The village and civil parish of Welwyn is in Hertfordshire, England. It is not to be confused with the newer town of Welwyn Garden City, a mile to the south. Welwyn is about 22 miles north of London and is situated in pleasant countryside surroundings in the valley of the River Mimram. This was once a Roman settlement, and visitors come to discount hotels in Welwyn so they can see the Roman ruins. The Welwyn Roman Baths are just a small part of what is called the Dicket Mead Villa. This villa, which dates from the 3rd century, was probably part of a farm and might have served as an inn, because a Roman road ran through here. A vault was built above the baths to accommodate a new roadway. Visitors can still see the hypocaust (heating system), tepidarium (warm room), caldarium (hot room), and the opus signinum (floor of the cold room).

Guests staying in budget hotels in Welwyn can see artifacts recovered from the site in the Welwyn Museum. Other fascinating displays can be seen in the Mill Green Museum. The exhibits include Welwyn Hatfield in the Age of Steam, an excellent Victorian display called The Miller’s Kitchen and Family Gallery, and Welwyn Hatfield Then and Now: a Pictorial Display. There are hands-on activities for children. The nave of St. Mary’s Church was built in the 13th century. A country house called the Frythe was a secret establishment for the Special Operations Executive during WWII.