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town in Hertfordshire, England
Europe > Britain and Ireland > United Kingdom > England > East of England > Hertfordshire > Ware

Ware is a town in Hertfordshire. The site has been occupied since at least 4000 BC. The Romans had a settlement at Ware. Ware is said to be one of the oldest continuously occupied sites in Europe. It has become a commuting town for London.

Understand edit

 
Riverside gazebos

Ware, in northern Hertfordshire (in the East Hertfordshire district), had a population of 19,000 in 2011.

Get in edit

Ware can be reached by car or bus from the A10 road, which borders the south and west of town, and by rail.

By train edit

The rail line, Abellio Greater Anglia, connects 1 Ware station   to the rest of England and Wales and Scotland. London Liverpool Street is about a hour's journey and can be reached from Harlow.

By plane edit

The nearest airport is Stansted Airport (STN IATA), which can also be reached by rail via Tottenham Hale.

Get around edit

 
51°48′17″N 0°1′25″W
Map of Ware

Ware can be easily traversed by car and even by walking. Arriva runs bus service inside Ware and to surrounding communities.

See edit

Ware has many listed buildings by Historic England, many timber framed, four grade I, fifteen grade II* and 181 grade II, including the remains of a 14th-century friary, now the local council offices and a conference centre called The Priory and Fletcher's Lea. Restoration work has shown that it dates from the 13th century. Opposite the priory is the large 14th-century parish church of St. Mary. It is known for its elaborate font with large carved stone figures.

  • 1 Riverside gazebos (along the north bank of the Lee Navigation). The town is also famous for its many 18th-century gazebos, several of which have been restored. 

Some of the buildings along the High Street date back to the 14th century. Ware used to have many coaching inns and passageways between some shops lead to their stables. Many of these passageways also have former maltings. Crib Street has a good sequence of timber framed buildings which have been restored since the 1970s.

 
Scott's Grotto
  • 2 Scott's Grotto, 28/34 Scotts Rd,SG12 9JQ, ☏ +44 1920 464 131. Apr-Sep: Saturdays and Bank Holiday Mondays 2-4:30PM. Grade 1 Grotto created by the Quaker poet John Scott in 1794. A series of interconnected chambers, extending 67 ft (20 m) into the chalk. Described by English Heritage as one of the finest grottos in the country. £2.     (updated Mar 2024)
  • 3 The Ware Museum, 89 High St, ☏ +44 1920 487848. Tu W Sa 11AM-4PM; Su 2-4PM; M Th F closed. The museum is partially housed in the former Priory Lodge and partly inside a Second World War Command Bunker used to co-ordinate local defences and respond to air-raids. The museum contains many interesting items from the history of Ware, including Roman archaeology, exhibits relating to the Second World War and Allen & Hanburys pharmaceuticals. There are also a number of exhibits for children and many special activity days throughout the year.   (updated Jan 2017)
  • 4 Bluecoat Yard, SG12 9HL, ☏ +44 1992 504 331. In Bluecoat Yard is Place House, Ware's oldest extant surviving building. It dates from the early 14th century, with additions in the 16th and 17th centuries, and was once Ware's Manor House. It has a crown post roof. (updated Jun 2021)

Do edit

  • 1 RSPB Rye Meads, Hoddesdon. Spot common tern, kestrel, owls and kingfisher at this bird reserve in the lush green Lee Valley.     (updated Jun 2023)

Buy edit

  • 1 Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe, 17 High St, SG12 9BP, ☏ +44 1920 462 314. 10AM-5PM (closed W). Dedicated to nostalgic sweets   (updated Nov 2020)

Eat edit

  • 1 Beefeater, Marsh Ln, SG12 9QB, ☏ +44 1920 459 859. noon-10PM. (updated Nov 2020)
  • 2 Jacoby's, Churchgate House, 13-15 West St, SG12 9EE, ☏ +44 1920 469 181. M-Sa 9AM-10PM, Su 9AM-6PM. Mexican restaurant in 2nd oldest building in Ware. (updated Nov 2020)

Drink edit

Pubs edit

Ware being 1 days ride from London has these coaching inns:

  • 1 The Brewery Tap, 83 High St, SG12 9AD, ☏ +44 1920 468 549. noon-10PM. Green King (updated Nov 2020)
  • 2 Old Bulls Head, 28 Baldock St, SG12 9DZ, ☏ +44 1920 413 564. With attached former assembly rooms and stables   (updated Jun 2021)
  • 3 The Quiet Man, High Street, SG12 9BP. Freehouse   (updated Nov 2020)

Other pubs in Ware's High Street:

Pubs in North Ware:

Pubs in South Ware:

  • 12 The King’s Mead, Hertford Road, SG12 9LE (follow the A119 to Hertford), ☏ +44 1920 896 800. McMullens Pub overlooking the nature reserve of the same name.   (updated Nov 2020)
  • 13 Spread Eagle, 37 Amwell End, SG12 9HP (Near the level crossing), ☏ +44 1992 303 716. McMullen   (updated Nov 2020)

Tea & coffee edit

  • 14 Bridget's Tea Room, The Garden Room, The Priory,SG12 9AL (Accessed from the east end on the Priory), ☏ +44 7511 297 025. M-Sa 10:30AM-3:30PM. (updated Nov 2020)

Sleep edit

  • 1 Premier Inn Ware hotel, Marsh Ln, SG12 9LQ (Next to the Beefeater), ☏ 0333 003 3405 (domestic). (updated Nov 2020)
  • 2 Fanhams Hall, Fanhams Hall Road, SG12 7PZ (Take Fanhams Hall Road out of Ware), ☏ +44 1920 460511. Built as a manor house, it has 77 hotel rooms and a dining hall. Weddings and parties can be booked. Fanhams Hall has extensive gardens on the grounds. Pricing for various services vary, but tend to be expensive.     (updated Aug 2015)

Cope edit

  • 1 Public Toilets, 9, 18 Priory St, SG12 9DB. (updated Jun 2021)

Go next edit

  • To the north Puckeridge then Buntingford, 10 miles, along the A10.
  • To the south Hoddesdon along the A10.
  • To the west Hertford, 3 miles.
Routes through Ware
Cambridge ← Buntingford ←  N   S  → Hoddesdon → London


This city travel guide to Ware is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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