Car Hire Stevenage

Stevenage is situated at the heart of Hertfordshire, offering excellent motorway access via the A1(M) and A602, as well as convenient links to the M25 for broader regional exploration. This historic market town, which was Britain’s first New Town, has approximately 90,000 residents and enjoys a temperate climate with mild springs, making it perfect for park visits. The warm summers are ideal for outdoor activities, while vibrant autumns showcase beautiful foliage in the many green spaces. Lastly, crisp winters offer clear days for exploring both historical sites and modern attractions.

Stevenage uniquely combines ancient market town heritage in the charming Old Town—featuring the historic High Street, 12th-century St Nicholas Church and traditional coaching inns—with the pioneering urban planning of the New Town, including pedestrianised shopping areas, extensive cycle networks and abundant parkland.

Attractions In Stevenage

New town innovation showcases post-war planning ambitions through pioneering pedestrian precincts, extensive cycle path networks and modern shopping facilities, while surrounding countryside provides relief from urban development through maintained green belt areas.

Fairlands Valley Park

Over 1,800 visitors have awarded this exceptional park a stellar 4.5-star rating, making it Stevenage’s most beloved attraction and a genuine highlight of any visit to Hertfordshire. Located on Six Hills Way, the park combines two beautiful lakes with extensive recreational facilities, including fishing opportunities, a splash park, wall climbing activities and sailing on the main lake. You’ll discover play areas for children, cycling paths throughout the grounds, picnic benches scattered across expansive grasslands and a fully stocked café serving everything from hot meals to ice cream and coffee.

Town Centre Gardens

The Town Centre Gardens are a distinctive and integral part of Stevenage’s pioneering New Town design. This formally landscaped green space offers a series of peaceful, structured areas that provide a welcome contrast to the surrounding commercial district. Featuring attractive planting schemes, mature trees and pedestrian pathways, the gardens serve as an essential and easily accessible civic space for relaxation and enjoyment in the heart of the town.

Hampson Park

This historic park operates weekdays from 9 AM until 5 PM and offers something special for visitors of all ages. Named after a local Olympian, the park retains magnificent redwood trees from the original country estate that once occupied this site.

The Great Ashby District Park

What makes this hidden gem particularly special is its secluded location in Weston – you’ll drive through quiet residential streets before discovering this expansive green space that opens daily from 7 AM until 9 PM. The park offers multiple trail options, including flat paths, forest walks and hillside routes, as well as several exercise stations and excellent children’s play areas featuring numerous swings and climbing frames.

Stevenage Centre Park

Stevenage Centre Park is a large, key recreational area, providing a substantial open space for both structured and casual leisure activities within the town. This park is highly valued for its extensive facilities, which often include sports pitches, cycleways and general amenity grassland. It functions as a primary venue for local exercise, large-scale community events and ensuring widespread access to outdoor recreation.

Millennium Garden

This contemporary garden space on Ditchmore Lane represents Stevenage’s commitment to creating beautiful public spaces that celebrate both community spirit and environmental awareness. The garden showcases modern landscaping principles combined with traditional horticultural elements.

360 Play Stevenage

Daily opening hours from 10 AM to 6 PM make this family entertainment centre on Six Hills Way incredibly convenient for parents seeking indoor activities regardless of weather conditions. The centre provides comprehensive soft play facilities designed for various age groups, ensuring safe and engaging entertainment for children. We appreciate how the venue consistently maintains excellent staffing levels, even during busy periods. The facility also offers special discounts for Blue Light Badge holders, along with efficient service at their snack and drink stations.

Discover more of Hertfordshire with these nearby driving destinations:

• Knebworth
• Welwyn
• Preston
• Hitchin
• Letchworth Garden City
• Stapleford
• Welwyn Garden City
• Weston

Joy Ride Statue

Located at 27 Town Square, this distinctive memorial park features contemporary sculpture that commemorates local heritage and community values. The statue serves as both an artistic focal point and a gathering space where residents and visitors can pause to appreciate Stevenage’s cultural development. You’ll find that the surrounding memorial park offers peaceful seating areas perfect for reflection and its central location makes it easily accessible during shopping trips or cultural walks through the town centre’s pedestrian areas.

War Memorial

The Stevenage War Memorial, a notable Obelisk designed by Mr. Arnold Wright, was unveiled on the Bowling Green on 19th March 1921 by Brigadier General Viscount Hampden. Its erection was controversial, as many residents and discharged servicemen favoured a practical commemoration, such as a cottage hospital or swimming pool, rather than a stone monument. This solemn memorial, which was later modified to include military emblems, honours the men of Stevenage who fell in the Great War, with names from the Second World War subsequently added.

Stevenage Museum

Wednesday to Friday hours run from 10 AM until 4:30 PM, with Saturday hours extending until 5 PM, at this surprisingly comprehensive local museum on St. George’s Way. The facility offers an impressive journey through time, from prehistoric periods right up to modern Stevenage, featuring interactive displays that particularly engage children and families. You’ll discover everything from archaeological artefacts to natural history exhibits, plus hands-on activities including costume try-ons, mosaic creation, brass rubbing stations and informative films about local heritage.

New Town Fountain & Clock Tower

This iconic landmark at 40 Queensway represents the architectural ambitions of Britain’s first New Town development programme, launched in 1946. The angular design reflects mid-20th-century urban planning principles and serves as a recognisable meeting point for residents and visitors alike. You’ll appreciate how the clock tower and fountain embody the era’s optimistic vision for modern living, although the surrounding pedestrian areas have undergone various modifications over the decades, which sometimes create navigation challenges.

Old Stevenage High Street

Rich historical character defines this charming street, where 21 stagecoaches once passed daily during the 1800s and Charles Dickens famously described the village atmosphere in 1861. The High Street features delightful independent shops, welcoming cafes and traditional pubs, all housed within historic buildings that create a refreshing contrast to modern shopping areas. You’ll love the relaxed, friendly atmosphere perfect for quiet walks and coffee breaks, particularly during evenings when street lighting creates a cosy, timeless ambience that blends history with community spirit.

The Avenue

The Avenue is a significant, formally planted thoroughfare or wide public walk that forms a visually important connection within Stevenage’s urban structure. This feature is often characterised by grand, uniform plantings of mature trees along its length, adding considerable aesthetic appeal and structure to the townscape. It serves as a beautiful, stately pedestrian and cycling route, embodying the clean ordered principles of New Town planning.