Berkhamsted is a historic market town in Hertfordshire, England, known for its rich history, including the ruins of Berkhamsted Castle, a Norman motte-and-bailey castle dating back to the 11th century. The town is situated in the Chiltern Hills, offering scenic surroundings.

With a weekly market, places to shop, eat and visit, Berkhamsted has much to offer. Take a look below for everything you need to know about the facilities and services Berkhamsted has to offer. 

Allotments

The Town Council provides three allotment gardens for rent by Berkhamsted residents, at Dellfield, Butts Meadow and Sunnyside. For for information or to put yourself on the waiting list for an allotment, visit the Berkhamsted Town Council website.

Banks

There are currently two banks on the High Street - Nationwide and HSBC. The Post Office also offers finance services.

Car Parks

There are 4 public car parks in the town at:

• Lower Kings Road (multistorey, pay and display)
• St Johns Well Lane (pay and display)
• Water Lane (pay and display)
• Canal Fields (free)

There is also a pay and display car park at the train station and free on-road parking near the station on White Hill and New Road.

Cash points

You can find cash points at the following locations:

• Waitrose - outside the store
• Tesco Express Berkhamsted
• Tesco Express Northchurch
• Shell petrol station
• ASDA Hall Park petrol station
• Nationwide Bank - High Street
• HSBC Bank - High Street

Castle

It is free to visit Berkhamsted Castle and view the substantial remains of the motte-and-bailey castle dating from the 11th to 15th centuries, with surrounding walls, ditches and earthworks.

Open daily, summer 10am-6pm, winter 10am-4pm. Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day

White Hill, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, HP4 1LJ

Visit English Heritage for more information.

Family Centre

The Dacorum hub of the Hertfordshire Family Centre Service is a good service to know about when you are pregnant, just had a baby or new to the area.  They offer a range of different support groups, activities and services for families and their child/children from pregnancy to age 19. Check our children's activities pages for listings of classes and groups.

You can access services or attend classes and groups at any of the centres across the county, but our local centre is Little Hands and Little Feet Family Centre at Lagley Hall, Douglas Gardens, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, HP4 3PE. Please note that outside of the times of classes, groups and other timetabled services these centres are not staffed.

Foodbank

If you have a food voucher, you can visit a food bank centre to pick up your emergency food parcel. The Berkhamsted food bank centre is located at the Way Inn Christian Centre on the High Street. A referral is needed to access this service - please contact an agency providing support to you and your family, such as a housing association, council service or school. They will be able to give you a food voucher code. Visit Hertfordshire Council's website for further information.

Open Door also operate a Community Pantry which is a store cupboard out the front of Open Door on Berkhamsted High Street, which is full of food, toiletries and other essentials. It's open 24 hours, 7 days a week for anyone to help themselves to - whether you've run out of something you urgently need and the shops are closed, or if you need help with meals until payday or in an emergency. It operates on a ‘take what you need / leave what you can’ basis.

Health

You can find information about the local hospitals, doctors surgeries, dentists, opticians and other health services on our Family Health pages.

Household Waste Recycling Centre

You can find the local recycling centre (the tip!) on Northbridge Road. The recycling centre is CLOSED on Thursdays and Fridays and open Saturday-Wednesday from 8.30am-4.30pm. It is open on all bank holidays except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Visit their website to find out what you can recycle and see live information on how full the containers are and also view the handy live 'Queue Cam'.

Launderette and Dry Cleaning

Autocoin Laundrette & Dry Cleaning can be found at 331 High Street and Johnsons Dry Cleaners at 311 High Street.

Library

Berkhamsted library can be found in a prominent position on the High Street and if you're not already a member the very helpful staff are knowledgeable and friendly and can get you signed up for your free membership. And did you know, that once you are a member of the library you can renew your books and make reservations online via their website or by downloading the Hertfordshire Libraries app?

The library has an accessible toilet with baby-change facilties, free public Wi-Fi and computers available for use by members.

Opening Times:

Monday    9.30am - 5.30pm (7am-9.30am and 5.30pm-8pm Open+*)
Tuesday   9.30am - 5pm (7am-9.30am Open+)
Wednesday 9.30am - 5pm (7am-9.30am Open+)
Thursday CLOSED (7am-8pm Open+)
Friday  9.30am - 5pm (7am-9.30am and 5pm-8pm Open+*)
Saturday  9.30am - 4pm (7am-9.30am Open+)
Sunday    CLOSED

*Open+ self service access to the library is available at set times when the building is unstaffed. During Open+ self service hours, you can borrow, return and renew books and other items, collect reserved items, use computers, Wi-Fi and study space, read newspapers and magazines and print. You need to sign up at the library to use the Open+ service. When you are registered as an Open+ user, you just need to scan your membership card and type your secure PIN into a card reader at the library entrance to enter the library.

BookTrust Storytime, with stories, rhymes and activities takes place on Mondays and Saturdays Tuesdays 2.15 – 2.45pm. These interactive story sessions are perfect for pre-school children to enjoy with their parent/carer. Sessions are free (donations welcomed) and you don't have to book in advance.

Baby Rhyme Time takes place on Tuesday and Friday mornings at 10.30am - 11am. The session is free though donations are welcomed. No booking required

Lego Club for Children takes place every Wednesday in term time from 3.45pm-4.45pm. It is suitable for children aged 7 to 12 years old but places are limited so please book at the library. £3 per session

The library also runs events for children during the school holidays so keep and eye on their website and Facebook page.

Photocopying and printing facilities are also available, but you must be a member of the library.  Alternative printing and photocopying services are available at Berkhamsted Imaging on the High Street.

Full details of all services are available on the Library website.

Berkhamsted Library, 185 High Street, Berkhamsted, HP4 3HB 
Tel: 0300 123 4049

Local Councils

Berkhamsted Town Council is involved in various aspects of local administration, including community services such as allotments, planning and development, local events, and maintenance of public spaces, working closely with the local community to address their needs and concerns. They organise various community events, including the annual Festival of Light Christmas lights event. You can also find some interesting heritage and audio guided walks on their website.

Berkhamsted sits within the Hertfordshire borough of Dacorum who manage council tax, bins and recycling, planning and development, housing, leisure and culture, voting, environment issues, benefits and more.

Whilst Northchurch is linked to Berkhamsted and often addresses are listed as Northchurch, Berkhamsted, it is actually it's own village with a local parish council. Their 8 councillors are unpaid volunteers and each year, they receive a small amount of our Council Tax to provide some local facilities. They own the Recreation Ground and Allotments, and maintain 2 small cemeteries and some verges on the High Street. 

Market Days

There is a market on the High Street on both a Wednesday and a Saturday, organised by the Berkhamsted Market Fund.

A Farmers' Market is held on the third Sunday of each month from 10am to 2pm. For more information, please visit the Berkhamsted Farmers' Market website.

Open Door

Open Door is a community café and arts space on Berkhamsted high street where you can be active, creative and social, whatever your circumstances.

They offer a wide range of activities and services, from workshops and exhibitions, to volunteering opportunities and other ways to make a difference, including a variety of food projects. Or you can just come and have a cup of tea and a chat in our café!

They run several important food-related projects including a community cafe where you are able to pay what you can afford, a community fridge to cut down on food waste and a food pantry with 24/7 access to essentials.

Police Station

Berkhamsted Police Station can be found at 161 High Street. This station is not open to the public unless you have an appointment.

There is a yellow phone at this location which you can use to contact the police for help, to report a crime or to ask for advice.

Post Office

The main Berkhamsted Post Office is located at 268 High Street. It is open:

Monday        09:00 - 17:30
Tuesday       09:00 - 17:30
Wednesday  09:00 - 17:30
Thursday      09:00 - 17:30
Friday           09:30 - 17:30
Saturday      09:00 - 12:30
Sunday        Closed

• Services on offer include: 
• Cash Withdrawals
• Cash Deposits
• Cheque Deposits
• Drop & Go
• Parcelforce Express Services
• DPD - Buy in branch
• DPD - Drop off and collections
• Evri - Buy in branch
• Evri - Drop off and collections
• Pay Bills and Top up
• Passport Paper Check & Send - New & Renewals
• Passport Digital Check & Send - New & Renewals
• SIA Licence Application
• Document Certification Service
• In Branch Verification
• DVLA Photocard Renewal
• Vehicle Tax
• International Driving Permits
• Foreign Currency
• Travel Insurance
• Travel Money Card
• MoneyGram®
• Western Union
• Savings application forms
• Savings Account ID Verification (free)

There is also a smaller Post Office counter in Tesco Express Northchurch that is open 9am-5.30pm Mon-Fri and 9-12.30 on Saturdays.

Public Toilets

Public toilets can be found in the Water Lane Car Park (behind Tesco) and are open 7am to 5pm (Monday to Saturday) offering disabled facilities but please note, no baby changing facilities. 

You can also find toilet facilities at the train station and in the library.

Public Transport

Trains
Berkhamsted Train Station is located on Station Approach with entrances from Bridgewater Road and Lower Kings Road. Ticket machines and Live Update screens are available at both entrances however, the part-time manned ticket office is at the Lower Kings Road entrance. Trains through this station are operated by London Northwestern Railway and go south into London Euston in around 30 minutes, or north to Milton Keynes or Northampton. There are lifts to all platforms and accessible toilets on platform 4. There is also a Puccino's cafe on platform 4 and Platform Wines store in the entrance hall selling drinks and snacks.

Buses
There are several bus services that operate through Berkhamsted. Check operator websites for the latest timetables.

29/30/31 Hemel Hempstead – Jockey End/Nettleden - Little Gaddesdon – Berkhamsted (Red Eagle)
354 Chesham - Berkhamsted (Red Eagle)
X5 Aylesbury - Hemel Hempstead (Arriva)

HertsLynx is a new service offering an on-demand, bookable bus service. Unlike traditional bus services, the HertsLynx service doesn’t follow a timetable or have any set routes, instead passengers can choose from a wide variety of pick up and drop off locations within designated operating zones across Hertfordshire. Passengers can select where and when they would like to travel by using the HertsLynx app, booking website or by calling the HertsLynx team, more information about making a booking can be found here.

Playgrounds

There are several playgrounds in Berkhamsted at the following locations:

• Canal Fields
• Normandy Drive 
• Velvet Lawn
• The Moor
• Butts Meadow
• George Street
• Robertson Road
• Lagley Meadow
• Northchurch Recreation Ground
• Potten End

Canal Fields and Northchurch Recreation Ground also have small skate parks. See our 'Things to do' section for more information. You can also view a handy map of all of these playgrounds here.

Petrol Stations

There are two petrol stations in Berkhamsted. ASDA on the Move at the Hall Park petrol station (open 24 hours) is on London Road as you are leaving Berkhamsted towards Bourne End and has a separate Greggs store as well as ASDA groceries in the main store. The Shell petrol station (open 6am-11pm) is at 345 High Street and has a car wash and toilet facilities, as well as a Budgens store. 

Places of Worship

You can find places of worship listed here.

Sports, Leisure and Fitness

Berkhamsted Leisure Centre, managed by Everyone Active can be found on Lagley Meadow. Facilities include:

• 25m Swimming Pool
• Squash Court
• Sports Hall
• Gym
• Fitness Studio
• Badminton Courts
• 3G Pitch
• All Weather Pitch
• Free Parking

Dacorum Borough Council also provides football pitches for hire at Butts Meadow on Kings Road and Velvet Lawn on Swing Gate Lane.

The sports facilities at Ashlyn's School (Aspire2Fitness) and Berkhamsted School (Knox Johnston Sports Centre) are also open to for public membership. Other gyms in the town include The Fitness Society, Best Results Fitness, Her Fitness, MyFitness Pod, The Lifestyle Centre at Ashridge House and Grand Union Crossfit.

Supermarkets and Corner Shops

The largest supermarket in Berkhamsted is Waitrose which can be accessed from both Lower Kings Road and St John's Wells Lane. There is also an M&S Food and two Tesco Express stores, on Berkhamsted and Northchurch High Streets.

There are also several local convenience stores including Topshop on Tresco Road, Bobby's Convenience Store on the High Street, Westfield Stores on Westfield Road, The Village Shop on Gossom's End and Universal Food and Wine on the High Street.

You can also find ASDA on the Move at the Hall Park petrol station and Budgens at the Shell petrol station.

Swan Youth Project

The Swan Youth Project, ran by Berkhamsted Town Council, dedicates itself to supporting young individuals. It opens its doors every weekday during the school term and throughout school holidays. It offers a diverse range of activities, both organized and casual, as well as a welcoming space for friends to gather and unwind. The project welcomes individuals aged 11 to 18 from Berkhamsted and its surrounding areas. Visit their website for more information.

We update the information on this page regularly. If you spot a mistake or something that has changed, please do let us know.

*page last updated March 2024