SITU offers extended stay apartments in Stevenage and many other commuting locations close to London, as well as a range of corporate accommodation options throughout the UK and beyond.
Stevenage was dedicated as the UK’s first New Town, a concept that built on the earlier Garden City movement, two examples of which – Letchworth Garden City and Welwyn Garden City – sandwich this Hertfordshire town to the north and to the south. The town is a perfect distance from London for business travellers seeking furnished housing rather than aparthotels and Stevenage could definitely be described as a commuter town.
Of course, although a New Town, Stevenage was not actually a… new town. What was, in 1946, a farming community of just 6000 people is now a large modern town of more than 87,000. Thanks to the New Town planning, the residential areas benefit from plenty of green spaces and there is plenty of countryside nearby. The town centre’s primary shopping centre is Westgate, while there is also an indoor market. There is also the amusingly named Roaring Meg Retail Park, which sits just to the south of the centre and includes the brands you would expect in a retail park environment, such as Currys PC World, Argos, Hobby Craft and so on.
For those coming to stay in serviced apartments in Stevenage, the excellent A1(M) route passes literally right next to the town along its western side, J7 probably being the best exit where it comes off close to the business park and the Science Park. Knebworth House, the famous country house and concert venue, lies just the other side of the main road not far away. Stevenage’s train station sits right next to the town centre and Stevenage Park, which includes a Cineworld cinema, trampoline park, bowling alley, indoor golf and a good choice of places to eat. Destinations from the station include London Kings Cross, Peterborough, York, Leeds and Brighton, among many others, and this is again part of the appeal of Stevenage for those seeking corporate housing, as it makes a convenient spot for those hopping around the country.
As you would expect for a town of its size, Stevenage has plenty to do. The Gordon Craig Theatre stages a variety of shows from drama to comedy to music, and also has a gallery and somewhere to eat, making it an excellent choice for a whole afternoon or evening out. Stevenage Museum, although small, packs in an enormous amount and explores the town’s history in what can be quite an interactive way, with hands-on activities as well as films and more. Although perhaps not for everybody, the centre of Stevenage is something to behold, with a quintessentially mid-20th century design that has in recent years started to become appreciated as a valid architectural style, with the New Town Fountain and Clock Tower, right at the heart of the central square, being a particularly fine example.
Fairlands Valley Park, less than a mile to the east of the centre of town, is perhaps the best day out in Stevenage. Voted as one of the UK’s best free attractions, it boasts hundred and 120 acres of parkland and an 11 acre sailing lake, along with a sailing centre from which those staying in Stevenage short term accommodation can partake in canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, dinghy sailing and even learn to drive a powerboat. There are also activities for the landlubbers, such as grass sledging, mountain biking, climbing, kiting… and the list goes on!
Situ offers extended stay apartments in Stevenage and many other commuting locations close to London, as well as a range of corporate accommodation options throughout the UK and beyond.