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How do I find Hatfield?
=======================
Hatfield can be easily located, especially if you are hitching to it from
elsewhere in England. The first stage in locating Hatfield is to locate
either London, the A1 or the A1(M) [1], whichever is nearest.
From London
-----------
1) Catch a train from Kings Cross, and get off it at Hatfield station.
2) Travel around the M25 (either way, it doesn't really matter). Leave on
the A1(M) at South Mimms, and turn off the A1(M) at junction 3
(simple really).
3) Catch the 797 bus from Victoria coach station (don't try this on Sundays)
From the rest of the world
--------------------------
Go to England, head for London, and follow the above directions.
Where to stay in Hatfield
=========================
Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England, UK
-----------------------------------------
Yes, I know it's several hundred miles away, but having lived there for 10
years, I can vouch for it being superior in most respects to Hatfield.
Comet Hotel, Comet Way, Hatfield
--------------------------------
If you can afford a hotel, why not leave some of that excess money dragging
down your (insert appropriate item of clothing here) in the nearest Students
Union (SU) bar (you will already have seen the University of Hertfordshire
whilst turning off the A1(M)), where it will lead a much more enjoyable
(albeit brief) life.
NOTE: It is not the author's intention to slag off the above hotel, so could
you please direct all lawsuits towards other persons (e-mail me for a
list).
What to do in Hatfield
======================
1) Leave (as if you hadn't already guessed.)
2) ...<author thinks>.... St. Albans is nice this time of year, and it is
only 5 miles away.
What is in Hatfield?
====================
Shops (strange enough)
----------------------
First, there is the Galleria shopping centre, positioned directly above the
A1(M), and hence a source of major traffic snarlups until some enterprising
engineer tunneled underneath it. In the Galleria, you will find many shops
designed purely for looking around, but apart from these, the adventurous
shopper may find:
1) Tk Maxx, a quality discount clothing shop;
2) Our Price, a record shop which sells no records, and is far too
mainstream for any serious music lover.
3) Also several bars/cafes (as yet untried by this bold sage), and
the 9 screen UCI cinema.
If you are however intending to buy anything, don't panic, Hatfield town
centre is only a few hundred yards away, just head for the nearest tower
block, and is full of shops selling practical goods for the real shopper.
Hatfield Aerodrome
------------------
Currently used by British Aerospace and the University Of Hertfordshire.
Formerly home to De Havilland Aircraft, and under consideration as an
incinerator site (really), just up the road from the Galleria.
The University Of Hertfordshire (UH) -- Hatfield campus
-------------------------------------------------------
The Hatfield campus of UH is one of the two Hatfield campuses (shouldn't
that be campi?), the other one being the School of Art & Design at Hatfield
Aerodrome. The Hatfield campus is home (amongst other things) to the School
of Mechanical/Aeronautical Engineering, the School of Physioterrorism, and
the School of Advanced Beer Studies (known to non initiates as the Font and
Elephant House SU bars.)
Tourism
=======
Hatfield House, Old Hatfield (the bit near the station). No data available
to the author at present, however, it is well worth a visit as it is
positioned on one of the very few hills in Hatfield (a rarity indeed, as
even East Anglia has more hills.)
Pubs, clubs, etc.
=================
THE HARRIER, South Hatfield (next to the odd church).
I mention this only to advise all who follow to avoid it -- I've had
better nights out watching paint dry.
THE CAVENDISH ARMS, Bishops rise (do they indeed, nudge, wink, say n'more.)
Can get cramped at times, but well worth a visit.
Short beers list: Strongbow
Guinness
Moscow Mule
K's cider
and others.
THE FORUM club, Lemsford Rd, near the town centre (opposite ASDA car park).
The Forum does theme nights with a different theme each night of the week,
so make sure you visit it on the right night.
THE FONT. You need a valid SU card, or a friend with one, as this bar is
part of UH, and home of cheap beers. Here is a (very) short list:
Murphy's, 1.55 pounds/pint
Guinness, 1.70 pounds/pint
Gladstone, 1.30 pounds/pint a local bitter, brewed in nearby
Newcastle Brown, 1.60 pounds/bottle Hertford
Vodka & Coke, 1 pound each
THE ELEPHANT HOUSE (Ele House), also part of UH.
Beers similarly priced, but a low selection.
The Ele is a good place to have a quiet drink in the company of close
friends, or to have a game of pool, but otherwise cannot compete with the
Font (unless your idea of a good night out is to forget it through sheer
boredom, rather than through the use of alcohol and other guilt
enhancing/reducing drugs.)
Food
====
Avoid the local Fish & Chip shops, unless your digestion is unaffected by
the quality of your food (lucky you). Having said this, Appleby's in the
town centre is the best of a bad bunch.
If a sandwich is your idea of a good lunch, I can recommend from experience
that you visit the bakers opposite Motor World in the town centre, where
you can purchase a mean sandwich (they even build them with your
preferred filling).
When (not) to visit Hatfield
===============================
Avoid: 1) Last 2 weeks in September
2) Last 2 weeks in December
3) First week or 2 in January
4) Last week in March
5) Last week in April
These are the approximate dates of major student migrations between UH and
home, and are probably similar for all university towns. Apart from these
dates, the rest of the year is fairly safe.
Conclusion
==========
Mostly full of southerners, nutters, or any combination of both.
[1] Due to a slight quirk in the road numbering system, the A1(M) is the
same as the A1