Cultural Activities for the Elderly in Hertfordshire

Cultural Activities for the Elderly in Hertfordshire

Cultural Activities in Hertfordshire

There are a wide range of interesting and cultural days out in Hertfordshire, whatever yours and your relatives’ interests are. From remnants of Roman Britain and playwrights’ homes, to fantastic museums and discounted trips to the cinema, there is sure to be a spot of culture that suits you and your family.

If you are looking for more days out that are suitable for all the family in Hertfordshire, then you may want to take a look at Age Space’s guide to the Top 5 Accessible Days Out in Hertfordshire, which include Knebworth House and the Cathedral of St. Albans.

Below, you can read more about the best cultural days out in Hertfordshire, including information about accessibility, pricing and parking.

Cultural Properties in Hertfordshire

English Heritage Sites

Hertfordshire has a number of fantastic properties and sites managed by English Heritage. Elderly people are eligible for a discount on English Heritage membership, which you can see more about in our guide to the Best Discounts for Older People in Hertfordshire.

Berkhamsted Castle
Berkhamsted Castle in Hertfordshire

Berkhamsted Castle is one of Hertfordshire’s most impressive and historical buildings. It was first built in the late 11th century and has passed through many royal hands over the centuries, including Thomas Beckett and the Earl of Cornwall. It also became the first building in Britain to receive statutory protection fromย Parliament.

There are guided tours and interactive tours throughout the day, meaning you will have the opportunity to learn a great deal more about its history when you visit Berkhamsted Castle.

In terms of accessibility, the main path into and through the Castle is surfaced with gravel but suitable for wheelchairs and there are steps up onto the earthworks and the motte.

  • Address: White Hill, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, HP4 1LJ
  • Opening Hours: 10:00am - 6:00pm during British Summer Time & 10:00am - 4:00pm during Greenwich Mean Time
  • Price: Free Entry
  • Parking: No parking on site, but charged public parking, not managed by English Heritage, is available close by at the railway station or in the town centre. There is very limited on-street parking on White Hill and nearby streets but please park with consideration for residents and other road users.
  • Telephone: 0370 333 1181
  • Visit Website
Old Gorhambury House

The remains of Old Gorhambury House can be found just outside St. Albans. This house was originally an immense mansion, constructed in the 1560s by the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, Sir Nicholas Bacon. It was visited a number of times byย Queen Elizabeth I and is a Grade I listed building. Sadly, only a small amount of the original house remains, as it fell into disrepair a few centuries ago. Nonetheless, the remains are an impressive site!

In terms of access, the site’s terrain is grass, with some gravelled and paved areas. There are a few steps but these can be avoided.

  • Address: Gorhambury Drive, Gorhambury, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 6AH
  • Opening Hours: Open most days of the year during any reasonable daylight hours, but not earlier than 8:00am or later than 6:00pm
  • Price: Free Entry
  • Parking: The walk up Gorhambury Drive to the site is about 2 miles from the nearest parking. Closer access by car to parking at the house is limited to Thursdays from May to September between 2:00pm and 5:00pm only.
  • Telephone: 0370 333 1181
  • Visit Website
Roman Wall of St. Albans
Roman Wall of St Albans, Hertfordshire

The Roman Wall of St. Albans, which was built between AD 265 and 270 to defend the Roman city of Verulamium, can still be traced for most of its two-mile circuit. It was, at the time, Roman Britain’s third largest town and an incredibly important one in both Roman and British history. A visit to the wall and walk around the surrounding area can be a great experience in trying to consider the history of this Hertfordshire site. The surviving foundations of two towers and bastions and the London Gate are also incredibly impressive and absolutely make the Roman Wall deserving of a visit.

Regarding access, most of the wall is accessible from within Verulamiun Park.

  • Address: Verulamium Park, King Harry Lane, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 4SW
  • Opening Hours: Open any reasonable time during daylight hours
  • Prices: Free Entry
  • Parking: ย There is limited on-street parking close to the wall remains on King Harry Lane or a pay and display car park atย Verulamiumย Museumย which is a 10-minute walk away across Verulamium Park on paths.
  • Telephone: 0370 333 1181
  • Visit Website

National Trust

The National Trust own a number of Hertfordshire properties that would make for a great day out with your older relatives. National Trust members who are over 60 can get 25% off their Membership cost, so it’s well worth having a read of our Best Discounts in Hertfordshire page for more details.

Shaw's Corner
Shaw's Corner in Hertfordshire

Shaw’s Corner was once the home of the Irish philosopher, politician and playwright George Bernard Shaw, who won the 1925 Nobel Prize for literature and is regarded by some as being Britain’s second all time greatest dramatist (hard to knock William off the top spot!). Today, his home, near Welwyn, remains much in the state in which he left it. You can walk from room to room, enjoying the beautiful Arts and Crafts interiors, and exploring all sorts of links to the past. There are also beautiful and tranquil gardens for you to enjoy.

You can find full accessibility information here.

  • Address: Shaw's Corner, Bibbs Hall Lane, Welwyn, AL6 9BX
  • Opening Hours: Vary throughout the year, you can visit the website for details
  • Prices: ยฃ9.20 for adults, ยฃ4.75 for children
  • Parking: Designated mobility parking in main car park
  • Telephone: 01438 820307
  • Visit Website

Hertfordshire's Best Museums

British Schools Museum

British Schools Museum in Hertfordshire

Theย British Schools Museumย is an educational museum based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. It is located in original Edwardian and Victorian local school buildings; in fact, it is in the worldโ€™s last remainingย purpose-built Monitorial schoolroom. The buildings are very impressive and Grade II listed. It is also a great day out for older people to think about their school days and compare how different things were in Victorian times to now!

The majority of the museum is wheelchair accessible, however the Headmaster’s House and Gallery Classroom are not. They offer video tours of the Headmaster’s House and Gallery Classroom for people who cannot access them. Large print of text panels and exhibition descriptions are also available.

  • Address: 41-42 Queen St, Hitchin, SG4 9TS
  • Opening Hours: Friday - Sunday from 10:00am - 4:00pm
  • Prices: ยฃ6.50 (under 5s are free)
  • Parking: The only visitor parking available at the museum is for Blue Badge Holders.
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Visit Website

Natural History Museum at Tring

Tring Natural History Museum Hertfordshire

The sister museum of the Natural History Museum in London, Tring’s Museum has a fantastic collection, focused on animals but with temporary exhibitions as well. It is seen as housing one of the finest collections ofย stuffedย mammals, birds, reptiles and insects in the United Kingdom. A great day out for people in Hertfordshire who enjoy nature and learning more about the animal kingdom!

  • Address: The Walter Rothschild Building, Akeman St, Tring, HP23 6AP
  • Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Prices: Free entry
  • Parking: The Museum's Akeman Street car park has 33 parking spaces, with two reserved for Blue Badge holders. Dawes Park car park has approximately 50 parking spaces, with three for Blue Badge holders and two parent-and-toddler spaces.
  • Telephone: 020 7942 6171
  • Visit Website

Silver Screenings in Hertfordshire

Silver Screenings in Hertfordshire

Silver screenings are cinema showings just for older people, at a reduced cost. They make for a fun and cheap trip out with friends for older people and often the cinemas show classic films that your relative may remember from way back when. You can find details of the silver screenings in Hertfordshire below.

Odeon Hatfield Silver Cinema

Odeon offer a silver screen scheme at their cinemas in Hertfordshire. As part of this scheme, people aged 65 and over can enjoy a trip to the cinema for just ยฃ3.50, including a cup of tea or coffee and snacks! In Hertfordshire, the only ODEON cinema is in Hatfield.

VUE Watford Senior Cinema

VUE Senior Screenings are open to all guests who are aged 60+.ย  Tickets are available at a reduced price, which includes a hot drink and biscuits. You will need to check showings, times and prices at your nearest VUE to find out which senior screenings are running. There is a Hertfordshire branch of VUE in Watford.