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

Tourist information

Hertford Town and Tourist Information Centre (Go Hertford), 10-12 The Wash, SG14 1PX, 51.796569°, -0.079250°, +44 1992 584322, tic@hertford.gov.uk. Daily 9:30AM-5PM. 2022-11-18

Get in

It lies miles directly north of London.

By bicycle

National Cycle Route 61 (NCN 61). Long distance cycle route from Maidenhead (Berkshire) to Broxbourne (Hertfordshire). 2022-11-23

By rail

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

Hertford East (HFE), Mill Road, SG14 1SB, 51.799°, -0.073°. Regular terminating services from London Liverpool Street and Stratford stations, operated by Greater Anglia. 2022-11-23
Hertford North (HFN), North Road, SG14 1NB, 51.799°, -0.092°. Regular stopping services from London Moorgate and Stevenage stations, operated by Great Northern. 2022-11-23

By bus

Hertford bus station is at Bircherley Green.

Hertford Bus Station, Bircherley Green, SG14 1RL, 51.797859°, -0.076487°. 2022-11-23

By road

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

Hertford can be reached by public transport from all five London airports:

London Heathrow (IATA: LHR) – Greenline 724 bus (2½ hr) or the Piccadilly Line connecting at Finsbury Park to Hertford North (1½ hr).
London Stansted (IATA: STN) – National Express bus route 737 (45 mins); or Greater Anglia train to Broxbourne and change for train to Hertford East.
London Gatwick (IATA: LGW) – Thameslink train to Finsbury Park and change for train to Hertford North.
London City (IATA: LCY) – Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to Stratford station, then train to Hertford East.
London Luton (IATA: LTN) – National Express bus route 737 to Hertford East station (1 hr).

Get around

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

See

Points of interest include:

Hertford Castle, The Castle, SG14 1HR, 51.7953°, -0.08023°, +44 1992 552 885, enquiries@hertfordcastle.co.uk. 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. 2022-11-23
St. Leonard’s Church, 28 St Leonard's Rd, Bengeo, SG14 3JW (from Port Hill follow Hartham Bank footpath north of Hartham Common), 51.80558°, -0.07202°, +44 1992 413 691. A Norman church built about 1120 and the oldest building in Hertford. 2021-01-19
St Nicholas Hall (Beckwith & Son), 43 St Andrew St, SG14 1HZ (next to St Andrews Church), 51.79646°, -0.08227°, +44 1992 582 079. 2022-11-24
The home of Alfred Russel Wallace, Wallace House, 11 St Andrew Street, SG14 1HZ, 51.796849°, -0.081106°. Russel proposed the theory of natural selection more or less at the same time as Charles Darwin. It is marked with a plaque. 2022-11-30
Quaker Meeting House, 50 Railway St, SG14 1EH, 51.79735°, -0.07567°. The oldest purpose-built one in the world (in Railway Street), in use since 1670. 2022-11-30
Shire Hall, 4 Market Place, SG14 1DF, 51.7963°, -0.077525°, +44 1992 588998. It was built in 1779 and designed by the noted architect, Robert Adam.
Samuel Stone memorial, Mill Bridge, SG14 1PZ (next to Hertford Theatre on Mill Bridge), 51.79663°, -0.07985°. A statue of the founder of Hartford. 2022-11-30
Hertford Museum, 18 Bull Plain, SG14 1DT, 51.7972°, -0.078°, +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.
Christ's Hospital (Bluecoat's School), 1 Bluecoats Ave, Hertford SG14 1PB, 51.79831°, -0.0725°. 2020-11-21

Do

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 Hertford Castle Weir, 51.79642°, -0.08018°. next to the Hertford Theatre.
Hertford Theatre, The Wash, SG14 1PS, 51.79635°, -0.07965°, +44 1992 531 500, box.office@hertfordtheatre.com. 2022-11-24
Manic Ceramics, 22 Port Vale, SG14 3AB, 51.7991°, -0.08398°, +44 1992 554 124. Tu-Fr 10AM-5PM. Paint your own pottery. 2020-12-26
Hertford Corn Exchange, 39 Fore St, SG14 1AL, 51.796553°, -0.076384°, +44 1727 844627, info@cornexchangehertford.co.uk. Live music, dance, comedy and events venue in a Victorian hall with a large dance floor. 2022-12-18
Courtyard Arts Centre, Port Vale, SG14 3AA, 51.79873°, -0.08364°, +44 1992 509596, admin@courtyardarts.org.uk. Tu-Sa 10am-16pm. Hertford's leading visual arts venue. 2022-12-23

Buy

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

Mark Wines Antiques, 1 St. Andrew St, SG14 1HZ, 51.79687°, -0.08085°, +44 1992 534 522, info@markwinesantiques.co.uk. 2020-11-06
Sworders, 42 St. Andrew St, SG14 1JA, 51.79650°, -0.08266°, +44 1992 583 508, hertfordoffice@sworder.co.uk. Fine art auctioneer. 2020-11-06
Rossi's Attic, 4 Mill Bridge, SG14 1PY, 51.79676°, -0.07964°, +44 1992 509547, info@rossisattic.co.uk. Vintage retro antiques & collectables. 2022-11-24
Eye Mind Heart, 41 Fore St, SG14 1AL, 51.796490°, -0.076102°, info@eyemindheart.com. 9AM–6PM. Homewares shop. 2022-11-24
The Shop, 19-21 Parliament Square, Hertford SG14 1EX, 51.795379°, -0.078334°. Homewares Shop. 2022-11-30
Hertford Organic, 4 Honey Lane, SG14 1DN, 51.79649°, -0.07801°, +44 1992 550856, hertfordorganic@gmail.com. Grocery, Vegetable and all Organic foods. 2022-12-08

Market

Hertfords Farmers Market, Salisbury Square, SG14 1BG, 51.79668°, -0.07763°. 8AM-3PM 2nd Sa every month. Fruit & vegetables, cheese. 2020-11-11

Eat

Oh My Cod (Fish Bar), 39 Cowbridge, SG14 1PN, 51.79838°, -0.08293°, +44 1992 505 066. M-Th 11:30AM-10PM, F Sa 11:30-11PM, Su 3-10PM. 2020-12-26
Oishii, 33 Green Dragon Vaults, The Wash, SG14 1PT, 51.79621°, -0.07890°, +44 1992 500995, info@Oishiihertford.com. M-F noon-3PM 6-11PM, Sa Su noon-11PM. Japanese restaurant. 2020-11-06
Mr Tanaka's, 2 Post Office Walk, SG14 1DL, 51.796275°, -0.076000°, +44 1992 536555, 123tanakas@gmail.com. Japanese and Katsu restaurant. 2022-11-24
Veyso's Brasserie, 97-101 Fore Street, SG14 1AS, 51.79679°, -0.07492°, +44 1992 550 055, info@veysos.co.uk. Su-Th noon-11PM, F Sa noon-midnight. Mediterranean restaurant. 2020-11-06
Lussmanns, 83 Fore Street, SG14 1AL, 51.796704°, -0.075275°, +44 1992 929500, reservations@lussmanns.com. European bistro specialising in fish and grill dishes amid clean, modern decor with a cosy basement. 2022-11-30
Proove Pizza, 3 Parliament Square, Hertford SG14 1EX, 51.795727°, -0.078271°, +44 1992 927487. Neapolitan pizza & small plates. 2022-11-30

Drink

Hertford is well provisioned with public houses many of which are supplied by the McMullens brewery, 51.79808°, -0.08001°. in the town:

The Blackbirds, 15-17 Parliament Square, SG14 1EX (by the war memorial with the hart statue), 51.795577°, -0.078243°, +44 1992 509 286, blackbirds.hertford@stonegategroup.co.uk. 11AM-10PM. 2022-11-23
Dog and Whistle, 112 Fore St, SG14 1AB, 51.79667°, -0.07498°, +44 1992 552 274, bookings@dogandwhistlepub.co.uk. 2022-11-23
Hertford House Hotel, 1 Fore St, SG14 1DA (by the war memorial with the hart statue), 51.7959°, -0.07863°, +44 1992 517 440, enquiries@hertfordhouse.co.uk. 2022-11-23
Lord Haig, 5 South St, SG14 1AZ, 51.7975°, -0.07491°, +44 1992 582 706, lordhaig@hotmail.com. 11AM-10PM. McMullens. 2022-11-23
Lomo Bar and Grill, 25A St. Andrew Street, SG14 1HZ, 51.796444°, -0.081699°, +44-1992-587772. 2022-11-23
Old Cross Tavern, 8 St Andrew St, SG14 1JA, 51.79701°, -0.0813°, +44 1992 558 061, oldcrosstavern@gmail.com. 4:30-10PM. 2020-11-04
The Practitioner, 76-78 Fore St, SG14 1BY, 51.79623°, -0.07653°, +44-1992-532200, practitioner.hertford@mcmullens.co.uk. 2022-11-23
The Snug, 32-36 Railway St, SG14 1BA, 51.79727°, -0.0759°, +44-1992-587674, hertford@thesnugbar.co.uk. 2022-11-23
White Hart, Salisbury Square, SG14 1BW, 51.79654°, -0.07717°, +44 1992 583 605, whitehart.hertford@mcmullens.co.uk. 2022-11-23
The Woolpack, Mill Bridge, SG14 1PZ, 51.79697°, -0.080125°, +44 1992 583 766, woolpack.hertford@mcmullens.co.uk. 2022-11-23

Not McMullens

Some town centre pubs that don't sell McMullen's Beer:

The Hertford Bell, 24 Railway St, SG14 1BA, 51.79711°, -0.07630°, +44 1992 551 494. 11AM-10PM. Green King 2020-11-04
The Quietman, 2/4 Fore St, SG14 1BZ (by the war memorial with the hart statue), 51.79595°, -0.07847°, +44 1992 517 440. 2020-11-04
The Six Templars, 1 The Wash, SG14 1PS, 51.79613°, -0.0792°, +44 1992 517 430. 8AM-11PM. Wetherspoons. 2022-11-17
White Horse, Castle St, SG14 1HH, +44 1992 500 557. M-Th 4-11PM, F Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-10PM. Fullers 2020-11-11

Off Centre

Out of Hertford's town centre:

The Black Horse, 29-31 West St, SG13 8EZ, 51.79370°, -0.08259°, +44 1992 583 630, info@theblackhorse.biz. M-Th noon-11PM, F Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-10:30PM. Traditional free house established in 1817. 2020-12-26
Great Eastern Tavern, 29 Railway Pl, SG13 7BS, 51.79948°, -0.06875°, +44 1992 582 048. noon-10PM. McMullens 2020-11-06
The Old Barge, 2 The Folly, SG14 1QD (next to the canal), 51.79794°, -0.07817°, +44 1992 581 871. W-F 5-9PM, Sa noon-9PM, Su noon-6PM. Real ale and cider free house. 2020-11-04

North

To the north of Hertford in Bengeo:

The Millstream, 88 Port Vale, SG14 3AF, 51.80025°, -0.086876°, +44 1992 582 755, millstreamhertford@hotmail.co.uk. 2020-11-01
White Lion, 59 Bengeo St, Bengeo, SG14 3ET, 51.80533°, -0.08158°, +44 1992 509 717. 2020-11-01

Coffee and milkshakes

Hertford Coffee Lab, 6 Bull Plain, SG14 1DT, 51.79692°, -0.07773°, info@bionicbull.co.uk. M-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su 9AM-4PM. small-batch, hand-roasted coffee, made in Hertford. 2022-11-24
Shaken Cow, 5 Maidenhead Street, SG14 1DP, 51.79662°, -0.07772°, info@theshakencow.com. F noon-5PM, Sa 9:30AM-5:30PM, Su 11AM-4PM. A shake bar 2020-11-06
Il Vino Cafe, 82 Fore St, SG14 1BY, 51.79617°, -0.07623°, +44 1992 550 582. 8:30AM-4PM. Italian family-run cafe. 2022-11-24
Bebo Café, 1 Railway St, SR14 1BG, 51.796735°, -0.077497°, +44 1992 848556. 8AM-5PM. 2022-11-24
Brad & Dills, 14 Market Pl, SG14 1DQ, 51.796462°, -0.077192°, +44 7531 321421, hello@bradanddills.com. 9AM-4PM. coffee & bagels. 2022-11-30

Sleep

Cinnabar Hotel, 88-96 Fore St, SG14 1AA, 51.79643°, -0.07562°, +44 1992 660 660. 4-star hotel with night club and 14 individually decorated rooms. Fair restaurant with extensive wine list. £90-150 2020-11-06
Number One Port Hill, 1 Port Hill, SG14 1PJ, 51.79884°, -0.08320°, +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 2020-08-13
Salisbury Arms Hotel (was the Bell), Fore St, SG14 1BZ, 51.79601°, -0.07755°, +44 1992 583 091. 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.) 2022-08-20
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), 51.791714°, -0.106547°, +44 1992 586791, info@whitehorsehertingfordbury.co.uk. 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+ 2022-11-17

Cope

Public toilet, 51.79605°, -0.0794°. free 2020-11-07

Go next

The surrounding villages are very attractive and very affluent as the area forms part of London's commuter belt.

To the east, Ware, miles following the River Lea.
To the west, Hatfield, miles along the A414 and another to St Albans.
To the south west through country lanes to Essendon, Brookmans Park and Potters Bar along the B158.

Hertford - county town of Hertfordshire, England