Local Area

Experience the magic of the Harry Potter films with a behind-the-scenes tour of the Warner Bros. Studios at Leavesden where the Harry Potter movies were made, 15 minutes' drive from the hotel. You can view original sets including the Hogwarts Express train and the Hogwarts Great Hall with its grand wooden doors, before checking out costumes, props and animatronic creatures.

Pay a visit to the de Havilland Aircraft Museum, less than 10 minutes' drive from the hotel. You can wander between historic planes made by the de Havilland company, including the world's first jet airliner, the Comet. Take a peek at a rare prototype of the wooden-built Mosquito combat plane and chat to the museum's knowledgeable volunteers as they work on aircraft restorations.

For a spot of retail therapy head to Colney Fields Shopping Park, just steps away from the hotel. You can browse high-street fashion brands and department stores, before taking a break for a cup of coffee. For something more traditional, visit St. Albans Street Market stretching along St. Peter Street on Wednesdays and Saturdays, for stalls offering food, fashion and homeware products.

Travelling with kids? Print out a map and head out on the Old St. Albans Treasure Hunt Trail. The two-hour route starts at the Verulamium Museum and heads into St. Albans Old Town, taking in the city’s imposing Norman Cathedral and medieval Clock Tower along the way. Solve clues as you discover a host of quirky and interesting facts about the city's historic buildings.

• St Albans Cathedral
• De Havilland Aircraft Museum
• Willow Activity Farm
• St Albans South Signal Box
• Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - Harry Potter