Mini Town
We’re delighted to welcome visitors to the mini town, situated in front of Watford Cycle Hub in King George V Playing fields.
Built in 2022 it has miniature roads with junctions, traffic signs, markings and a model EV charging point.
Funding was generously provided by Watford Borough Council, Sport England, British Cycling and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
How much does it cost?
It’s free, and it’s open whenever we are (every day except Monday).
Sometimes we run courses that use the Mini Town (such as our Balance Biking course) but these last 30 minutes or so, so you can stop and have a coffee while you’re waiting
What age children can use the mini town?
The Mini Town is targeted for children aged 12 and under, so whilst responsible adults are encouraged to supervise their children, common sense would be for adults not to cycle on the Mini Town unless it is particularly quiet.
Is there car parking?
Yes, two free car parks; that also support the playing fields (football & cricket pitches) and the Holywell Community Centre.
The driveway (Chaffinch Lane) is narrow, so courteous and considerate driving is requested when coming to the car park closest to the Cycle Hub and Community Centre.
There is a drop-off turning circle that has double-yellow lines to indicate the need to maintain access for emergency vehicles!
Parking availability is usually good, peaking at times that coincide with:
- Football; Sunday mornings
- Cricket; Saturday and Sundays from 10:30am during the season
- Holywell Community Centre Events
- The Playing Fields Car Park (first car park off Tolpits Lane), is occasionally unavailable when being used by Film Location teams.
Can you bring your own bike?
Yes. We’d actively encourage you to do so, though Watford Cycle Hub offers bikes & helmets for hire on the Mini-Town. (It’d be good to have a link to a schedule of Bike Hire Charges for the Mini Town.)
If you have an issue with your bike, Watford Cycle Hub’s Team will help identify if it needs a quick fix or needs the attention of our team of fully, trade-qualified Mechanics through our Service and Repair Booking System.
Are Helmets Mandatory?
Helmets and appropriate footwear are stipulated as a must! As the Mini Town gets busier, we would actively encourage one to comply with this.
Watford Cycle Hub has a range of helmets available for sale, and our team at Watford Cycle Hub can help with making sure helmets are correctly fitted.
Can I Ride an Electric Bike, Hover Board or Powered Scooter?
The Mini Town’s focus is on cycling which Watford Borough Council are actively supporting as part of its sustainable transport strategy to proactively tackle congestion and pollution.
Powered vehicles are not allowed, to maintain safety for other users – for clarity:
- No hover boards
- No electric cars, including toddler cars
- No electric scooters
- No electric and petrol motorcycles
If visiting the mini-town will be your first visit to Watford Cycle Hub, please do pop in for a coffee, and also take some time to learn about our not-for-profit Cycle Hub.
Watford Cycle Hub is a one-stop-shop for all things cycling
We are a not-for-profit community cycle centre – not just a traditional bike shop.
Established in 2012, we operate as a not-for-profit organisation and have received supportive funding from local councils and other organisations.
We offer cycle servicing and repair services, and cycle training for all ages and levels, from toddlers to adults. We also accept your old bikes (the ones that have been cluttering up your garden shed for years), recycle them, and salvaging what we can; in turn, we can sell affordable reconditioned bikes and bike parts.
In association with British Cycling we run a children’s Go-Ride Club, and regular free rides led by trained leaders set off from our Hub, taking in local traffic-free routes, meeting new people and building riders’ confidence to ride more alone.
We are proud to be the local Chapter of Cycling Without Age, which allows us to take the elderly and disabled out on rides on specially designed Trishaws, allowing them to feel the joy of the wind in their hair.
We’re here to help you with advice and information about cycling and bikes, including local cycle routes and maps, news about locally led rides and cycling opportunities and advice on bike parts and maintenance.