…from the Hitchin Initiative
Hitchin nestles at the foothills of
The Chilterns, in rural North Hertfordshire and set in glorious countryside.
The town is also easy to reach being well positioned, just 35 miles from London and within 10
minutes of both the M1 and A1(M). Hitchin is a lively, bustling Market Town
with a great sense of history but with a forward-looking commitment to
remaining the pre-eminent town in the District. Hitchin’s award-winning Market is open
now 4 days each week with general stalls on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and
Sunday enhanced by bric-a-brac and collectables on Friday and compulsive
car-booters on Sunday! On the last Saturday of each month there is also an
attractive riverside Local Produce & Crafts Market and more recently, a
Street Food Fest on the first Saturday. Plenty to keep bargain hunters happy.
The Hitchin British Schools Museum is
unique in that it is the only surviving example in the world of an original
‘monitorial schoolroom’ where children from poor backgrounds were able to get a
basic education. The schoolroom dates from 1837 and later additions include the
Gallery Classroom from 1853 and the Edwardian classrooms from 1905. Guides are
available or you are welcome to explore at your leisure. www.britishschoolsmuseum.co.uk St Mary’s is the largest parish church
in the county after St Albans and is mentioned as a Minster in the Domesday
Book. Founded around 792AD, it has been much changed over the centuries but the
main body of the church dates from the 1300s and 1400s when it was funded by
wealth from the wool trade. Take time to visit this beautiful building which is
right at the heart of the town.
Whether you are a foodie or a
fashionista or simply looking for that original gift, the independent shops of
Hitchin will not disappoint. The range of clothing shops get together and run
two great fashion shows on the Market Place each year – one to highlight Spring/Summer
collections in May and then in October to profile what’s on offer for
Autumn/Winter; from latest trends to vintage, sportswear to bridal outfits.
There are great food shops in Hitchin – independent butcher Allinghams with
locally reared meat and a wide selection of tasty sausages that are made on the
premises; Quotidian bakery at the end of Sun Street where the early morning
aroma of freshly baked bread and pastries tempts many on their way to work to
stop off for coffee and croissant; Halseys Deli and Tearooms near St Marys with
the best cheese counter around and lots of independent cafes with a menu of
refreshments from tea and cake to a glass of wine and a three course meal. And
with our many and varied restaurants, it has been said that you can eat your
way around the world in Hitchin!
Hitchin is a great town for music and
the arts. There are two theatres – The Queen Mother Theatre www.qmt.org.uk
and the Market Theatre in Sun Street www.markettheatre.co.uk both of
which present Christmas productions as well as a great variety of productions
throughout the year. Music plays a big part in the life of the town whether
jazz at one of the pubs, Hitchin Folk Club at The Sun Hotel, a classical
concert in St Mary’s or in the wonderful Morrison Hall at Benslow Music Trust www.benslowmusic.org Hitchin Festival takes place in July each
year when over 100 productions are staged across a range of cultural activities
– programmes are out at the end of May and on the website www.hitchin-festival.co.uk
December is a busy month as well with concerts, pantomimes and outdoor
events; Christmas Tree Lights Switch-On on Friday 22nd November with
stalls and entertainment, food and gluhwein from 2pm to 8pm ;
Markets Gala Day on Sunday 8th December from 10am until 5pm with street stalls,a stage for music and lots of
roaming street entertainers; Father Christmas arrival on Sunday 15th
December from around 11am
until 3pm and then our
open-air carol concert at 8pm
on Wednesday 18th December.
These are just a few reasons why
Hitchin should be a stop off point on any tour or a day trip destination. We
can help with any enquiry – coach parking, meet & greet, guided tours,
catering etc. We can also supply Brief Guides to Historic Hitchin for an
independent tour, a Blue Plaque guide leaflet, maps, information on the wider
area and during the summer we can signpost tours to Hitchin Lavender Farm and
some of the delightful villages that make up Hitchin’s rural area. Hotel rooms
are available at The Sun Hotel, Hitchin Priory, The Lord Lister Hotel, The Firs
Hotel and Bella Vita.There is a town website at www.hitchin.co.uk
and we can be contacted at: info@htci.org.uk or tel: 01462
453335. There is also now an iphone app – see hitchin.co.uk/app
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