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Hatfield House Review

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Hatfield House

Address: Hatfield
Directions: 6 mi east of St. Albans, off A1
Phone: 01707/287010
www.hatfield-house.co.uk

Category: Houses/Mansions
Location: St. Albans

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Fodor's Review:

Hatfield House, an outstanding brick mansion surrounded by formal gardens, stands as a testament to the magnificence of Jacobean architecture. Robert Cecil, earl of Salisbury, built Hatfield in 1611, and his descendants still live here. The interior, with its dark wood paneling, lush tapestries, and Tudor and Jacobean portraits, reveals much about the era. Perhaps the finest feature is the ornate Grand Staircase, with carved wooden figures on the banisters. Friday is Connoisseurs' Day; entrance is £10.50 and includes an extended tour and a view of additional gardens. The Elizabethan Banquet (01707/262055. www.theoldpalace.co.uk. £40. Tues., Fri., and Sat. 7:30 PM-11 PM) is a hearty five-course dinner accompanied by kitschy entertainment from King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I, minstrels, and jokers.

Cost: House, gardens, and park £8 (£10.50 on Fri.), gardens £5, park £3
Open: Easter-Sept., mansion daily noon-4, west gardens daily 11-5:30, east gardens Fri. 11-6; guided tours weekdays only

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