The International Garden Cities Exhibition

The International Garden Cities Exhibition in Baldock tells the story of one of the 20th century's boldest urban planning experiments. What you're walking through is essentially a museum dedicated to the garden city movement - that peculiarly British idea that towns could be properly designed from scratch, mixing the best of countryside living with urban convenience. It's housed in a modest space, but the content packs a punch if you care about how places get built.

The exhibition covers the movement's key figures and developments, particularly Ebenezer Howard's vision and how it played out across Britain and internationally. You'll find historical documents, photographs, plans and explanations of what made these towns tick - the emphasis on green space, affordable housing, community facilities, proper design. It's not flashy, but it's genuinely interesting if you're into architecture, town planning, or how the places around us came to be shaped.

History enthusiasts and anyone fascinated by urban design will get the most from it. Kids might find it a bit dry unless they're already keen on buildings and planning. Allow an hour, maybe ninety minutes if you read everything properly. Entry details aren't clear online, so ring ahead before you visit.

If you're based at one of the nearby caravan sites around Baldock - Radwell Lake is closest at just over two miles away - it's worth a morning visit before heading elsewhere in Hertfordshire. It won't make your trip on its own, but combined with Baldock's market square and the walking opportunities around the area, it slots in nicely.