# Hoddesdon Staycation Guide — Where to Stay & What to Do > Discover Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire: Tudor Rye House Gatehouse, Lee Valley walks, Paradise Wildlife Park and market town charm on the River Lea. Source: https://staycation.co.uk/hoddesdon (Staycation.co.uk). Cite the source page, not this text version. Market town charm on the edge of the Lee Valley Photo © Anna WM, Google Maps [Guide](https://staycation.co.uk/hoddesdon) [🏨 Hotels](https://staycation.co.uk/hoddesdon/hotels) [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/hoddesdon/cottages) [⛺ Camping](https://staycation.co.uk/hoddesdon/camping) [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/hoddesdon/attractions) [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/hoddesdon/restaurants) Hoddesdon sits in the Lee Valley on the eastern edge of Hertfordshire, a compact market town that has been trading since Saxon times and still holds its street market on Wednesdays and Fridays. Its long High Street, lined with independent shops, cafes and old coaching inns, traces the route of the old Great North Road, along which more than thirty coaches a day once rattled through at the town's 18th-century peak. Look closely and the layers of history show through: the timber-framed and Georgian frontages, the red-brick Rawdon House built in 1622 by Sir Marmaduke Rawdon, and the clock tower that has marked the centre of town since the 1830s. What makes Hoddesdon a genuinely good base for a short break, though, is what surrounds it. The town backs onto the River Lea and the Lee Valley Regional Park, a long ribbon of gravel-pit lakes, marina moorings and towpath walks that stretches for miles either side of the river. Broxbourne and the wider Lea Valley give easy access to fishing, cycling and watersports, while the countryside around Hoddesdon still has genuine rural pockets, in contrast to its proximity to London some 20 miles to the south. ## Getting to Hoddesdon Hoddesdon lies just off the A10, roughly midway between the M25 (junction 25) and Hertford, making it an easy drive from north and east London as well as from Cambridge and the wider East of England. By rail, Broxbourne station, on the West Anglia Main Line from London Liverpool Street to Cambridge and Stansted Airport, is the nearest mainline stop and around 15 minutes from Hoddesdon town centre by bus or taxi. Rye House station, on the same line, sits closer to the Lee Valley attractions and Rye House Gatehouse itself. London Stansted Airport is around 25 miles north-east, making the area a realistic option for visitors flying in as well as those driving up from the capital. ## Best time to visit Hoddesdon Spring and summer suit Hoddesdon best, when the Lee Valley's towpaths, lakes and nature reserves are at their busiest and most rewarding, and Dobbs Weir and the river moorings come alive with boats and walkers. The Wednesday and Friday market and the High Street's cafes and pubs are pleasant year-round, and autumn brings good birdwatching at Amwell Nature Reserve as winter migrants arrive. Paradise Wildlife Park runs seasonal events throughout the year, including a Christmas light trail, which makes a winter visit worthwhile too. ## Where to stay in Hoddesdon(1) [All hotels in Hoddesdon →](https://staycation.co.uk/hoddesdon/hotels) About staying in Hoddesdon Hoddesdon's hotel options are modest in number but practical, reflecting its role as a market town rather than a tourist resort. A Travelodge sits within easy reach of the town centre and the A10, making it a sensible, no-frills option for an overnight stop, and there are independent guesthouses and bed and breakfasts scattered through the town and surrounding villages for those who prefer something smaller and more personal. Anyone travelling for business along the A10 or M25 corridor, or simply passing through the Lee Valley, will find Hoddesdon's hotels straightforward and well placed for an early start the next morning. For a bit more character, the villages around Hoddesdon and the wider Lee Valley have country inns and coaching houses that make the most of the area's long history as a stopping point on the old road north from London. These tend to suit couples or small groups wanting a quieter base within a short drive of Rye House Gatehouse, Paradise Wildlife Park and the river towpaths, while still being close enough to Hoddesdon's own High Street for an evening meal. Given the town's proximity to London, some visitors also treat Hoddesdon as a cheaper, calmer alternative to staying in the capital, using the rail links from Broxbourne or Rye House to combine a Hertfordshire stay with a day trip into the city. [Kingsway Bed & Breakfast 19 High Road, Broxbourne](https://staycation.co.uk/broxbourne/hotels/kingsway-bed-breakfast) [Woodland Lodge Goose Green, Hoddesdon](https://staycation.co.uk/hoddesdon/hotels/woodland-lodge) [Roydon Marina Village Hotel Roydon Mill Estate, Roydon](https://staycation.co.uk/roydon/hotels/roydon-marina-village-hotel) [Premier Inn Ware Marsh Lane, Ware](https://staycation.co.uk/ware/hotels/premier-inn-ware) [Dog and Whistle Pub 112 Fore Street, Hertford](https://staycation.co.uk/hertford/hotels/dog-and-whistle-pub) [Salisbury Arms Hotel Fore Street, Hertford](https://staycation.co.uk/hertford/hotels/salisbury-arms-hotel) [The Rifle Volunteer 21 Collett Road, Ware](https://staycation.co.uk/ware/hotels/the-rifle-volunteer) [Fanhams Hall Exclusive Collection Fanham Hall - An Exclusive Venue, Ware](https://staycation.co.uk/ware/hotels/fanhams-hall-exclusive-collection) ## Things to Do in Hoddesdon(4) [All attractions in Hoddesdon →](https://staycation.co.uk/hoddesdon/attractions) Top things to do in Hoddesdon Hoddesdon's appeal is a mix of quiet history and family-friendly days out, most of them within a short walk or drive of the town centre. - **Rye House Gatehouse** — A Grade I listed brick gatehouse dating from 1443, one of the earliest brick buildings in England. Built by Sir Andrew Ogard, it was later the childhood home of Catherine Parr and, in 1683, the scene of the notorious Rye House Plot to assassinate Charles II. The gatehouse's barley-twist chimney and underground chambers are open to visitors on selected weekends and bank holidays. - **Lee Valley Regional Park** — Twenty-six miles of parkland following the River Lea from Ware down towards the Thames. The stretch nearest Hoddesdon offers towpath walking and cycling, fishing lakes, watersports centres and nature reserves, all easily reached from Dobbs Weir and Rye House. - **River Lea and Dobbs Weir** — A pretty riverside spot with moorings, a waterside pub and access onto the Lee Navigation towpath, popular with walkers, anglers and canal boat crews making their way along the river. - **Paradise Wildlife Park** — A well-regarded zoo just outside Hoddesdon in neighbouring Broxbourne, home to big cats, primates and a dinosaur-themed adventure trail, and a firm favourite for family days out in the area. - **Amwell Nature Reserve** — A short drive away near Great Amwell, this Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust reserve of former gravel pits attracts more than 170 recorded bird species across its lakes and reedbeds, with a bird hide open to visitors. - **Lowewood Museum** — A small local museum on the High Street covering the history of Hoddesdon and the wider Borough of Broxbourne, with changing exhibitions on local industry and social history. - **Rawdon House and the High Street** — Worth a slow wander for its 17th-century red-brick mansion, coaching inns and the Hoddesdon clock tower, a legacy of the town's centuries as a stopping point on the road north from London. [Rye House Kart Raceway ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/hoddesdon/attractions/rye-house-kart-raceway) [Rye-assic Adventure Park ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/hoddesdon/attractions/rye-assic-adventure-park) [Rye House Gatehouse ⭐ 4.2](https://staycation.co.uk/hoddesdon/attractions/rye-house-gatehouse) [Rye House Laser Combat ⭐ 3.8](https://staycation.co.uk/hoddesdon/attractions/rye-house-laser-combat) ## Where to Eat in Hoddesdon(5) [All restaurants in Hoddesdon →](https://staycation.co.uk/hoddesdon/restaurants) Food and drink in Hoddesdon Hoddesdon's High Street has a good spread of independent places to eat. Marconato brings Italian cooking to the town centre, Spark Bar and Kitchen serves Turkish food into the evening most nights of the week, and The Smokeshed offers American-style barbecue. For a classic pub stop, The Sun on the High Street has been a McMullen's house since 1886, rebuilt after a fire in the 1970s and now known locally for its chicken and grill menu. Down by the river, Dobbs Weir's waterside pub is a favourite for a drink after a towpath walk, and the wider Lee Valley has plenty of further options for those exploring by bike or boat. [Smokeshed ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/hoddesdon/restaurants/smokeshed) [Cortland Fibron BX ⭐ 3.4](https://staycation.co.uk/hoddesdon/restaurants/cortland-fibron-bx) [Compass](https://staycation.co.uk/hoddesdon/restaurants/compass) [Soul Seed](https://staycation.co.uk/hoddesdon/restaurants/soul-seed) ## Attractions Near Hoddesdon [All attractions in Hoddesdon →](https://staycation.co.uk/attractions) Worth the trip — within 50 miles of Hoddesdon. [1 mi Lee Valley Boat Centre Broxbourne · ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/broxbourne/attractions/lee-valley-boat-centre) [2 mi Hertfordshire Zoo (Previously Paradise Wildlife Park) Broxbourne · ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/broxbourne/attractions/hertfordshire-zoo-previously-paradise-wildlife-park) [2 mi East Herts Miniature Railway Ware · ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/ware/attractions/east-herts-miniature-railway) [3 mi Celtic Harmony Hertford · ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/hertford/attractions/celtic-harmony) [3 mi Foxholes Farm Hertford · ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/hertford/attractions/foxholes-farm) [3 mi Jump City UK Cheshunt · ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/cheshunt/attractions/jump-city-uk) [3 mi River Lee Country Park Cheshunt · ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/cheshunt/attractions/river-lee-country-park) [3 mi Scott's Grotto Ware · ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/ware/attractions/scott-s-grotto) ## Camping in Hoddesdon [All campsites in Hoddesdon →](https://staycation.co.uk/hoddesdon/camping) About camping in Hoddesdon Camping around Hoddesdon means the Lee Valley, and specifically the stretch of river and parkland just outside town at Dobbs Weir and Rye House. This is gentle, flat river-valley terrain rather than wild countryside, so pitches tend to be well-drained grass or hardstanding rather than rugged or remote, and sites are set up with families and touring caravans in mind as much as tents. Lee Valley Caravan Park at Dobbs Weir is the obvious base, sitting right on the River Lea with direct access to the regional park's towpaths, fishing lakes and cycle routes, and within easy reach of Rye House Gatehouse and Paradise Wildlife Park for day trips. As with anywhere in England, wild camping without the landowner's permission is against the law, so pitching up informally along the riverbank or in the wider Lee Valley parkland is not an option; stick to licensed sites, which in this area are well established and geared up for exactly this kind of short countryside break. Glamping options in the wider Lee Valley and Hertfordshire area have grown in recent years too, with pods, safari tents and static options offering a more comfortable alternative for those who want the setting without the tent-pitching. Late spring through to early autumn is the best window for camping here, when the river paths are at their busiest and driest and the regional park's watersports centres and lakes are in full use; the flat, low-lying ground either side of the Lea can get waterlogged after heavy winter rain, which makes it a fair-weather rather than year-round camping destination. Given how close Hoddesdon sits to the M25 and the A10, it also works well as a one or two-night stop for those touring further into Hertfordshire, Essex or Cambridgeshire, rather than only as a long-stay base. [Lee Valley Caravan Park, Dobbs Weir ⭐ 4.2 · from £25/night](https://staycation.co.uk/st-albans/camping/lee-valley-caravan-park-dobbs-weir) [Lee Valley Almost Wild Campsite ⭐ 4.5 · from £34/night](https://staycation.co.uk/broxbourne/camping/lee-valley-almost-wild-campsite) [✨Glamping Dalmonds Camping ⭐ 4.9 · from £375/night](https://staycation.co.uk/hertford/camping/dalmonds-camping) [Roydon Marina Village ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/essex/camping/roydon-marina-village) [Hertford Camping and Caravanning Club Site ⭐ 4.5 · from £24/night](https://staycation.co.uk/st-albans/camping/hertford-camping-and-caravanning-club-site) [Three Lakes Glamping ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/ware/camping/three-lakes-glamping) [Theobalds Park ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/goffs-oak/camping/theobalds-park) [Toad Abode ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/widford/camping/toad-abode) ## Self-Catering Cottages in Hoddesdon [All cottages in Hoddesdon →](https://staycation.co.uk/hoddesdon/cottages) [🏡Cottage Cutters Cottage 4 bed · sleeps 6 · from £1,092](https://staycation.co.uk/epping-forest/cottages/cutters-cottage-uk44481) [🏡Cottage The Herdwick Safari Tent 1 bed · sleeps 6 · from £2,222](https://staycation.co.uk/east-hertfordshire/cottages/the-herdwick-safari-tent-ukc7349) [🏡Cottage The Chicken Coop 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £2,174](https://staycation.co.uk/east-hertfordshire/cottages/the-chicken-coop-ukc7160) [🏡Cottage The Highland Camping Pod 2 bed · sleeps 6 · from £2,174](https://staycation.co.uk/east-hertfordshire/cottages/the-highland-camping-pod-ukc7271) [🏡Cottage Oak Cottage 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £691](https://staycation.co.uk/east-hertfordshire/cottages/oak-cottage-uk46183) [🏡Cottage The Gamekeeper - The Gamekeepers Cottage 3 bed · sleeps 8](https://staycation.co.uk/welwyn-hatfield/cottages/the-gamekeeper-the-gamekeepers-cottage-uk33651) [🏡Cottage The Gamekeepers Lodge 1 bed · sleeps 6](https://staycation.co.uk/welwyn-hatfield/cottages/the-gamekeepers-lodge-uk33650) [🏡Cottage Shepherd’s Retreat 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £317](https://staycation.co.uk/epping-forest/cottages/shepherd-s-retreat-uk47743) ## Common questions about Hoddesdon Where can I stay in Hoddesdon? We list 1 hotels, B&Bs and guest houses in and around Hoddesdon. What is there to do in Hoddesdon? We list 4 attractions and things to do in and around Hoddesdon. Where can I eat in Hoddesdon? We list 5 restaurants, pubs and cafes in and around Hoddesdon. ### 🏨 Find Hotels in Hoddesdon Search hotels, B&Bs and self-catering on Booking.com. [Search Accommodation →](https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-101762279-15734754?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fsearchresults.en-gb.html%3Fss%3DHoddesdon%252C%2BUnited%2BKingdom) Affiliate link ### Explore Hoddesdon - [🏨 Hotels & B&Bs](https://staycation.co.uk/hoddesdon/hotels) - [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/hoddesdon/cottages) - [⛺ Campsites & glamping](https://staycation.co.uk/hoddesdon/camping) - [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/hoddesdon/attractions) - [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/hoddesdon/restaurants) - [🗺️ More in Hertfordshire](https://staycation.co.uk/hertfordshire) - [🧭 All of the East of England](https://staycation.co.uk/regions/east-of-england) ## Staycation ideas for Hoddesdon [All staycation ideas →](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas) [The Best Last-Minute UK Staycations Six well-connected UK towns and cities worth booking at short notice, chosen for easy travel and a decent spread of accommodation once the school-holiday crowds have thinned.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-last-minute-staycations) [Rainy Day Staycations: Best UK Breaks for Bad Weather When the forecast turns grim, these UK cities and spa towns keep their appeal indoors, with museums, galleries and grand architecture to fill a wet weekend.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/rainy-day-staycations-uk) [The Best Dog-Friendly Staycations in Britain From Cornish coast paths to Lake District fells, these six British destinations offer the open beaches, moors and forests that make a staycation genuinely enjoyable for dogs and their owners alike.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/dog-friendly-staycations) [The Best UK Staycations for Families with Young Kids From New Forest ponies to Cornish rock pools, these six UK destinations combine easy logistics, safe beaches and family-friendly attractions for a stress-free break with young children.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-staycations-for-families)