Located on the edges of Greater London, Watford is a fantastic place to stay while visiting the city, with heaps of attractions and things to do in Watford just on your doorstep for both those living in the area and those staying in the town.
With numerous family-friendly activities, heritage sites, parks, and things to do with a group of mates (or even a date), you can almost certainly find plenty to fill an empty weekend or as some entertainment after a day of sightseeing.
(This page has been updated for 2024, all entries are correct at the time of publishing, however, I can’t promise that they will be open at the time visit. Please visit check with the activities and attractions before visiting.)
Skip to the best things to do for you:
The top attractions and places to visit in Watford
More things to do in Watford Town Centre
Outdoor parks and places to visit around Watford
The top attractions and things to do in Watford
Harry Potter Studio Tour – Warner Bros. Studios
One of the leading attractions in Watford, the Harry Potter Studio Tour gives visitors an incredible opportunity to learn about and experience the wizarding world of Harry Potter. Featuring props from the movies, plus interactives, you get to see how the likes of Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, and even Private Drive were brought to life.
Access to Warner Bros. Studios is pretty straightforward, with ample parking close to the entrance or a regular bus that leaves from Watford Junction. Alternatively, you can join an organised tour that will take you straight to the studios.
Watford FC – Vicarage Road Stadium
Given their recent results (at the time of writing) some might scoff at the thought of visiting Vicarage Road or watching Watford FC. However, the local football club attracts thousands of visitors each year, and playing in the most competitive league in the world (the Championship), there is a good chance you could experience a thriller of a game.
The stadium is located just a 20-30 minute walk from the town centre (accounting for some people traffic) – check out my stand-alone post on how to get to Vicarage Road Stadium.
TopGolf
What do you get when you mix a driving range with a darts board(s)…well…TopGolf. Test your golfing ability or just have a laugh with some mates (or a date), by buying a bucket of (20) balls and trying to get the highest score.
Each bay at TopGolf provides you with a selection of clubs to use, and the scoring system adds a fun way to spend an hour or two and test your skills.
(I’m dreadful at golf but that’s not to say I don’t have a laugh and loads of fun while there.)
Cassiobury Park
Rated as one of the UK’s best parks and green spaces, Cassiobury Park offers heaps of outdoor activities and fun for all the family. From the outdoor spaces that offer sun worshipers some space to sun bathe, to outdoor paddling pools, play areas, and even a miniature railway, Cassiobury Park is lovely for a stroll on a sunny day or as a way of tiring out the kids.
Along with the outdoor activities, Cassiobury Park also plays host to numerous events, including: fireworks night, art exhibitions, fairgrounds, and community sports.
PuttShack, Atria Watford
You might have heard of PuttShack – as they have a few dotted about the UK – but if you’re new to PuttShack I can best describe it as mini-golf with prizes! The basic principles are the same as any other mini-golf, get your ball in the hole in the fewest putts, however, at PuttShack you get more points the fewer times you putt the ball.
With a bar on-site and a good mixture of fun and competitive, PuttShack makes for a great date night activity in Watford, and a place to meet up with friends.
(Like TopGolf, I’m laughably bad. But, I still have fun every time I go.)
The Palace Theatre, Watford
From dramas to top-tier standup, and pantomimes, the Watford Palace Theatre hosts performances throughout the year. Dating back to 1908, the Palace Theatre offers a very traditional setting for performances, with three tiers of seats and balconies on the wings.
Personally, I’ve seen the likes of Jimmy Carr, Russell Howard, and Andy Parsons perform at the Watford Palace Theatre. In 2024, the likes of Rob Beckett, Russell Kane, and whole host of other performances are set to be hosted at the theatre.
The Watford Museum
Learn all about the town and how it has developed through the centuries. Exhibitions and collections include those related to the Cassiobury Estate, Watford Football Club, and local heritage sites.
In addition, the Watford Museum also houses an archive collection of prints, photographs, and diaries related to people who have called Watford home, local government, nobility, and businesses.
The Pump House Theatre & Arts Centre
A community-focused theatre and arts venue, The Pump House Theatre & Arts Centre hosts many local dance, music, theatre, display, and arts productions; including the local Comedy Carnival and Fringe Festival.
Featuring a 124-seater auditorium, the Pump House is a fantastic destination to see local talent develop their skills and craft, as well as enjoy a quaint and cozy environment for performances.
Boom Battle Bar
Offering half a dozen activities – from shuffleboard to axe throwing – the Boom Battle Bar in the middle of Watford’s town centre is one of the most exhilarating activities to do with friends or as an activity date night idea.
Along with all the activities (listed below because it’s an insane list), the Boom Battle Bar also has a bar (obvious I know but still worth mentioning), offering a good range of drinks and food.
Boom Battle Bar activities: Axe Throwing, Crazier Nolf, Augmented Reality Darts, Beer / Prosecco Pong, Shuffleboard
Roll the dice at d20 Board Game Cafe
For board game lovers or those looking for an alternative evening out idea in Watford, the d20 Board Game Cafe offers you the opportunity to choose from over 900 games, all while enjoying a good coffee or something much stronger.
While on my travels, I’ve found board games are a fantastic way of getting to know people or spending time with friends and family.
Check out my posts on the best coffee shops in Watford for more coffee fixes!
More things to do in Watford
Arrowsmiths, O’Neils Watford
A still fairly new attraction to Watford, Arrowsmiths is darts but without the need for having to do quick maths…like that other brand of darts bars in London…flight…
Unlike the uber-expensive option you can find in London, Arrowsmiths is a fairly competitively priced activity, with the O’Neils bar offering great deals and the perfect location for those looking for something to do after visiting the city or on the way home with colleagues.
Go Bowling
A simply wonderful evening activity with friends and/or family, Watford has a couple of bowling venues to choose from…oddly both owned by Hollywood Bowl. The closest to the town centre is the one in the Atria centre, while the other is located in the Woodside Leisure complex.
If you’ve never bowled before, it’s a great activity for a rainy day or evening out.
Rock Up
An excellent introduction to rock climbing, Rock Up, in Atria Watford, features 26 climbing walls that range in difficulty and challenge. I have to admit, heights aren’t massively my thing, so I’ve only been the once.
That said, I had a great time and found the staff and equipment extremely reassuring and helpful…even if my friend did get roasted by an 8-year-old when they froze on the wall. (Sorry J, I had to mention it!)
Visit the Cassiobury Farm And Fishery
Tucked away behind Cassiobury Park and close to the Hertfordshire countryside and waterways, the Cassiobury Farm And Fishery only opens on certain days throughout the year – the most popular being public holidays and during school breaks.
What makes Cassiobury Farm And Fishery special is the types of animals you can visit, with the conservation centre home to several rare breeds and exotic animals such as Rhea, Reindeer, and Capybaras!!
Wander Around Langleybury Farm
Technically Langleybury is just outside of Watford but given it’s an institution for those who grew up in the town, I’ve added it in the “more things to do” section. Set on the grounds of Langleybury Georgian manor house, Langleybury Farm is home to an array of farm animals.
Visitors are given the opportunity to learn about, meet, and pet many of the animals on show, helping kids to learn a bit more about the animals that call the UK home.
Become a Ninja Warrior
You might recognise the name from the hit ITV program – or by another name in your country – but now is your chance to take on the course! Fun for both adults and kids, Ninja Warrior, Watford, tests your agility and skill to dodge obstacles, keep your balance, and complete the course.
While the majority of the day is open to kids and adults, every Thursday from 7 – 8pm is only open to those over 18.
Visit the cinema
Perfect for a rainy day in Watford, going to the cinema and catching up on the latest film releases is a wonderful activity or date night idea. Within Watford’s Atria Centre, you’ll find the newest of the two cinemas in the town – Cineworld, Watford – which includes an IMAX and SCREEN X options for some of the biggest releases.
Outside of the main town, in the Woodside leisure complex, you’ll find VUE, Watford. Offering more screens and larger seating plans, VUE shows all the latest releases.
Beat the Escape Rooms
If you’re looking for a fun “team building” activity or a way to test your relationships with those in your life, Watford has two escape room setups on offer. While Escape Hunt is located within the Atria Watford shopping centre, the Enigma Rooms are located a little down the high street.
Both offer a rotation of games and quests, with themes including pirates, the Wild West, and ancient Egypt.
TeamSport Indoor Karting, Watford
Competitive and heaps of fun, TeamSport Indoor Karting, is a super adrenaline rush and opportunity for bragging rights. Put the pedal to the metal and show off your inner Max Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton, as you race around a 500-metre multi-level track.
Throughout the year the track hosts various events, so it’s always worth checking and booking ahead before you go down. For larger groups, it’s recommended that you book ahead.
Activities close to Watford
The Snow Centre, Hemel Hempstead
A fantastic introduction to skiing, or as a way of brushing up on your skiing abilities before the season starts, the Snow Centre, Hemel Hempstead, offers you the chance to take part in a lesson and build up your confidence, or do a few runs on your own.
Personally, I’m shocking at skiing…like seriously bad…but even I found the experiences super fun and with the instructor’s help did start to get a hang of the whole french fry-pizza thing.
Go paintballing
While Watford doesn’t technically have a paintballing centre in its vicinity, there are a couple of options pretty close by. The one I’ve been to most, based close to Hemel Hempstead, on Bovingdon airfield, is Delta Force Paintball.
With 8 game zones including a Black Hawk Down mission, the Delta Force Paintball centre is a super fun day out. However, if you’re looking for a slightly easier destination, you can always try UK Paintball, in Bricket Wood.
Like Delta Force, UK Paintball Centre offers a range of game types to test your skills and nerves, from storming Hill Billy village to protecting your missile on the Launch Pad field, there’s plenty of variation in the missions you’re given by the marshals.
Lost Jungle, London, Edgware
An excellent day out during the summer – or when the weather is decent – the Lost Jungle, Edgware, is actually Europe’s largest adventure golf course by size. Offering two 18-hole courses – plus a 9-hole foot-golf course.
Overall, the courses are designed with kids in mind, but they’re still extremely fun and suitable for adults looking for something to do with friends, family, and partners.
Dinosaur Safari, Barnet
Mini-golf, and dinosaurs! What more could you want?! Dinosaur Safari, Barnet, is mini golf like no other. Take on the course while being watched by a T-Rex, Raptors, and a Brontosaurus (plus other dinos!).
In total, the course offers 18 dinosaur-themed holes and challenges, making it a super fun location to play mini-golf…especially if you, your partner, mates, or family love Jurassic Park/dinosaurs in general.
The XC, Hemel Hempstead
Primarily I’ve known and experienced The XC, Hemel Hempstead, as a rocking climbing venue, however, XC is a lot more than just that. In addition to rocking climbing, visitors can enjoy bouldering, caving, skating, high ropes, and even yoga.
From my climbing experience, the XC has some insanely fun (and challenging) routes and walls to try.
Bhaktivedanta Manor
Tucked between Radlett and Elstree, only about 10-15 minutes from Watford, Bhaktivedanta Manor is a pillar of the Hare Krishna community. Donated to the community by George Harrison (of the Beatles), the manor is a hub for learning about Hare Krishna.
Hosting regular festivals and events, as well as free tours of the manor and grounds, a visit to the Bhaktivedanta Manor is a different and educational thing to do near Watford.
Outdoor parks and places to visit around Watford
Leavesden Park
Originally the grounds belonging to the Leavesden Asylum and St. Pancras Orphanage, Leavesden Park spans 70 acres, with a number of play areas, football pitches and more than 20 acres of woodland area, plus easy access to the nearby countryside routes taking you towards Kings Langley and St Albans.
Rickmansworth Aquadrome
Part of the many great parks in and around Watford, Rickmansworth Aquadrome has developed on what was once a gravel quarry, until it was flooded soon after 1920.
A hub of water sports (such as water-skiing, canoeing and sailing), Rickmansworth Aquadrome also features some beautiful scenery and walks through the ‘parks’ nature reserve and other parklands.
Cheslyn Gardens
Tucked away in the residential area of Nascott Wood, Cheslyn Gardens is home to an array of exotic and local plants, which are maintained and looked after year-round.
If you’re into plant photography or admiring different species of plants, Cheslyn Gardens are a thoroughly delightful escape and deviation from the larger parks in Watford.
Featuring a pond, fernery, and an avery, amongst the (of course) large collection of plants, Cheslyn Gardens is extremely chilled. Perfect for a little wander in the summer.
Bushey Rose Garden
Set close to the Bushey Country Club, the Bushey Rose Garden is home to 40 varieties of roses, and over 4,000 plants in total.
A break from the hustle of the high street nearby, the rose garden is a quiet haven of nature, perfect for a short walk when in the Bushey area or to relax on a warm day.
Aldenham Country Park
Featuring a reservoir, adventure play area, nature trails and a petting zoo, Aldenham Country Park is a great day out near Watford. Aiming to educate and entertain, the park has plenty to offer for adults and children alike.
For kids, the petting farm and adventure playground are great fun. While for adults, the 100 Aker wood, nature trails and relaxed corners are great for a quiet moment.
Oxhey Activity Park
One of the main draws of the Oxhey Activity Park is the skatepark, however, it’s no one-trick pony. In addition to the skatepark, the activity park is also home to a large outdoor play area, table tennis courts, and, one of the latest independent coffee shops in Watford, The Tasty Bean.
Whilst it might not be one of the biggest parks or outdoor spaces in Watford, the Oxhey Activity Park certainly packs in plenty. Making it perfect for a weekend visit or during the summer months as a way to entertain the kids outdoors in Watford.
How to get to Watford
Located close to the border of Greater London, Watford, is pretty easy to access from most places in the UK and London airports – namely Heathrow and Luton, while Stanstead and Gatwick are still fairly accessible.
Close to both the M25 and M1, and connected to Euston and Birmingham via the West Coast Main Line, it’s unbelievably easy to get around from Watford.
How to get to Watford by train
One of the easiest ways of getting to Watford is by train, the West Coast Main Line makes it super easy to reach the Hertfordshire town by train, with regular services stopping off at Watford Junction as they travel between Euston and Birmingham.
If you’re heading up from the south, Watford is still very accessible, with trains running between Clapham Junction and Watford Junction, as well as the “Lioness” Overground Line. You can even catch the Metropolitan Line to reach Watford, with regular services heading in and out of central London.
The cheapest way to get from London and Watford is, without doubt, the Metropolitan Line. Costing nearly half the price you’ll pay on the main line, you can use your Oyster or contactless card to get into London for less than £5 each way!
Visiting Watford by car
Close to both the M25 and M1, plus the A41 and A405, Watford is easy to get to via car from pretty much any direction. However, the town can get gridlocked at the drop of a hat, the main ring road that surrounds the town centre and the arterial roads being the main problem areas.
That said, the centre of the Hertfordshire town does have quite a lot of parking, most of which is attached to the Atria Shopping Centre and costs roughly £1 per hour.
Visiting Watford By Bus
Watford’s buses are a bit more on the confusing side, there’s plenty but they are rarely on time. The main operator in the Watford area is Arriva, with about 9 routes running from the town to other nearby cities, towns and villages.
Prices aren’t too expensive, however, the timetable is quite limited later into the evenings. Still, as outer-city public transport goes the buses to and from Watford aren’t terrible.
Where to stay in Watford
Hotels in Watford range from the cheap and cheerful to extreme opulence and elegance. Home to budget options like Premier Inn and Holiday Inn Express, and luxury options such as The Grove (even though they won’t admit they’re in Watford).
The best rated of the hotels in Watford are the Leonardo Hotel and (kind of obviously) The Grove. Prices for the Leonardo Hotel average at about £80 per night, while The Grove is closer to £450!
Note: If you book a stay at The Grove via my Booking.com link I’ll love you forever.
If you’re after something cheaper, the Best Western and Travelodge options towards Market Street (about a 15 minute walk from Watford Junction) cost around £50 per night.
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