Cheshunt hotels

Hotels in Cheshunt

A few miles from central London, yet surrounded by green spaces, Cheshunt is close to both the excitement of the capital as well as enjoying the peacefulness of the countryside.

The town sits on the edge of the Lee Valley Country Park, a 10, 000-acre green space spilling into three counties. Book one of our Cheshunt hotels and admire everything from heritage sites to herons.

Lee Valley Park

Whether you're into extreme sports or exploring history, there are endless things to do in the Lee Valley Park, from horse riding and walking to fishing or ice-skating. Go canoeing, kayaking or white water rafting at the White Water Centre, or cycling at the Lee Valley Velopark, part of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Myddelton House Gardens and Waltham Abbey Gardens are both definitely worth exploring. At the latter you'll find the Lee Valley Park Farms, home to rare breeds of pig, llamas, meerkats and more.

More than 200 species of bird have been recorded in the park, as well as 35 species of mammal and more than 500 types of plant. Look out for bitterns, otters, water voles, red kites, muntjac deer, green woodpeckers, foxes, goosanders, goldcrests, emperor dragonflies, lesser-spotted woodpeckers, nightingales, grass snakes, kestrels, herons and a variety of butterflies.

Parks

You'll find ancient monuments, thousands of trees, formal gardens, a kids maze, a pet corner, a café and ponds in Cedars Park on the edge of the town. The park was once the site of Theobalds Palace, a Tudor palace which was one of James I's residences, and has been awarded a Green Flag every year since 2009.

A short drive out of the town is Cheshunt Park, which has wildflower meadows, woodland, a play area, basketball and football courts, an orchard and a pond. It's also a great place to look out for wildlife and birds - the Second World War pillbox here has been made into a home for hibernating bats. Next to the park is a golf centre with an 18-hole course, putting green and driving range where you can take lessons from a pro. On the other side is the Brookfield Shopping Park for those seeking a bit of retail therapy.

Leisure

You can go swimming, play football, squash, badminton or table tennis or work out at the gym in the Laura Trott Leisure Centre in the middle of town. There's also a kids' gym and a learner pool for the little ones, plus a beauty salon, a sauna and steam room and exercise studios.

Eating and drinking

Admire the old brickwork and wooden beams over a meal or drink at the Coach and Horses, a former coaching inn also thought to have been used as a court. The menu includes thin crust pizzas, steaks, tapas and much more, and there's a cocktail menu too. A short drive out of town, in Goff's Oak, is the Chelsea Garden Café, whose landscaped garden won a silver medal at the Chelsea Flower Show. Lavas serves Mediterranean dishes to eat in or take away – you'll find French, Spanish, Italian, Turkish and Greek specialities on the menu. Or, head to De Ja Vu, Cheshunt Tandoori or Mahek for an Indian meal.