Rothamsted Park is Harpenden’s main public park, covering almost 50 acres just a few minutes’ walk from the High Street and the railway station. Its tree-lined avenue, sports facilities and play areas make it the town’s go-to green space for families, dog walkers and sports clubs alike.
History
The park was once part of the Rothamsted estate owned by Sir John Bennet Lawes, whose agricultural experiments from 1843 led to the founding of Rothamsted Research next door. Lawes laid out the formal entrance on Leyton Road and planted the lime tree avenues that still run through the park. Harpenden Urban District Council acquired the parkland in 1938 to protect it as open space, and it is now managed by Harpenden Town Council.
What’s in the park
- A children’s playground and a skate park
- Football and cricket pitches, tennis and padel courts, and a multi-use games area
- The Lime Tree Avenue footpath, nature trails, a rose garden and plenty of benches
- The Eric Morecambe Centre theatre and Harpenden Leisure Centre
- Harpenden Museum, run by the local history society, inside the Eric Morecambe Centre
Getting there and parking
The main entrance is on Leyton Road, with another entrance at Orchard Avenue to the north. The park is about a five-minute walk from Harpenden station. Parking is available at the Harpenden Leisure Centre car park, the Baa Lambs car park opposite the Silver Cup on the Common, a small car park at the Orchard Avenue entrance and bays on Leyton Road.
The park also hosts some of Harpenden’s biggest events, including the Highland Gathering each July.
