We know how it feels, scrolling through social media, seeing the high-end lives of our most-favoured Instagrammers, wondering how you can fly away to somewhere exotic and live the life of luxury as well. Although tempting, you don’t need to jet off to the Maldives, book trips to swim with the sharks, or spend hours searching for the most picturesque crystal-clear waters to follow in the footsteps of an influencer.
Hertfordshire is becoming an increasingly popular destination for travel bloggers across social media, with more and more well-known faces posting from our charming county's picturesque locations and attractions.
If you're searching high and low for the most on-trend places to visit in 2020, then it's time stop the scrolling and exit the explore page as we've done the hard work for you. Follow our influencer bucket list to discover some of Hertfordshire's most-favoured hot spots on Instagram, and while on your adventures, don't forget to share your photos and tag us using @visithertsuk.
Snap up St. Albans
With WanderlustChloe’s wander-ful Insta-feed, it’s not hard to see why she's one of our go-to travel bloggers when finding inspiration for new and exciting places to explore. Chloe’s feed is packed to the brim with all things bright and bold, so it’s as equally unsurprising that the beautiful St. Albans Cathedral was used as a backdrop for her picture-perfect post. No, this charming city isn't only famous for the hot cross bun, it's also home to foodie spots, unique accommodation, independent shops, the oldest pub in England and hidden gems all waiting to be snapped up. For inspiration of places to visit while you're here, check out Chloe's St.Albans story...
Picture-perfect villages
If strolling through open space, crunching leaves beneath your wellies and breathing in fresh air of the great outdoors sounds like your ideal day out, then @thecountrysidemama’s feed is sure to add a touch of colour to your plans. Rachel captured a few photographs from her trip to the quaint village of Ashwell last October, and we’re already lacing up our walking boots and taking the lenses off our cameras to recreate the perfectly-framed shots.
Retreat, relax, revitalise
Okay… there’s not a lot of persuasion involved in influencing us to retreat to a spa for the day, but if Sopwell House’s Cottonmill Spa has given Rochelle Humes something to gush about, you can consider us well and truly inspired! Nestled within 12 acres of luscious countryside, the sensational spa has a variety of luxurious facilities to sink into. With a relaxation area, sauna, steam room and poolside terrace, there’s plenty of space to unwind and experience a day in the life of a celeb.
Fantastic farmyard fun
Who knew that muddy fields and farmland could provide a flawless recipe for an insta-worthy post? Willows Activity Farm is a favoured spot amongst influencers that have little adventurers to keep entertained, and Sammi’s (or samanthamariaofficial, as known on Instagram), pumpkin-perfect photos have inspired us to grab our wheelbarrows and head out to explore Willows ourselves. Even without the pumpkins acting as an orange-hued backdrop to your posts, there are farm animals, tractors and Peter Rabbit to pose with.
Add a touch of magic
If like us you’re obsessed with all things Harry Potter, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour isn’t to be missed! Whether you consider yourself an honorary house member of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin, get your wands, robes and broomsticks at the ready, fly along to the authentic set and discover the magic used to create the most-successful film series of all time. If you're in need of a little more persuasion to visit, take a look at @louisepentland’s posts from her day here-they’re sure to leave you spellbound!
Get the pawfect picture
With well-known influencer @postcardsbyhannah as his owner (mum), it’s no surprise that Baxter the Cocker Spaniel has wagged in his mum’s footsteps. From trips to the park, woodland wanders and a spot of dress up, we (and 1,795 other people) can’t get enough of Baxter’s four-legged adventures. One of our personal favourites is this tongue-out shot, snapped whilst on a canal-side picnic in the magnificent market town of Berkhamsted. This beautiful area offers a wonderful day out for any eager explorer, whether accompanied by a furry friend or adventuring solo!
Elegant Estates
Not only used to set the scene for many TV shows, movies, photo shoots and music videos, Knebworth House is also a go to place for influencers to create those insta-worthy snaps. With acres of glorious grounds, flourishing gardens and a historic deer park, this stunning stately home offers a picturesque backdrop to any photograph, as shown here by @sophiecristin_. Stroll around like royalty, admire the famed grounds and step in the footsteps of your most-favoured Insta-stars. Who knows? You might snap up the perfect picture like Sophie did!