Love Long Weekends: A Hertfordshire Itinerary
Come hungry. A weekend in North Hertfordshire brings together market-town charm, open countryside and some seriously good places to eat. With Anglian Country Inns dotted along the route, there’s somewhere special to indulge at every turn.
Our foodies’ guide to Hertfordshire begins with brunch in Hitchin and winds through lavender fields, farm-to-fork dinners, and Sunday roasts with all the trimmings. So, if you’re wondering how to spend a weekend in Hertfordshire or searching for the best restaurants to build a trip around, consider this your starting point.
Day 1 - morning
Brunch in the ballroom
Go glam or go home. And you just got here. Start your weekend in Hertfordshire in the grand surroundings of a former ballroom at Hermitage Rd., where you can settle down by the expansive windows and enjoy a brunch fit for royalty.
From buttermilk fried chicken on jalapeno French toast to bacon-topped Belgian waffles oozing with maple syrup, you’ll be spoilt for choice at this place. If you want to go seriously fancy, you can order in oysters and bubbles – or a flat iron steak topped with hash browns and fried eggs. If you fear a food coma, the coffee shop next door has your back.
Day 1 - lunch
A change of scene
Lunchtime, munchtime. Make your way to The Fox at Willian and treat yourself to a slap-up lunch in this award-winning pub. Take a seat in the plush dining room or, if the weather plays ball, head out to the beautifully landscaped terrace.
For something lighter, try small plates such as whipped ricotta with candied lemon or Herefordshire beef carpaccio. If you’ve worked up an appetite, sink your teeth into the Cromer crab and crayfish linguine – or the karaage chicken burger with black garlic and pickled vegetables.
Day 1 - early afternoon
Your rural retreat
As far as idyllic Hertfordshire pubs with rooms go, you can’t beat The Farmhouse at Redcoats for an overnight stay. This 15th-century farmhouse is brimming with quirky details and boasts a selection of boutique hotel bedrooms to suit every preference – whether you’re looking for charm, style or luxury. After check-in, you know the drill: flop down, freshen up and soak in the scenery.
Day 1 - dinner
From plot to plate
Dinner at the Farmhouse celebrates farm-to-fork dining at its finest. With an abundance of fruit and vegetables grown in the organic no-dig garden on the grounds, the menu follows the seasons here, while game comes from trusted local shoots.
You may snaffle up goodies like Godminster cheddar doughnuts, tomato gazpacho, or a juicy pork chop with radicchio. Consider it a staple on your foodie’s guide to Hertfordshire.
Day 2 - morning
Breakfast round two
Rise, shine and head downstairs. The Farmhouse breakfast comes loaded with all the classics, from a full English to eggs Florentine, Benedict or Royale.
Take your pick, pour the coffee and get Sunday off to a cracking start. There’s no need to rush this bit.
Day 2 - late morning
Purple reign
Beyond the Sunday food guide, there’s a real gem near Ickleford at Hitchin Lavender. When the flowers are in bloom, 35 acres of purple rows stretch across the farm, giving you the opportunity to take one of the most scenic (and photo-worthy) morning strolls of your life. Run by the same family for generations, it’s one of the prettiest stops to offset a dreamy weekend in Hertfordshire.
Day 2 - lunchtime
All the trimmings
We know what Sunday lunch means. The Cricketers in Weston does too. Take your pick from striploin of beef, lemon, thyme and honey-roasted chicken, succulent pork belly or a mixed vegetable Wellington, all arriving with Yorkshires, buttered greens and sautéed Chantenay carrots. Pigs in blankets are waiting on the sidelines if you want to go all in. If roast potatoes aren’t calling your name, the wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas might.
Afterwards, head back to the Farmhouse at Redcoats for one more deliciously slow evening in the countryside.
Day 3 - lunch
The closing course
Don’t hit the road just yet: there’s still time for one last stop on the Hertfordshire itinerary. Airy and plush, The Lytton Arms serves British pub favourites with a rather smart twist.
Locally sourced ingredients take centre stage across the menu, offering everything from burrata with blood orange and shaved fennel to pan-fried gilt-head bream in mustard and tarragon sauce. The journey home can wait.
