- For other places with the same name, see Hertford (disambiguation).
Hertford is the county town of Hertfordshire in England and has a population of around 29,000 in 2021. It was the birthplace of Samuel Stone, who is credited with being the founder of Hartford, Connecticut. The medieval town was built next to Hertford Castle that protects the ford through the River Lee replacing an earlier Saxon burh.
Understand
[edit]Tourist information
[edit]- 1 Hertford Town and Tourist Information Centre (Go Hertford), 10-12 The Wash, SG14 1PX, ☏ +44 1992 584322, [email protected]. Daily 9:30AM-5PM.
Get in
[edit]Travelling to Hertford is simple, with a large selection of transport options. The town lies 20 mi (32 km) directly north of London.
By bicycle
[edit]- National Cycle Route 61 (NCN 61). Long distance cycle route from Maidenhead (Berkshire) to Broxbourne (Hertfordshire).
By rail
[edit]Hertford is easily accessed by train, generously served by two train stations. Both stations accept Oyster and contactless payments.
- 1 Hertford East (HFE), Mill Road, SG14 1SB. Regular terminating services from London Liverpool Street and Stratford stations, operated by Greater Anglia.
- 2 Hertford North (HFN), North Road, SG14 1NB. Regular stopping services from London Moorgate and Stevenage stations, operated by Great Northern.
By bus
[edit]Hertford bus station is at Bircherley Green.
- 3 Hertford Bus Station, Bircherley Green, SG14 1RL, toll-free: +44 300 123 4050.
By road
[edit]Hertford is close to the A10, A414, A1(M) and M25. From the A10 take the junction for Hertford at Rush Green. From the A1(M) take Junction 4 for Welywn Garden City and follow the A414 Eastbound. From the M25 Junction 23 links up with the A1(M), or Junction 25 links the A10. The town can be reached in 45 minutes from Stansted Airport via the A10 and A120. It can be reached from London Gatwick and London Heathrow via the M25.
By plane
[edit]Hertford can be reached by public transport from all five London airports:
- London Heathrow (LHR IATA) – Greenline 724 bus (2½ hr) or the Piccadilly Line connecting at Finsbury Park to Hertford North (1½ hr).
- London Stansted (STN IATA) – National Express bus route 737 (45 mins); or Greater Anglia train to Broxbourne and change for train to Hertford East.
- London Gatwick (LGW IATA) – Thameslink train to Finsbury Park and change for train to Hertford North.
- London City (LCY IATA) – Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to Stratford station, then train to Hertford East.
- London Luton (LTN IATA) – National Express bus route 737 to Hertford East station (1 hr).
Get around
[edit]Hertford has a small town centre and everything can be seen by walking around.
See
[edit]Historical points of interest include:
- 1 Hertford Castle, The Castle, SG14 1HR, ☏ +44 1992 552885, [email protected]. Dates back to 900 AD, although only the gatehouse and some walls are remaining. The building is now the government office of Hertford Town Council, a museum, and an event space.
- 2 St. Leonard’s Church, 28 St Leonard's Rd, Bengeo, SG14 3JW (from Port Hill follow Hartham Bank footpath north of Hartham Common), ☏ +44 1992 413691. A Norman church built about 1120 and the oldest building in Hertford.
- 3 St Nicholas Hall (Beckwith & Son), 43 St Andrew St, SG14 1HZ (next to St Andrews Church), ☏ +44 1992 582079.
- 4 The home of Alfred Russel Wallace, Wallace House, 11 St Andrew Street, SG14 1HZ. Russel proposed the theory of natural selection more or less at the same time as Charles Darwin. It is marked with a plaque.
- 5 Quaker Meeting House, 50 Railway St, SG14 1EH. The oldest purpose-built one in the world (in Railway Street), in use since 1670.
- 6 Shire Hall, 4 Market Place, SG14 1DF, ☏ +44 1992 588998. It was built in 1779 and designed by the noted architect, Robert Adam.
- 7 Samuel Stone memorial, Mill Bridge, SG14 1PZ (next to Hertford Theatre on Mill Bridge). A statue of the founder of Hartford.
- 8 Hertford Museum, 18 Bull Plain, SG14 1DT, ☏ +44 1992 582686. Although small, this museum in the town centre offers a fascinating range of artifacts and an oversight of the history of the town.
- 9 Christ's Hospital (Bluecoat's School), 1 Bluecoats Ave, Hertford SG14 1PB.
Do
[edit]Cultural venues provide wholesome entertainment:
- Walk along the rivers. Hertford is at the confluence of four rivers, with the Rivers Beane, Mimram and Rib flowing into the River Lea and forming a navigable canal at Hertford, with the 10 Hertford Castle Weir. next to the Hertford Theatre.
- 1 Hertford Theatre, The Wash, SG14 1PS, ☏ +44 1992 531500, [email protected].
- 2 Manic Ceramics, 22 Port Vale, SG14 3AB, ☏ +44 1992 554124. Tu-F 10AM-5PM. Paint your own pottery.
- 3 Hertford Corn Exchange, 39 Fore St, SG14 1AL, ☏ +44 1727 844627, [email protected]. Live music, dance, comedy and events venue in a Victorian hall with a large dance floor.
- 4 Courtyard Arts Centre, Port Vale, SG14 3AA, ☏ +44 1992 509596, [email protected]. Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM. Hertford's leading visual arts venue.
- 5 Paradise Wildlife Park, Broxbourne. White lions, tigers, snow leopards, zebras, reindeer, tapir, meerkat, red pandas and capybaras - find the big and small at Paradise Wildlife Park in Broxbourne.
Buy
[edit]Hertford is a noted centre for shops selling antiques and collectables.
- 1 Mark Wines Antiques, 1 St. Andrew St, SG14 1HZ, ☏ +44 1992 534522, [email protected].
- 2 Sworders, 42 St. Andrew St, SG14 1JA, ☏ +44 1992 583508, [email protected]. Fine art auctioneer.
- 3 Rossi's Attic, 4 Mill Bridge, SG14 1PY, ☏ +44 1992 509547, [email protected]. Vintage retro antiques & collectables.
- 4 Eye Mind Heart, 41 Fore St, SG14 1AL, [email protected]. 9AM–6PM. Homewares shop.
- 5 The Shop, 19-21 Parliament Square, Hertford SG14 1EX. Homewares Shop.
Market
[edit]- 6 Hertfords Farmers Market, Salisbury Square, SG14 1BG. 8AM-3PM 2nd Sa every month. Fruit & vegetables, cheese.
Eat
[edit]A broad array of cuisines are offered through the restaurants of Hertford:
- 1 Oh My Cod (Fish Bar), 39 Cowbridge, SG14 1PN, ☏ +44 1992 505066. M-Th 11:30AM-10PM, F Sa 11:30-11PM, Su 3-10PM.
- 2 Oishii, 33 Green Dragon Vaults, The Wash, SG14 1PT, ☏ +44 1992 500995, [email protected]. M-F noon-3PM 6-11PM, Sa Su noon-11PM. Japanese restaurant.
- 3 Mr Tanaka's, 2 Post Office Walk, SG14 1DL, ☏ +44 1992 536555, [email protected]. Japanese and Katsu restaurant.
- 4 Veyso's Brasserie, 97-101 Fore Street, SG14 1AS, ☏ +44 1992 550055, [email protected]. Su-Th noon-11PM, F Sa noon-midnight. Mediterranean restaurant.
- 5 Lussmanns, 83 Fore Street, SG14 1AL, ☏ +44 1992 929500, [email protected]. European bistro specialising in fish and grill dishes amid clean, modern decor with a cosy basement.
- 6 Proove Pizza, 3 Parliament Square, Hertford SG14 1EX, ☏ +44 1992 927487. Neapolitan pizza & small plates.
Drink
[edit]The town is well provisioned with public houses, many of which are supplied by the 11 McMullens brewery. in the town:
- 1 The Blackbirds, 15-17 Parliament Square, SG14 1EX (by the war memorial with the hart statue), ☏ +44 1992 509286, [email protected]. 11AM-10PM.
- 2 Dog and Whistle, 112 Fore St, SG14 1AB, ☏ +44 1992 552274, [email protected].
- 3 Hertford House Hotel, 1 Fore St, SG14 1DA (by the war memorial with the hart statue), ☏ +44 1992 517440, [email protected].
- 4 Lord Haig, 5 South St, SG14 1AZ, ☏ +44 1992 582706, [email protected]. 11AM-10PM. McMullens.
- 5 Lomo Bar and Grill, 25A St. Andrew Street, SG14 1HZ, ☏ +44 1992 587772.
- 6 Old Cross Tavern, 8 St Andrew St, SG14 1JA, ☏ +44 1992 558061, [email protected]. 4:30-10PM.
- 7 The Practitioner, 76-78 Fore St, SG14 1BY, ☏ +44 1992 532200, [email protected].
- 8 The Snug, 32-36 Railway St, SG14 1BA, ☏ +44 1992 587674, [email protected].
- 9 White Hart, Salisbury Square, SG14 1BW, ☏ +44 1992 583605, [email protected].
- 10 The Woolpack, Mill Bridge, SG14 1PZ, ☏ +44 1992 583766, [email protected].
Not McMullens
[edit]and a selection of town centre pubs that don't sell McMullen's Beer:
- 11 The Hertford Bell, 24 Railway St, SG14 1BA, ☏ +44 1992 551494. 11AM-10PM. Green King
- 12 The Quietman, 2/4 Fore St, SG14 1BZ (by the war memorial with the hart statue), ☏ +44 1992 517440.
- 13 The Six Templars, 1 The Wash, SG14 1PS, ☏ +44 1992 517430. 8AM-11PM. Wetherspoons.
- 14 White Horse, Castle St, SG14 1HH, ☏ +44 1992 500557. M-Th 4-11PM, F Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-10PM. Fullers
Off Centre
[edit]A few minutes further walk from the centre:
- 15 The Black Horse, 29-31 West St, SG13 8EZ, ☏ +44 1992 583630, [email protected]. M-Th noon-11PM, F Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-10:30PM. Traditional free house established in 1817.
- 16 Great Eastern Tavern, 29 Railway Pl, SG13 7BS, ☏ +44 1992 582048. noon-10PM. McMullens
- 17 The Old Barge, 2 The Folly, SG14 1QD (next to the canal), ☏ +44 1992 581871. W-F 5-9PM, Sa noon-9PM, Su noon-6PM. Real ale and cider free house.
North
[edit]To the north of Hertford in Bengeo:
- 18 The Millstream, 88 Port Vale, SG14 3AF, ☏ +44 1992 582755, [email protected].
- 19 White Lion, 59 Bengeo St, Bengeo, SG14 3ET, ☏ +44 1992 509717.
Coffee and milkshakes
[edit]- 20 Hertford Coffee Lab, 6 Bull Plain, SG14 1DT, [email protected]. M-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su 9AM-4PM. small-batch, hand-roasted coffee, made in Hertford.
- 21 Shaken Cow, 5 Maidenhead Street, SG14 1DP, [email protected]. F noon-5PM, Sa 9:30AM-5:30PM, Su 11AM-4PM. A shake bar
- 22 Il Vino Cafe, 82 Fore St, SG14 1BY, ☏ +44 1992 550582. 8:30AM-4PM. Italian family-run cafe.
- 23 Bebo Café, 1 Railway St, SR14 1BG, ☏ +44 1992 848556. 8AM-5PM.
- 24 Brad & Dills, 14 Market Pl, SG14 1DQ, ☏ +44 7531 321421, [email protected]. 9AM-4PM. coffee & bagels.
Sleep
[edit]A selection of comfortable hotels provide overnight accommodation:
- 1 Cinnabar Hotel, 88-96 Fore St, SG14 1AA, ☏ +44 1992 660660. 4-star hotel with night club and 14 individually decorated rooms. Fair restaurant with extensive wine list. £90-150.
- 2 Number One Port Hill, 1 Port Hill, SG14 1PJ, ☏ +44 1992 587350. Gorgeous arty B&B with three rooms in a Georgian town house. No children under 12 or dogs. B&B double £130.
- 3 Salisbury Arms Hotel (was the Bell), Fore St, SG14 1BZ, ☏ +44 1992 583091. M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 8AM-8:30PM. Beautiful Grade II* 15th-century McMullens Hotel with white pargeted façades. (Closed for renovation as of Aug 2022.)
- 4 The White Horse Hotel, 234 Hertingfordbury Road, Hertingfordbury (1.4 miles west from Hertford along A414, turn south at Thieves Lane roundabout into Hertingfordbury Village), ☏ +44 1992 586791, [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. A country inn dating from the 15th-century, this pub with guest rooms is in the quiet village of Hertingfordbury. £90+.
Cope
[edit]- 2 Public toilet (adjacent to Six Templars by the entrance to the castle). free.
Go next
[edit]Villages surrounding Hertford are very attractive and affluent, as the area forms part of London's commuter belt:
- To the east, Ware, 3 mi (4.8 km) miles following the River Lea.
- To the west, Hatfield, 8 mi (13 km) miles along the A414 and another 6 mi (9.7 km) to St Albans.
- To the south west through country lanes to Essendon, Brookmans Park and Potters Bar along the B158.
Routes through Hertford |
Stevenage ← Watton-at-stone ← | Stevenage London | → Finsbury Park → Moorgate |
END ← | Hertford London | → Broxbourne → Liverpool Street |
Maidenhead ← Welwyn Garden City ← | W E | → Ware → Broxbourne |
Cambridge ← Buntingford ← | N S | → Hoddesdon → London |
Hemel Hempstead ← Hatfield ← | W E | → Harlow → Maldon |