Hitchin
Described by one writer as “the finest town in Hertfordshire”, Hitchin has much to attract the visitor. Within its ancient streets are many charming independent shops, while there are some familiar High Street brands too. There are two mainstream supermarkets which are close to the town centre but do not dominate it, and there are no “out of town” supermarkets. Evening life is lively, with over 40 restaurants, bars and clubs providing entertainment late into the evening and coffee shops and cafes adding to the daytime mix. There is a busy market which operates on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, selling fresh produce, plants and a range of clothes, toys, music, hardware and more. A speciality local produce and crafts market is held on the last Saturday of each month, by the river. |  |
Hitchin has two theatres: The Queen Mother Theatre, which provides a range of amateur performances throughout the year, and the Market Theatre in Sun Street, home to a small professional company. The museum contains a replica chemists shop from 19th century Hitchin, and the nationally important British Schools Museum features the history of education from the early nineteenth century to the present.
Annual “musts” in Hitchin are the festival (June/July) which includes plays, poetry and music, including the internationally renowned Rhythms of the World festival, and the Christmas light display and special market events. Some of the residential districts of Hitchin, such as Walsworth and the Triangle, also have summer festivals, while Westmill has a busy community centre.
 | Hitchin’s vibrancy owes much to the community spirit of its traders and businesses, many of which belong to the Hitchin Town Centre Initiative. This organisation promotes co-operation and communication between businesses and with the local authorities, police and community organisations. In April 2009, Hitchin's business community voted to form a Business Improvement District, whereby they will each contribute a small sum based on their business rates for improvements to be spent in the town. An early result of this has been the appointment of rangers who patrol the town and can deal quickly with problems like litter and repairs, liaise with businesses to address their issues and provide a welcome to visitors and residents. |
There are three secondary schools in Hitchin. The Boys’ and Girls’ single sex schools are among the oldest schools in Hertfordshire. Priory School is co-educational.
Hitchin has a popular swimming centre 
consisting of both an indoor pool and a beautiful 50 metre outdoor pool, with a fitness centre alongside.
Hitchin has a number of interesting green spaces, notably Butts Close, a wide open space to the north of the centre which hosts travelling fairs. Other pleasant parks are Bancroft Gardens (home to the bowls and tennis clubs), Ransom’s Recreation Ground and Walsworth Common, while on the fringes, Purwell Meadows and Oughtonhead Common are important wildlife reserves.
Associated links (all open in new windows):
- Hitchin market
- Queen Mother Theatre
- Market Theatre
- British Schools Museum
- Rhythms of the World festival
- Hitchin Town Centre Initiative , 27 Churchyard. Telephone 01462 453335
- Hitchin Historical Society .
- The Hitchin Society . Telephone 01462 450599.
- Hitchin Forum , c/o Friends Meeting House, 1 Paynes Park. Telephone 01462 431338
