Countryside only 25 minutes from London (Hemel Hempstead in General)

Member Name: oioiyou

Product:	Hemel Hempstead in General
Date:	11/02/09 (180 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: New facilities, country walks

Disadvantages: building work (getting closer to finishing now)

Poor Hemel Hempstead has gotten a terrible write up. I can understand why but in more recent years there has been a lot of work done and the area is on the up. Jarmin Park houses some clubs, a water park, bowling alley, arcade, ice skating, Empire cinema, fast food outlets and a 24 hour Tesco. The facilities are ok and seem to be slowely improving. The constant police pressence has brought crime right down. There used to be a dry ski slope next to the track and field area. This is now being replaced by a real snow centre set to open in April 2009. This is said to soon be Britain's premier indoor snow sports centre. As well as providing a real snow slope the centre will also have a smaller childrens area for snowman building and such, a range of lessons in skiing and snow boarding, tobogganing, tubing, bars and restaurants, and shops. Check out the progress @ http://www.thesnowcentre.com/project-progress/webc am

The old town side is a bit lacking in my view as there aren't many shops. A beautifull old town as pitured above but it seems as if every other shop is a hair salon and the rest are estate agents. I have not been to the restaurants in the old town but they have bee recommended by others. Just past the old town is a massive park. There large skating area with jumps. two different play areas for younger children and lots of flat ground to kick a football around. There is a free car park on one side of the park and the other is on the old town side and is extremely cheap.

The main town centre is made up of the Marlowes shopping centre, Riverside shopping and the outside walkway. Due to the current economic downturn there are a number of shops shut. The Marlowes houses a little bit for everyone, from New Look to Mothercare. Riverside shopping is the newest area with a large Debenhams, a number of other outlets and restaurants. There are a number of car parks surrounding the town which make parking no trouble. Like anyone else I like to go to large shopping malls but Hemel usually has everything I need. The outside walkway has a handful of restaurants, Next, Primark, Boots, WhSmith and more. There is a weekly market along the walkway serving up clothes, sweets, and foods.

The leisure centre (Sportspace) just outside of the town centre has a gym, indoor and outdoor swimming, tanning facilities and holds numerous events for locals such as dance and childrens activities. Other activites and facilities include:
Multi Purp Sports Hall, Badminton, Squash, Tennis, Exercise Studio, Creche, Kidspace, Meeting Room, Astroturf Pitch, Martial Arts and Cafe.

The cricket pitch now has a new house for team meetings. It is co-owned by the local police and has a few meeting rooms and a large clock on the buildings side. Along side the cricket pitch and canal are a few fields which are home to the Boxmoor Trust horses and cows. Kids love to go trough the fields saying hello to the animals. These fields are also where the conker festival, Music on the moor and other activities are held.

If you're into fishing join the rest of the fishermen along the canal. Enjoy the beautifull walks past fields and boats and have a good look at a town that is now becoming the beautifull place it always should have been.

Summary: . . .