England’s first designated New Town in 1948, Stevenage has a well-designed town centre that puts most of the sights and activities within walking distance. With a large pedestrianised area, there are plenty of bars, pubs, cafés and restaurants to explore, as well as the popular Westgate Shopping Centre and Stevenage Leisure Park which is home to a cinema complex, bowling alley, crazy golf course, trampoline park and over a dozen bars and restaurants. The town centre is also where you’ll find the Gordon Craig Theatre and Concert Hall for your art and culture needs, while the 120-acre Fairlands Valley Park is an outdoor activity paradise, home to sailing, mountain biking, adventure playgrounds and more. And a short drive from one of our Stevenage hotels you’ll find historic country piles like Knebworth and Benington Lordship Gardens and the impressive Roman ruins of Welwyn Roman Baths.
Things to do in Stevenage
Shopping
With 35 retail outlets spanning everything from fashion and beauty to jewellery and homeware, Westgate Shopping Centre is the leading shopping mall in Stevenage. A large covered mall, Westgate is home to big-name stores like H&M and River Island and also boasts several cafés and restaurants. The centre is handily located in the centre of Stevenage near the train station and a short walk from our Stevenage Central hotel.
Alternatively, try the Roaring Meg Retail Park a mile south of the town centre. A modern out-of-town shopping park, Roaring Meg is open until 8pm most evenings and home to 21 stores, cafés and outlets including Argos, Currys, Debenhams and Smyths. There’s also a gym, a large soft play area and several cafés and restaurants, with hundreds of free on-site parking spaces.
Getting Around
The fifth-busiest UK airport with over 15 million passengers each year, Luton Airport is the closest international and domestic airport to Stevenage. The 20-mile journey takes around 25-minutes by car or bus, with a range of bus services running from Stevenage Bus Station that take around 45-minutes. The airport is serviced by a wide range of operators, including TUI, Ryanair and easyJet, with regular departures across the UK and Europe. Alternatively, simplify your journey even further and stay the night before you travel at one of our hotels near Luton Airport.
A little further away is Stansted Airport, with the 30-mile journey taking around 45-minutes by car or taxi and around 50-minutes via a direct National Express bus service from Stevenage Bus Station.
Located in the heart of the town centre and a short five-minute walk from our Stevenage Central hotel, Stevenage Train Station is a busy four-platform station with regular departures to Edinburgh, Newcastle, Cambridge, London and Leeds. The station has a café, shop and toilets, manned ticket station as well as a car park, bike racks and taxi rank outside the main entrance.
Shopping in Stevenage
