How guests and visitors can enjoy a country like experience in the West Lodge Park Hotel’s 35 acres of grounds and arboretum with 800 species of tree close to London.

Glorious Autumn Colours at West Lodge Park

Hertfordshire hotel features arboretum set in 35 acres of rolling parkland

When choosing hotel accommodation to be within easy reach of central London and major motorway links and maybe close to three international airports, you might not imagine you’d see much greenery let alone 35 acres of unspoilt parkland and 4500 trees of various types.

If so, you’d be pleasantly surprised by the West Lodge Park Hotel in Hadley Wood, Hertfordshire; this family run hotel has an arboretum containing no less than 800 species of tree set in 35 acres of unspoilt, rolling parkland. After a short while in such bucolic surroundings you’d be hard pressed to remember you’re less than 14 miles from central London with a major motorway just up the road.

A convenient oasis

The West Lodge Park Hotel, run by several generations of the same family for over 70 years since 1945, is a luxury hotel in Hertfordshire providing a potent combination of convenience and top grade accommodation in peaceful and relaxing surroundings.

Its location affords excellent road links via two nearby motorways, close proximity to London and three major airports, and top class accommodation, conferencing and dining facilities.

The real jewel in its crown is arguably the arboretum, set in 35 acres of peaceful grounds that forms part of the Enfield Chase affording superb views and a riot of colour from its 4500 trees – especially in autumn.

Established for over half a century

The arboretum was established over 50 years ago in 1963 by the Beale family, owners of the West Lodge Park and another Hertfordshire establishment, the Beales Hotel in Hatfield.

When setting the arboretum up from its original site of a ten acre field, help was provided by experts from the Royal Horticultural Society and the trees consultant for the (then) Greater London Council. Nowadays a professional team including an estates manager, head gardener and a tree consultant to Westminster City Council look after the West Lodge Park’s valuable asset.

Over the years the tree collection has been added to by three generations of the Beale family, and includes the Plant Heritage National recognised collections of Hornbeams, Cypress along with over 800 other species.

Each year over 50 specimen trees are planted, and the arboretum has gained wide coverage both in the UK and abroad from magazines and newspapers such as ‘The Sunday Times,’ ‘Country Life, and ‘The Royal Horticultural Society Journal.’

Visiting the arboretum

For hotel residents, or those dining or having a drink in the bar or lounge, admission to the arboretum is free and it can be visited any time; for general members of the public a small charge is made for admission and visiting times are from 2.00pm – 5.00pm April to October.

Guests can have a quiet walk around or, if they like, take part in an organised tour (bookable in advance) conducted by either the estates manager or the Beales Hotel managing director. These are free during the week with a small charge made at weekends.

Tours linked to lunch or afternoon tea can be booked, and open days in both June (to see the trees and shrubs change into their late spring tints) and October (to see the picturesque autumnal riots of colour) can be booked.

Visiting the West Lodge Park’s arboretum is certainly popular; some 10,000 people do so each year.

Bee keeping day

You can spend a day in the company of expert beekeepers to gain an insight to this unique pursuit in the pleasant West Lodge Park’s grounds, learn why bees are so important to us, and discover which trees are used by the bees to supply nectar and pollen.

A touch of country near London

Very soon after turning off the nearby M25 motorway you’ll be ensconced in the rural embrace of the The West Lodge Park Hotel’s environs and surrounded by greenery and trees.

The hotel itself offers accommodation of the highest calibre – it’s a been awarded 4 star status by both the AA and RAC – and provides 58 rooms from well appointed single rooms, family rooms, executive bedrooms to a six person suite.

There’s plenty of parking including charging facilities for electric vehicles, a free to use helipad, top class dining including afternoon teas, in-room dining options, and full bar and all-day food facilities. Full banqueting and conference facilities are available with various packages to suit specific requirements.

The West Lodge Park with its comprehensive facilities, excellent location and ‘get away from it all’ grounds and arboretum really does offer the best of all worlds for a hotel stay near London.