Inside Stevenage – top things to do
Stevenage is a tale of two towns – old and new. The modern quarter offers shopping and leisure, while the older side has character and quirky places to explore.
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Need inspiration? What to see
One of the major highlights of Stevenage is the 120-acre Fairlands Valley Park. It really is the perfect day out for all the family with loads to do including windsurfing, fishing, canoeing and a high ropes course for those with a head for heights. The Millennium Lake in the centre of the park is usually swarming with pedalos and there’s no better way to spend a long sunny day than having some fun on the water.
Knebworth House is another place you should visit. You might know it better as the venue for some of the UK’s biggest rock concerts of recent years. However, the house itself is charming and the gardens are an adventure land where you can get lost in a maze, follow a dinosaur trail or simply admire the walled kitchen garden. There’s a zip wire if you’re looking for a bit of an adrenaline rush.
Stevenage Museum is a small but fascinating place that provides the story of Stevenage as it moved from old to town to new town after World War 2. You can explore the geology, archaeology and history of the area though thousands of photographs and documents and take part in a busy programme of events. Basically, if you’re interested in Stevenage, then pay a visit here.
Hidden Stevenage
Just north of the main town centre, you’ll find an impressive parish church. St Nicholas was a Saxon site of worship that was rebuilt in 1100AD using flint. It looks incredible and, inside, you’ll find an ancient stone font with a medieval carved wooden cover, a Victorian organ, beautiful stained glass windows and other fascinating objects. There are few churches like it anywhere else.
Retail therapy
The Westgate Shopping Centre in the middle of Stevenage is the place to go for a full day of browsing and buying. There are loads of shops and plenty of places to grab a coffee or lunch between purchases. Away from Westgate, the town centre is packed with other charms to stretch your purse strings and the old town, not far from the train station, delivers on quaint and unique retail.