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
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Ware, in northern Hertfordshire (in the East Hertfordshire district), had a population of 19,000 in 2011.
Get in
editWare can be reached by car or bus from the A10 road, which borders the south and west of town, and by rail.
By train
editThe 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
editThe nearest airport is Stansted Airport (STN IATA), which can also be reached by rail via Tottenham Hale.
Get around
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Ware can be easily traversed by car and even by walking. Arriva runs bus service inside Ware and to surrounding communities.
See
editWare 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.
- 2 Scott's Grotto, 28/34 Scotts Rd,SG12 9JQ, ☏ +44 1920 464131. 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.
- 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.
- 4 Bluecoat Yard, SG12 9HL, ☏ +44 1992 504331. 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.
Do
edit- 1 RSPB Rye Meads, Hoddesdon. Spot common tern, kestrel, owls and kingfisher at this bird reserve in the lush green Lee Valley.
Buy
edit- 1 Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe, 17 High St, SG12 9BP, ☏ +44 1920 462314. 10AM-5PM (closed W). Dedicated to nostalgic sweets
Eat
edit- 1 Beefeater, Marsh Ln, SG12 9QB, ☏ +44 1920 459859. noon-10PM.
- 2 Jacoby's, Churchgate House, 13-15 West St, SG12 9EE, ☏ +44 1920 469181. M-Sa 9AM-10PM, Su 9AM-6PM. Mexican restaurant in 2nd oldest building in Ware.
Drink
editPubs
editWare being 1 days ride from London has these coaching inns:
- 1 The Brewery Tap, 83 High St, SG12 9AD, ☏ +44 1920 468549. noon-10PM. Green King
- 2 Old Bulls Head, 28 Baldock St, SG12 9DZ, ☏ +44 1920 413564. With attached former assembly rooms and stables
- 3 The Quiet Man, High Street, SG12 9BP. Freehouse
Other pubs in Ware's High Street:
- 4 Enoteca Zero, 8 West St, SG12 9EE (Next to Punch Tavern), ☏ +44 1920 487744, info@enotecazero.com. Tu-Sa noon-10PM, Su noon-7PM, M closed. Wine bar and fish restaurant.
- 5 Punch Tavern, 7 West St, SG12 9EE, ☏ +44 1920 467675. noon-10PM. Green King
- 6 Saracens Head, Bridge Foot, SG12 9BS (on the north bank of the River Lea down steps from the bridge), ☏ +44 1920 463640, SaracensHead.Ware@McMullens.co.uk. 11AM-10PM (Sa Su opens 10:30AM). Has a river-side terrace.
- 7 The Snug Bar, New Road, SG12 7BU (On the corner of New Road and High Street), ☏ +44 1920 462462. M-Th 3-10PM, F-Su noon-10PM.
- 8 Waterside Inn, Bridge Foot, SG12 9DW (East of the bridge over the Lee Navigation), ☏ +44 1920 468628. 9AM-10PM.
Pubs in North Ware:
- 9 The Crooked Billet, 140 Musley Hill, SG12 7NL, ☏ +44 1920 462516. noon-10PM.
- 10 The High Oak, 26 High Oak Rd, SG12 7PD, ☏ +44 7788 102 590.
- 11 Rifle Volunteer, 21 Collett Rd, SG12 7LY (On corner of New Road), ☏ +44 1920 462310. A sports bar
Pubs in South Ware:
- 12 The King’s Mead, Hertford Road, SG12 9LE (follow the A119 to Hertford), ☏ +44 1920 896800. McMullens Pub overlooking the nature reserve of the same name.
- 13 Spread Eagle, 37 Amwell End, SG12 9HP (Near the level crossing), ☏ +44 1992 303716. McMullen
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.
Sleep
edit- 1 Premier Inn Ware hotel, Marsh Ln, SG12 9LQ (Next to the Beefeater), ☏ 0333 003 3405 (domestic).
- 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.
Cope
edit- 1 Public Toilets, 9, 18 Priory St, SG12 9DB.
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 |