Enjoy Quality Time with Your Friends or Family
Comfortably Sleeping from 4 up to 9
An Inspirational Space to Relax and Enjoy
High Ceilings and Exposed Wooden Beams
Plenty of Comfortable Seating for Everyone
View Balcony and Lounge
Large Fully Equipped Kitchen with Seating for 8
All the Crockery, Cutlery & Kitchen Appliances That You Could Need
Lots of Work Surface and Storage
Master Bedroom (towels & bedding provided)
Master Bedroom (view from the bed)
Balcony (another seating area)
Balcony (or use comfortable sofa bed as another bedroom)
Split Level Bedroom (1 Double and 1 Single bed)
Bunkbed Room (can sleep adults too!)
Balcony Bath / Shower Room
Another Shower Room (off Landing)
Shower Room (View Towards the Landing)
Stairwell to Ground Floor
Ground Floor Cloak Room & WC
Outside Front Terrace
View of Alder Barn from the Front
Ground Floor Plan
First Floor Plan

  • Alder Barn Holiday Home

    Stunning Barn Conversion in Ashwell, Hertfordshire

  • Enjoy the Entire House

    • 9 guests

    • 4 bedrooms

    • 6 beds

    • 2.5 baths

  • Over 100 Testimonials

    Over 100 guests have left us great reviews on Trip Advisor, AirBnB, Google, Homeaway.co.uk, via email and in our guest book. See Reviews.

  • Recognised for Excellence

    Recognised for excellent accommodation and customer service via our AirBnB Superhost status, TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2019, and 4-Star Visit England assessment.

Description

A wonderfully light and spacious barn conversion holiday home perfect for families or groups of friends. Exposed wooden beams and a double height lounge that genuinely make you say wow; plus the beautiful village of Ashwell is on your doorstep.

The barn provides a large space for a family or group of friends to meet and explore the local area, London and further afield.

Sleeping accommodation

  1. Master bedroom – king-sized double – sleeps 2
  2. Split level/2nd bedroom – small double bed and a single bed (two steps in the room up to the double bed) – sleeps 3
  3. Bunkbed room/3rd bedroom – pair of full-sized single bunk beds (we have had plenty of adults using these, including a 60th birthday bash crowd!)
  4. Mezzanine balcony room – overlooking the lounge, the door from landing and Victorian-style pull out blinds to screen it off from view downstairs, but doesn’t have the full privacy of a bedroom – double sofa bed – sleeps 2

Transport links

We have good transport links; 42 minutes by train to London Kings Cross and good road/motorway links to the South and Midlands, with Cambridge about half an hour away and dozens of things to do and see locally.

Ashwell Village

The village itself (which dates back to the Tudor period, with beautiful historic buildings) is well served with three pubs, a village stores, pharmacy, artisan bakery, deli butchers and much more.

Local Amenities

There is also a local GP's surgery and dentists close at hand. The nearest big town is Baldock about 10 minutes away, which has all the amenities, including a 24-hour supermarket/superstore.

Private Chef Service

We are also excited to be able to offer our guests the following partnership service; Dineindulge Private Chef Service - "The Private Dining Experience for Everyone"

Dineindulge offers a unique private chef experience brought directly to you. Combining a personal chef hire service with restaurant quality cuisine at an affordable price.

Allow yourself a night off from cooking whilst still enjoying all the benefits of your self-catering accommodation. See here for more details.

2-night stays

We are now excited to be able to offer guests minimum 2 night stays, we have done this by splitting out our cleaning and laundry services at cost *

What are our 'cleaning' costs?

Our cleaning costs are charged to guests at cost price - which is £130.00 per stay. This may seem expensive, but our cleaners spend some hours making sure that the barn is in excellent condition every time guests leave, whether they have stayed for 2 nights or 7 nights. 

The price also includes

  • Laundry, with beds made on arrival
  • Plenty of towels both for each guest (a hand towel and bath towel) and also extra hand towels in the bathrooms.

Whole house

The property is let as a whole to guests, there is no sub-letting of any part.

 

Front terrace but no garden

The property had a front terrace where guests can sit outside, but no garden. Although there is a large park and play area a few minutes walk away.

Read more about the space Hide

Amenities

  • wi-fi Free WiFi
  • smart TV Smart TV with Netflix
  • iron Iron & ironing board
  • highchair Highchair & Travel cot
  • truck Free parking
  • lock Smart lock
  • drayer Hair dryer
  • mobile Full height fridge / freezer
Show all 41 amenities

Sleeping arrangements

Master Bedroom

1 king bed

Split Level Twin Room

1 double bed, 1 single bed

Bunk Bedroom

1 bunk bed

Balcony Room

1 sofa bed

Location

In the Tudor village of Ashwell at the northern tip of Hertfordshire, only one mile from Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. See where we are also near to .

  • Only 4.9 miles from the market town of Baldock

  • Only 20 miles from Cambridge

  • Only 42 miles to central London

  • Directions to Alder Barn

Testimonials

See below the 100 plus reviews guests have been kind enough to leave us on Trip Advisor, AirBnB,
Google, Homeaway.co.uk, via email and in our guest book.

Your holiday starts the moment you arrive

A few words from Jon and Abi A few words from Jon and Abi

We’ve tried to include all the modern facilities that we think you’d like; four sofas in the lounge, unlimited WIFI, large flat screen TV with Netflix, second TV on the mezzanine, large fridge freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, iron and ironing board, dishwasher, hob and double oven, microwave, kettle, toaster, Nespresso machine, hairdryer, travel cot, high chair, toddler toilet steps and a well stocked kitchen with lots of pots and pans, cutlery, crockery and glassware. We probably haven’t thought of everything, but we’ve really tried.

Everything will be prepared for your arrival (no having to make up beds or send straight out for toilet rolls). We’ve included a few things to get you going, so all you have to do is unpack and have a walk up the Tudor high street to decide which pub looks best for dinner, or nip to Baldock (about 15 mins drive) to stock up at the supermarket for your stay. Then relax while the kids are in bed, watch a film and enjoy the evening. Although don’t get up too late, the bakers are so popular that they often sell out of their favourites, you’ve got to be fast to bag yourself a pasty or a Chelsea bun!


Abi and Jon with their two daughters

FAQs

Is Alder Barn a self-catering property?

Yes. The property is a self-catering holiday home offering all of the facilities that you would expect to find, including:

  • a fully stocked and equipped kitchen

  • separate pantry with full height fridge freezer

Is there an upper limit on how many people can stay?

The upper limit is 9 people, and this is limited by our insurance.

The barn has three bedrooms and a mezzanine balcony room and can comfortably sleep between 4 and 9 people.

Can you describe the property?

Painstakingly restored, our barn conversion offers a wonderful mix of original beams and brickwork whilst also offering a modern feel with up to date facilities.

There is plenty of living space allowing family groups to comfortably spend time together, as well as groups of friends.

Are children welcome during our stay?

The barn has been set-up using our knowledge of exactly what we were looking for when going on holiday with young children and as such, children are more than welcome.

You will find amongst other facilities a highchair and a travel cot to help ensure that you and your children have the most comfortable stay possible.

Am I allowed to bring my pets?

Unfortunately, it is not possible to bring your pets with you for your stay at the barn.

Are there set prices throughout the year?

Our prices vary depending on a number of factors including, duration, time of year and number of guests.

For our rates click here. 

Where is the best place for me to find your current availability?

There are a variety of options available to find our current availability.

All provide the relevant up to date information.

Does the barn offer internet access and a television?

Free WiFi is available for your stay.

We have also installed a large flat-screen TV (offering Netflix) in the main lounge area.

Plus a smaller flat-screen TV can be found in the mezzanine balcony area.

What is there to do in Ashwell and Hertfordshire?

See further down this page and our Things To Do page.

Ashwell is a beautiful little village with a vibrant feel located in North Hertfordshire just over 40 miles from Central London.

Renowned for its historic buildings, Ashwell is filled with timber-framed buildings with many dating back to medieval and Tudor periods. It has a fascinating history that extends far back in time to the Bronze Age and beyond.

Offering countless opportunities to stroll around this stunning location, you can discover surprises around every corner ranging from attractive thatched cottages and buildings from across the ages from Medieval times to the Guildhall to wonderful country pubs and shops.

The village itself is host to a variety of local businesses found on the high street including 3 excellent pubs who serve food, a village store and all the other shops you would expect to find in a country village.

Whilst exploring the village, we recommend taking a moment to visit Ashwell Springs, a site of freshwater springs, along with the breath-taking Ashwell Cottage Garden which is maintained by volunteers.

Things to do in Hertfordshire [distance from Alder Barn]

[6.0 miles] - North Herts Leisure Centre, Letchworth

North Herts Leisure Centre Photo

The North Herts Leisure centre is open seven days a week and offers a wide range of activities for all ages.

There is a large indoor pool as well as a tropical pool, wave machine and flume. Other facilities include dance studios, squash courts, fitness suite and sauna and steam room..

There is also a crèche and cafeteria on site. For children, there are ‘Wild Camp’ activities including softball, arts & crafts, swimming, trampolining and face painting. The sessions are suitable for ages 3 – 12 years.

Click here to see the North Herts Leisure Centre website

[6.8 miles] - Broadway Cinema & Theatre, Letchworth Garden City

Broadway Cinema Photo

For a relaxing afternoon or evening of entertainment, you could try the beautiful Broadway Cinema which was originally opened in 1936 (re-opened in 1996).

Is a perfect example of the art deco architecture of the town of Letchworth both inside and out.

The cinema has four screens and has been adapted to play 3D films as well as live broadcasts from the Royal Opera House and the Royal National Theatre.

There is parking available in the nearby Town Hall car park as well as on-street parking. Prices start at just £5.

Click here to see the Broadway Cinema

[12.3 miles] - Docwra's Manor Garden, Royston

Docwra's Manor Garden Photo

Located in Shepreth near Royston, Docwra´s Manor dates back to the 15th Century and was purchased by its present owners Faith Raven and her husband when they married in 1954.

They have beautifully restored the gardens to their full glory with a beautiful walled garden, and a wonderful array of unusual plants.

Docwra´s Manor Garden is a wonderful place to spend time just enjoying the space. Teas and coffee and light lunches are also available at Teacake next door.

For more information see their website: http://docwrasmanorgarden.co.uk/

[15.2 miles] - Knebworth Park and House, Stevenage

Knebworth Park and House Photo

Knebworth is one of England’s finest and most beloved stately homes, perhaps most famous globally for its rock concerts.

Knebworth Park is situated just off the A1(M) at Stevenage and is a great day out for the whole family.

Attractions for children include an Adventure Playground and Dinosaur Trail, while all ages can enjoy going back in time with a visit to Knebworth House or a stroll through the gardens. Facilities include a fully licensed self-service restaurant, gift shop and exhibition centre.

This beautiful gothic mansion was also the home of the Victorian novelist, Edward Bulwer Lytton and there is a wealth of information about the Lytton family to discover.

Click here to see the Knebworth Park and House

[19.6 miles] - National Trust - Shaw's Corner, Welwyn

Shaw’s Corner Photo

Shaw’s Corner is a National Trust property and was the home of George Bernard Shaw for 44 years until his death in 1950.

The house remains much as it was during Shaw’s time, with beautiful Arts and Crafts interiors and tranquil gardens to explore. The house contains over 5000 items belonging to Shaw as well as his famous writing hut.

During June and July Shaw’s Corner is converted into an outdoor theatre and there are performances of two of Shaw’s plays; just don’t forget your picnic!

Facilities include a gift and souvenir shop, pre-1950s plants for sale, free parking and ice creams and soft drinks. Guided tours are also available.

Click here to see the Shaw’s Corner website

[21.8 miles] - Henry Moore Perry Green, Much Hadham

Henry Moore Perry Green Photo

Perry Green is the home of the Henry Moore Foundation.

Moore’s art charity which was established for the promotion and education of the fine arts. It is located on his former estate and includes Hoglands, the artist’s restored home.

The estate also comprises flower gardens and Moore’s studios as well as over 70 acres of gardens and fields. Many of Moore’s sculptures are located throughout the grounds. The medieval Aisled Barn contains a display of nine large colourful tapestries based on his drawings.

The estate is open Friday 1st May – Sunday 25th October 2015 on Wednesdays – Sundays and Bank Holidays, 11am-5pm.

Click here to see the Henry Moore website

[21.8 miles] - Mill Green Mill and Museum, Hatfiled

Mill Green Mill and Museum Photo

Although there has been a mill on the site for over 1000 years the current Mill Green Mill is a working 18th-century flour mill and on milling days (Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday afternoon)

You can see the watermill working and talk to the miller about his work. You can even take a bag of freshly ground wholemeal organic flour home with you!

Although a working mill it is also a museum designed to show historic milling practices through both exhibitions and practical demonstrations.

The site also contains the Mill Green Jubilee Garden; a Tudor inspired design created to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

Click here to see the Mill Green Mill and Museum

[23.0 miles] - Hatfield House, Hatfield

Hatfield House Photo

Replacing the childhood home of Elizabeth I, the current Hatfield House was built by Robert Cecil, the first Earl of Salisbury, in 1611.

The original house and deer park had been owned by Henry VIII and Elizabeth learned of her accession to the throne while at Hatfield in 1558, apparently while at an Oak tree that still stands on the grounds. The estate is still owned by the Cecil family and is one of ten ‘Treasure Houses of England’.

As well as the magnificent house there is also a large park to explore, a farm, playgrounds, gardens, restaurant and gift shops.

The estate is situated close to junction 4 of the A1(M) and has ample parking. It can also be reached via Hatfield Railway Station./p>

Click here to see the Hatfield House

[27.4 miles] - Denny Abbey and The Farmland Museum, Cambridge

Denny Abbey and Farmland Museum Photo

Denny Abbey and Farmland Museum are two things to do for the price of one!

The abbey is a Grade one listed twelfth-century building first occupied by Benedictine Monks, and subsequently occupied by Franciscan nuns and Knights Templars; so its history makes interesting reading. The site has also seen over time extensive restoration so seeing this is also very interesting and well presented on information boards.

For the children there is also a farm for them to visit and lots of things to see including the craftsmen’s workshops, lots of old farming equipment and lots more. Plus not to forget the play area and a decent café.

For more information see: http://www.dennyfarmlandmuseum.org.uk/

[28.1 miles] - The Verulamium Museum, St Albans

The Verulamium Museum Photo

Everyday life in Roman Britain is the focus of the Verulamium Museum in St. Albans.

Located on the site of one of Roman Britain’s major cities the museum and park includes Roman room displays, original Roman mosaics, interactive displays and discovery areas.

On the second weekend of each month there is a talk and demonstration by a Roman soldier about the equipment and tactics of the Roman Army. Talks begin at 2.30pm on Saturdays and 3.00pm on Sundays.

The museum can be reached easily by car and includes a re-designed gift shop, created in partnership with the British Museum that sells souvenirs and books as well as smaller ‘pocket money’ items suitable for children.

Click here to see the Verulamium Museum

[28.3 miles] - St Albans Museum + Gallery, St Albans

Museum of St Albans Photo

If you did not know, St Albans is a historic Roman town, and its museum is partly dedicated to Roman life.

It is built on the site of the old Roman Town and you are able to see such things as the amazing Roman mosaic floor.

The museum also tells the story of St Albans up to present day.

It regularly holds new exhibitions covering various subjects, though for full details check out their website:

http://www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk

[32.8 miles] - Lee Valley White Water Centre, Waltham Cross

Lee Valley White Water Centre Photo

If you like outdoor activities, then there must be something for you at Lee Valley White Water Centre.

From white water rafting to ice skating, horse riding and more, there is something for all those who like a bit of adventure.

Located just off the M25 and near the A1o, Lee Valley is very easy to get too.

For more information why not have a look at their website: https://www.visitleevalley.org.uk/

[34.0 miles] - The de Havilland Aircraft Museum, London Colney

The de Havilland Aircraft Museum Photo

The de Havilland is the oldest Aircraft Museum in the UK and is the only one dedicated to de Havilland Aircraft.

The collection includes Pre-WW2 models from the 1920s through to Transport Aircraft from the 1980s.

Facilities include a well-stocked gift shop with a wide selection of de Havilland related items from books and greeting cards to models and prints.

The museum is located near junction 22 of the M25 next to Salisbury Hall (No longer open to the public).

Click here to see the de Havilland Aircraft Museum

[35.3 miles] - Oliver Cromwell's House, Ely

Oliver Cromwell's House Photo

Oliver Cromwell is a key figure of English history and his house (in Ely) is a must for anyone interested in the English Civil War.

This is the house where the man that ‘banned Christmas’ lived for 10 years with his family. The house is kept as it would have been in the 17th Century and does feel authentic.

It is an interesting house and very much worth a visit, for more information see: https://www.olivercromwellshouse.co.uk/index.php