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It may be located within a 16th century water mill but Waffle House truly lives up to its name and does what it knows best, serving delectable Belgian waffles for over 25 years. An invigorating breakfast of smoked salmon and scrambled eggs; bacon, banana and tomato, or mixed berries and yogurt topped with crunchy muesli could help you jump start your day.

Pop in at lunchtime to try some of their savoury dishes such as chilli con carne served with tortillas and sour cream, and ratatouille. The speciality is, as the name suggests, waffles, and here they come in various versions - wholemeal, plain or spelt flour  with several combinations, so there's something for everyone. Fresh banana, banoffee, pecan nut and butterscotch sauce or the spiced fruit waffle, all arrive in their golden glory, crisp hot from the oven.

After you've brushed the crumbs off you could visit the museum on the upper floor or the Roman Museum nearby.

Gloriously situated within St. Michael's Manor Hotel, overlooking the well-manicured gardens and a lake, this conservatory-style restaurant certainly does make a good impression. The décor is elegant, with mirrors and artwork and the relaxed atmosphere helps guests settle in for that special celebration or Sunday lunch with the family.

The kitchen remains loyal to British cooking with some innovative touches and there is a range of menus waiting to be explored. Starters of confit rabbit and foie gras balantine with quince puree and potted salt beef with horseradish mousse and apple and mixed cress salad could be followed by a main course of twice cooked belly of pork with pan-fried whole langoustines, apple puree and sherry vinaigrette. Finish with roast peach in caramel crème brûlée or black cherry pannacotta with dark chocolate roulade and coffee sauce.

The Lake menu could feature a parsnip and cumin soup, smoked haddock risotto and iced Maltesers parfait with raspberry sorbet.

Legend has it that Saint Alban's severed head rolled down Holywell Hill from the execution site before AD 324, but now with the opening of several boutiques and cafés things have moved on and changed for the better. Thai on The Hill is another welcome addition to the dining out scene, managed by the team behind Supattra House in St Albans.

The cooking is characterised by vibrant flavours that are altogether pleasing, starting with appetisers such as crab and coconut cake with sweet chilli sauce, and crispy spring rolls filled with grass noodles and vegetables. The main courses are well structured and focus on variety, there's stir-fried duck with ginger and jelly mushrooms and red tilapia fillet steamed with Chinese leaf, plums, ginger and coriander. The curry list, which embraces the medium spiced massaman with slices of beef or chicken, potatoes and roasted cashew nuts and the red, green, yellow and jungle versions, only show that the demand for curries is always set to remain strong at the Thai on The Hill.