major Roman city at St. Albans’ Verulamium Museum. There are many displays and activities to take in, plus the museum offers a comprehensive support and resource service to teachers. There are hands-on discovery areas and various recreated Roman rooms. Included amongst the museum’s various collections is what’s widely regarded to be some of the best Roman wall plasters and mosaics to be found outside the Mediterranean. Every second weekend Roman soldiers invade the museum, demonstrating the equipment and tactics used by the Imperial Roman Army.

Verulanium Roman Theatre

Gorhambury Drive, St Albans
Tel: +44 (0)1727 835035

Welwyn Roman Baths

Welwyn Village, Herts
Tel: +44 (0)1707 271362

ZSL Whipsnade Zoo (7 miles)

Set in 600 acres of parkland, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo is one of the largest wildlife conservation parks in Europe. It’s located north of London, in the Chiltern Hills and is home to more than 2,500 animals. ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, is run by the Zoological Society of London. This is a charity devoted to the conservation both of animals and their habitats, on a worldwide scale. As such, many of the animals at the zoo are from species which are endangered in the wild. There are live demonstrations and animal feeds, beautiful picnic areas, talks and more to enjoy.