Until 1850, Potters Bar was a farming community to the north of London. The arrival of the railway in that year began the town's transformation into the commuter town that it is today, with trains departing for London King's Cross, Welwyn Garden City, Cambridge and Peterborough. The station itself is contained within a modern office building, and visitors emerge onto Darkes Lane, the main shopping street of the town.
Close to the station you'll find the Old Manor, a surviving section of the 13th century manor house around which the original village developed. Known as Wyllyotts Manor - although no family of that name are ever known to have lived there - it is now a pub and restaurant. The unknown family also give their name to the neighbouring Wyllyotts Theatre, an entertainment venue with a programme of films, plays and live music.