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county town of Hertfordshire, England
Europe > Britain and Ireland > United Kingdom > England > East of England > Hertfordshire > Hertford

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

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Parliament Square, Hertford Town Centre

Tourist information

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Get in

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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

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  • National Cycle Route 61 (NCN 61). Long distance cycle route from Maidenhead (Berkshire) to Broxbourne (Hertfordshire). National Cycle Route 61 (Q30687084) on Wikidata National Cycle Route 61 on Wikipedia (updated Nov 2022)

By rail

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Hertford is easily accessed by train, generously served by two train stations. Both stations accept Oyster and contactless payments.

By bus

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Hertford bus station is at Bircherley Green.

By road

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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

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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

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Hertford has a small town centre and everything can be seen by walking around.

Hertford Castle

Historical points of interest include:

  • 1 Hertford Castle, The Castle, SG14 1HR, ☏ +44 1992 552885, . 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. Hertford Castle (Q2363520) on Wikidata Hertford Castle on Wikipedia (updated Nov 2022)
  • 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. Church of Saint Leonard, Bengeo (Q5117046) on Wikidata St Leonard's Church, Bengeo on Wikipedia (updated Jan 2021)
  • 3 St Nicholas Hall (Beckwith & Son), 43 St Andrew St, SG14 1HZ (next to St Andrews Church), ☏ +44 1992 582079. Number 43 Including St Nicholas Hall (Q17554087) on Wikidata (updated Nov 2022)
  • 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. (updated Nov 2022)
  • 5 Quaker Meeting House, 50 Railway St, SG14 1EH. The oldest purpose-built one in the world (in Railway Street), in use since 1670. Friends Meeting House (Q17554095) on Wikidata (updated Nov 2022)
  • 6 Shire Hall, 4 Market Place, SG14 1DF, ☏ +44 1992 588998. It was built in 1779 and designed by the noted architect, Robert Adam. Shire Hall (Q17528941) on Wikidata Shire Hall, Hertford on Wikipedia 
  • 7 Samuel Stone memorial, Mill Bridge, SG14 1PZ (next to Hertford Theatre on Mill Bridge). A statue of the founder of Hartford. Samuel Stone (Q7412710) on Wikidata Samuel Stone on Wikipedia (updated Nov 2022)
  • 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. Hertford Museum (Q5744704) on Wikidata Hertford Museum on Wikipedia 
  • 9 Christ's Hospital (Bluecoat's School), 1 Bluecoats Ave, Hertford SG14 1PB. Bluecoats House (Q26682789) on Wikidata (updated Nov 2020)
The view from Millbridge, Hertford town

Cultural venues provide wholesome entertainment:

Hertford is a noted centre for shops selling antiques and collectables.

  • 4 Eye Mind Heart, 41 Fore St, SG14 1AL, . 9AM–6PM. Homewares shop. (updated Nov 2022)
  • 5 The Shop, 19-21 Parliament Square, Hertford SG14 1EX. Homewares Shop. (updated Nov 2022)

Market

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  • 6 Hertfords Farmers Market, Salisbury Square, SG14 1BG. 8AM-3PM 2nd Sa every month. Fruit & vegetables, cheese. Hertford Farmers Market (Q101499712) on Wikidata (updated Nov 2020)

A broad array of cuisines are offered through the restaurants of Hertford:

Drink

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McMullen's Brewery

The town is well provisioned with public houses, many of which are supplied by the 11 McMullens brewery. McMullens Brewery (Q26559158) on Wikidata  in the town:

Not McMullens

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and a selection of town centre pubs that don't sell McMullen's Beer:

Off Centre

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A few minutes further walk from the centre:

North

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To the north of Hertford in Bengeo:

Coffee and milkshakes

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Sleep

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Salisbury Arms Hotel

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. (updated Nov 2020)
  • 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. 1-7, Port Hill (Q26559089) on Wikidata (updated Aug 2020)
  • 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.) The Salisbury Arms (Q17554133) on Wikidata (updated 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, . 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+. White Horse Inn (Q26559162) on Wikidata (updated Nov 2022)

Cope

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  • 2 Public toilet (adjacent to Six Templars by the entrance to the castle). free. The Wash Public Toilets Hertford (Q105061602) on Wikidata (updated Nov 2020)

Go next

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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


This city travel guide to Hertford is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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