Essential Hotels > England > Hertfordshire > Letchworth

Letchworth Garden City, or simply Letchworth, was famously the first garden city to grace the world, and paved the way for a number to follow suit in subsequent years. It is situated in the northern part of Hertfordshire, around 35 miles to the north of capital city London, and was built at the beginning of the 20th century in response to the squalor that surrounded 19th century urban life in Britain. Garden cities began to spring up around the world, for example in nearby Welwyn and Australian capital Canberra, after the experiment in the Hertfordshire town.

The idea for garden cities was based on the thoughts of Ebenezer Howard in his book Tomorrow: A peaceful path to real reform. The proposal was based around the concept of zones, with industrial and residential sections separated and plenty of trees and open space dotted around the settlement where possible. Further, as part of the concept, Letchworth Garden City was the birthplace of greenbelt, designed to contain outward expansion. It was hoped therefore that the town would become self-sufficient in both food and agriculture as well as in gas, water and electricity. The town did reach its goal regarding gas, water and electricity; it was even able to export goods to surrounding areas. Construction work began on Letchworth in 1903 and people soon started to inhabit the land, with the Quakers purchasing the first parts for the purpose of farming and community building, although it was soon realised the soil was not conducive to the former of these. It was originally proposed that such towns would be suitable for in the region of 30,000 people; today 34,000 people populate Letchworth.

It is thought that Letchworth Garden City is home to the UK’s first roundabout, perhaps taking its inspiration from Paris. Now, the A1(M) conveniently runs past the town while a train station ensures trains can ferry people to and from the settlement. Then there is the Garden City Greenway which is a 13-mile walk that works its way around the outskirts of Letchworth.

There are a number of entertainment features around the town including the Broadway Cinema and the Plinston entertainment venue while other places to visit are the likes of Standalone Farm, Letchworth Golf Club, the Cloisters, the Broadway Gardens and Wilbury Hill Camp, an Iron Age hill fort that is found to the west.