Hatfield House Museum

Address: Hatfield House, Hatfield Park, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 5HX, United Kingdom

Website: https://www.hatfield-house.co.uk/

Hours: Hours vary seasonally; check website before visiting

Admission: Adult admission (house & gardens) - varies by season (see website)

Hatfield House is a Jacobean country house in Hertfordshire, England, completed in 1611 as the seat of the Cecil family. It stands alongside an older royal palace on the same estate and remains the family home of the Marquess of Salisbury.

Built by Robert Cecil on the site of an earlier royal palace, the house was constructed in the early 17th century and has stayed in the Cecil family since. The older palace on the estate is historically significant for its association with Elizabeth I, who spent part of her childhood there.

The estate lies near the town of Hatfield in Hertfordshire, north of London, and is reachable by road and rail from the capital.

• Date and ownership: Completed in 1611 by Robert Cecil, the house has remained the family seat of the Cecils (Marquesses of Salisbury) for centuries and is open to the public on set days.
• Historic associations and use: The estate includes an older royal palace where Elizabeth I lived as a child; the house and grounds are used for tours, events and film locations.

What to See#

• Jacobean main house: The early 17th-century Jacobean country house built on the present estate, constructed to serve as a family seat and showpiece residence for the Cecil family.
• Old Palace and grounds: The adjacent Old Palace, a medieval royal residence on the estate where Elizabeth I spent part of her childhood, preserved alongside formal gardens and parkland.
• Gardens and parkland: Formal gardens and surrounding parkland that are maintained and open to visitors, forming part of the public tour route around the estate.

Hatfield House (Hatfield, Hertfordshire) is about 20 miles (≈32 km) north of central London. By rail, take Great Northern services from London King’s Cross/St Pancras to Hatfield station (journey ~20-25 minutes); from Hatfield station the house is a short taxi ride (around 5-10 minutes) or a longer walk/cycle depending on exact route. By car follow the A1(M) north from London and take the local exits for Hatfield; there is visitor parking at the estate.

• Buy tickets or check opening hours in advance for house tours and special-room access, and arrive when the house first opens to avoid peak tour groups that build up by midday.
• Allow time to see both the Jacobean house and the Old Palace/ruins where Elizabeth I lived - the separate historic areas and the deer park are often missed when visitors limit themselves to the house interior.
• If you're using public transport, get off at Hatfield station and take a short taxi or the estate shuttle (when running); the walk from the station is longer than many expect, especially with luggage or on event days.