Town Centre Shopping

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There are over 200 shops in the town centre - a mixture of high street chain stores, independent and specialist shops, bars, restaurants, hairdressers, estate agents, banks and other retail services.

One of the attributes that distinguishes Hertford from its larger neighbours is the number of independent traders and specialist shops in the town. There is also a thriving night-time economy due to the number of bars and restaurants. The town has four supermarkets - Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer, Tesco and Aldi, as well as a number of convenience stores.

Several well-known national stores have shops in the town, including Specsavers, Poundstretcher and Greggs. W.H.Smith have a branch in Bircherley Green, as do Holland & Barratt. Hinds and Boots can also be found in the town centre.

Hairdressers and shops offering personal care can be found in abundance in the town. At the time of writing there are 14 ladies hairdressers and 13 gents barbers. The number of eateries is in excess of 40, ranging from Thai, through Indian, Japanese and Italian, to fish & chips and Kebabs.

There is also no shortage of estate agents and banks, with three major players in the centre of town, together with the Nationwide Building Society. There are 11 estate agents.

Just out of town, but within walking distance, you'll find Matalan, Wickes. Majestic Wines and Pets At Home.

Communication links are excellent with Hertford East railway station on the edge of the town centre in Railway Street and a multi-storey car park next to the main A414 through town, as well as other short and long stay car parks around the town. Hertford North railway station is just a ten minute wa;lk from the town centre.

Shops

Man and Women's Fashion

There are a number of clothes shops for women of all ages. Boutiques such as Ruby Room and The Womens' Society cater for younger women, and for fashionable young men, Azir and Stags.

Gift Shops

The range of gift shops in the town is growing, with the sector currently served by Eye Mind Heart and Five & Dime in Fore Street.

Second Hand

Like many towns Hertford has a range of charity shops, including the British Heart Foundation, Mind, Keech and Saga. The Oxfam shop in Maidenhead Street stocks a range of books and a selection of vinyl records.

Saturday Market

As befitting a market town, every Saturday there is a charter market in the town centre. Amongst the many stalls in Maidenhead Street, Salisbury Square and Bircherley Green you'll find an olive stall, bread stall, cheese, eggs, flowers and more.

There is also a farmers' market every second Saturday of the month.

Bircherley Green

Bircherley Green shopping centre in currently undergoing major redevelopment. The original shopping centre has been demolished and a new shopping and residential develpment is currently being built in its place, with an expected opening date in 2023.

Fore Street

Fore Street is traditionally one of the town's older shopping areas and is now home to a number of restaurants and bars as well as retail establishments.

Stretching from Parliament Square in the west to Ware Road in the east, Fore Street is the longest of the town's shopping streets.

Shops include popular hardware and party shop Messages, 1409 Hair, Sheffield pharmacy and Iron's dry cleaners.

And if you're looking for marmoleum or a dyed wool twist pile, then Hertford Flooring is the destination for you.

Retail services based in Fore Street include estate agents Steven Oates and Simply Homes, banks HSBC and NatWest, solicitors Jameson Hill and independent electrical retailer Albany Radio.

Restaurants in Fore Street include the award-winning independent Lussmann's, Mediterranean Dinnio, as well as Pizza Express and Spanish tapas eatery Annexo. There is also a restaurant at the Salisbury Arms Hotel.

Of the many bars and pubs in Hertford, Fore Street hosts The Dog & Whistle, McMullens' The Practitioner, The Salisbury Arms Hotel and The Hertford House Hotel, which has a popular bar.

Maidenhead Street & Bull Plain

Maidenhead Street is a pedestrianised shopping street that runs from The Wash to Bull Plain and Salisbury Square. There are a selection of shops including Mr.Simms' traditional sweet shop, Poundstretcher, Hinds and Boots Optician. Hertford Post Office can also be found here.

At the eastern end of Maidenhead Street is Bull Plain, the former site of the town's cattle market, where you'll find Fred & Ginger ladies stylist, a pair of nail bars, an art shop and coffee shop, along with popular nightspot Popworld and Hertford Museum.

Maidenhead Street takes it's name from the former Maidenhead Inn, which stood oppposite Boots Opticians.

Railway Street

Running from Bull Plain and Salisbury Square to South Street, Railway Street runs parallel to Fore Street and was formerly known as Back Street. The town gaol was once located here.

Some of the town's smaller boutiques and retailers can be found in Railway Street, including womenswear shop Ruby, mobile shop shop EE and Stags menswear.

Service retailers in Railway Street include David Perkins commercial estate agency and Toni & Guy hairdressers.

Pubs and bars on the other side of the street include The Hertford Bell and The Snug, both of which have outdoor seating.

St.Andrew Street & Old Cross

At the western end of the town is St.Andrew Street, once famed for its antique shops, of which only two remain.

Along St.Andrew Street you'll find beauticians, a chemist, vape shop and tailors. On the other side of the road is a hairdresser, Chinese takeaway and a vintage shop.

Restaurants at this end of town include Il Vino (Italian) and Baan Thitiya (Thai). Real Ale enthusiasts flock to The Old Cross Tavern, an award-winning free house.

St.Andrew Street is also notable for a Georgian letter box and a pair of pear trees.

Old Cross is another of the town centre locations that once hosted a cattle market, hence the junction with Cowbridge. Shops in Old Cross include ladies hair stylists Dead Swanky and Guiseppe's, an opticians and optician Designer Eyes. On the other side of the road are Leaf Café, and The Good Food Centre, which also offers complimentary treatments in The Natural Therapy Centre above.

Remains of the ancient church of St.Mary The Less stand nearby, having been unearthed during the construction of the town library in 1887.

Parliament Square

You'll find a number of smaller shops in Parliament Square, including Gents' hairdresser Seven and men's boutique Azir.

You can also pick up a wide range of Chinese Herbal Medicines in The Wash nearby.

Service retailers include estate agent Thomas Child and letting agent Sage Ward.

Restaurants in Parliament Square include Old Siam (Thai) and Elle's Kitchen (Thai).

There are a number of popular nightspots in the square, including The Blackbirds, Hertford House Hotel and Deco.

Market Street & Market Place

Leading off from Fore Street, both Market Street and Market Place feature a small number of retail premises.

In Market Street, a pair of charity shops join County Cobbler and Lanes estage agents.

Over in Market Place you'll find Intersport and Gingerlillie.

Nearby Evron Place is home to Sovereign dry cleaners and hairdresser Ahead Of Time.
 

Supermarkets

There are four supermarkets in Hertford, along with a selection of convenience stores.

Tesco is in Ware Road, a short walk from Marks & Spencer Food. Sainsbury's is in Hartham Lane by the brewery, and Aldi have recently opened a store at the end of St.Andrew Street.

Elsewhere

Just outside the town centre in Ware Road are Concord Trophies and a branch of Simmons Bakers. Close by, you'll find the town's Tesco supermarket, and a couple of hundred yards to the east is Madford Retail Park, home to Wickes, Pets At Home and Matalan.

Have we overlooked you? Maybe you sell something unusual or you have a story to tell. If so, contact us at info@hertford.net.

This page was last updated on 2nd August 2022.