Discover Berkhamsted

A stay in Berkhamsted can revolve around several distinct themes: the castle, church architecture, early commercial history, the canal and the cinema. If you are looking for a hotel in Berkhamsted, you can consider which of these themes you want to shape your stay. The town’s history spans from a late-11th-century castle to a late-medieval shop; the canal’s history offers another perspective on the town’s former uses.

Berkhamsted Castle and the railway station

Berkhamsted Castle is next to the rear entrance of Berkhamsted railway station. This gives you a specific sense of the castle’s location in relation to the station. As station access arrangements can change, check the current situation before you arrive.

The castle was initially built in the late 11th century as a wooden motte-and-bailey castle. Richard, Earl of Cornwall, enlarged the west tower to create a luxurious palace complex. The building’s history therefore brings together the early wooden structure and a later, grander expansion. The entire site—not just the west tower—is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, as amended.

Church architecture at St Peter’s Church

St Peter’s Church is the oldest surviving building in Berkhamsted town centre. The original cruciform building dates from the early 13th century. The church is 168 feet (51.2 metres) long, measured from the east end to the west door. This specifies both the endpoints of the measurement, as well as the church’s age and layout. Those interested in architectural history can consider these features separately: the shape of the original building, when it was constructed and its stated length.

A shop dating from the late 13th century

The building at 173 High Street adds another type of building to the history of the castle and church: it was built as a shop in the late 13th century. Dendrochronological analysis—a dating method based on tree rings—dated two timbers in the building to between 1277 and 1297. This date range applies to those two timbers; the building’s history is placed in the late 13th century. As a guide to the town’s history, 173 High Street represents commercial use, while the church and castle tell different stories of construction and use.

Canal history and The Rex

Berkhamsted was once a busy inland port and a centre for boatbuilding. This historic role differs from the route the Grand Union Canal offers visitors today: the canal towpath is a short walk from the town centre. The port and boatbuilding describe Berkhamsted’s former importance; the towpath is a separate local feature to consider when planning a walk.

The Rex offers a different architectural perspective. This traditional cinema has just one auditorium and retains its original Art Deco setting. Its building type and style therefore differ from those of the medieval structures and the shop. If you want to shape your stay around architectural history and local character, Berkhamsted offers several different points of interest rather than just one historical theme.

Discover more destinations: Markyate, Benington, Tewin, Sawbridgeworth, Radlett, Tring, Harpenden, Broxbourne

For the broader travel overview: Hertfordshire.