There’s a lot to love about Tring, it’s a town of just the right size to have life and colour, not to mention a flurry of wonderful independent businesses to support every need whilst retaining the feeling of intimacy. In recent years it’s developed its foodie credentials with more and more culinary businesses appearing, meaning you don’t have to travel out for great food. Of course, the real jewel in the crown of Tring is its location, right among the Chiltern Hills, so the countryside is quite literally on your doorstep. With the trainline to London a short distance from the town centre, it’s no wonder this is an increasingly popular commuter town.
If you find yourself in Tring, you won’t be short of great places to visit and places to eat and shop, but here’s our guide with a few of our favourites to help you plan your trip.
The Natural History Museum
If you don’t already know Tring, you may be surprised to hear that there’s a Natural History Museum, and yes – it is very much an off-shoot of its London counterpart. The museum is home to the extensive private collections of Walter Rothschild and holds a huge array of animal species from insects to sperm whales. The building itself is beautiful, housing an original collection in beautiful presentation cases, making it a popular destination for kids and adults alike. Make sure you check out the flea circus!
Tring Farmers’ Market
The Chilterns is home to many wonderful food and drink producers, so the Farmers Market, starting in 1999, in the last few years has gone from strength to strength as a showcase for these and many other local, independent, sustainable businesses. Find it every 2nd and 4th Saturday morning of the month along Tring High Street.
Tring Park
This is not a park as you know it but a 133-hectare site of broadleaf woodland, open pasture, bridleway and historic relics. Tring Park was my first love in the area and remains a favourite place to stroll due to it’s mix of different scenery and the sense you could be miles away from civilization. The woods contain a couple of historical relics – the obelisk and summerhouse, which are rumoured to relate to King Charles II and his mistress Nell Gwynn. A great addition in recent years have been a selection of carved animals that the kids enjoy sitting on at the top of the woods closer to Wigginton.
Craftyard Tring
“Of all the gin joints in all the world…” I know Humphrey Bogart, but the gin is just SO good!
Whoever came up with craft gin and beer bars, it was such a good one and makes a welcome departure from the usual pub environment. Who doesn’t want a bar with a zillion choices of gins served in bowl like glasses? Plus this one has got a gorgeous rustic interior, so there really is a lot to love. The bar is super popular for good reason, so drop in quick before it fills up!
Nonna’s Supper Club
The gorgeous deli – café is a new addition to the high street….and judging by the number of mentions it was given on our Insta page – a very popular one! A joint venture between Georgina and her grandmother (Nonna) Romana, it originally started as a supper club for Authentic Italian food, then became a takeaway selling from the market, before settling on this gorgeous high street store.
Black Goo
Funky vintage interiors, music, and cakes the size of your head, this home from home café is a must visit for its Instagrammable interiors, London-feel, delicious food and super relaxed vibe.
Espresso Lounge
This ever-popular café is home to great home-cooked food and coffee. They’re also expert Baristas and even produce their own coffee which you can buy to enjoy at home.
Crockers
London standard dining but without the travel. This Michelin-guide restaurant is home to the “Chef’s Table” which is relaxed, unpretentious dining experience that puts the diner in the heart of the kitchen to enjoy a multi-course dining experience with the option of exquisite wines and cocktails.
Tring Winery
Tring really is full of surprises! Yes, there really is a small batch winery that produce fine wines but also sell high quality wines from around the world.
Puddingstone Distillery
The Chiltern Hills first small batch gin distillery and home to the wonderful outdoor inspired “Campfire Gin”. The distillery is based on the site of PE Meads Farmshop in Wilstone and has a carefully designed rustic interior where you can purchase gin or join for one of their entertaining gin tours.
College Lake
Once a limestone quarry, this beautiful mixed wetland area just outside of Tring, is a testament to nature regeneration as it’s considered one of the areas best nature reserves. Home to 1,000 wildlife species, including many wetland birds, it’s a beautiful spot to escape to, explore, and enjoy the 2 mile circular walk.
Aldbury village
Aldbury is English village perfection, complete with duckpond and stocks. It’s a wonderful place to mooch around and enjoy the beautiful location or maybe visit one of the local pubs (The Valiant Trooper or The Greyhound.) It’s no wonder this chocolate box village is such a popular film location (do you recognise it?). Credits include, Inspector Morse, the Avengers and Bridget Jones: the Edge of Reason. A little fun trivia – it was also famous for being home to the UK’s Playboy mansion as Stocks House was previously owned by Victor Lownes – owner of Playboy magazine. It’s really does all happen in the county!
Musette Café
Based on a farm just outside Aldbury, Musette has become popular with cyclists, walkers and coffee lovers alike, for its relaxed interior, great coffee and food and location close to the popular cycling and walking routes.
The Grand Union Canal
The canal that links London to Birmingham (this was HS2 Victorian-style) has a beautiful section through Tring that is well worth a visit. Great places to get on at the Grand Junction Arms (also worth a visit) at Bulbourne or Tring Station.
Marsworth reservoirs
The beautiful reservoirs linked to the Grand Union Canal are a serene landscape to enjoy walks, birdspotting, photograpy or fishing.
The Watersedge Café
Great café to enjoy good food (excellent cakes), coffee, wine and cocktails, right next to the water at the Grand Union Canal.
