Why move to Hitchin?
Whether you’re looking to buy, sell or rent, our Michael Graham team has Hitchin covered. With an office located on the corner of Bucklersbury and Tilehouse Street, our Hitchin office is dedicated to serving the market town itself and the surrounding towns and villages in North Hertfordshire.
Why move to Hitchin
In the heart of Hertfordshire, just 35 miles north of London, Hitchin is a quintessentially English market town that has hosted a weekly market in the historic Market Place for over 900 years. Offering a mix of medieval charm, Georgian architecture, and modern amenities, the town has frequently been listed as one of the happiest places to live in the UK. Narrow streets, cobbled squares, and independent shops give it a village-meets-town feel, and events and festivals give it a friendly, community feel too. Easy access to rolling countryside as well as fast trains to London make this one of the premium spots to live in the UK.
Out and about
Hitchin has lots of options for families and visitors of all ages. One of the town’s most famous attractions is Hitchin Lavender. In the summer months, over 30 acres of lavender fields just outside of town attract visitors keen to pick their own lavender or explore sunflower trails in an almost Mediterranean-like atmosphere. Hitchin’s Art Deco Lido is a heated outdoor pool and Butts Close, once used for medieval archery practice, is now a park ideal for picnics, games, and community events. The River Hiz provides a tranquil walking route along the Hicca Way, leading through the town and out into the nearby countryside. For younger children, Space to Play, Bancroft Splash Park and Ransom’s Recreation Ground, with its play areas, skate parks, and zip wires, are popular places to play.
Restaurant scene
Hitchin’s diverse culinary scene serves everything from American-style food at Craft and Cleaver; oysters, and cocktails at Hermitage Rd; Japanese cuisine at Kazoku and Spanish tapas at Los Reyes. Traditional pubs remain a staple of the town too, including The Rusty Gun and The Cricketers.
Schools
Many families move to Hitchin for the excellent schooling options. Hitchin has a good mix of primary and infant schools, some rated outstanding by Ofsted, as well as several well‑established secondary options, notably Hitchin Boys’ School and Hitchin Girls’ School.
Excellent Transport Links
Hitchin is exceptionally well-connected, making it a popular destination for buyers moving out of London but still needing to commute. Hitchin Railway Station is a mile outside of the town centre, and frequent trains run direct to London King’s Cross, the fastest service taking around 30 minutes. Regular services also connect to Cambridge, Peterborough, Stevenage, and Gatwick Airport. Luton airport is just 30 minutes by car. The M1 motorway is about 10 miles away, offering further connections to the Midlands and the Southeast.
Popular areas close to Hitchin:
Living in Lilley
Lilley is a small village in the Chiltern Hills surrounded by open countryside about 6 miles north of Hitchin. Property here is mostly detached and semi-detached houses, cottages, and farmhouses, and property prices tend to be higher than average for small villages. Amenities in Lilley include a village hall, pub, and church, with shops, supermarkets, schools, and healthcare facilities found in nearby towns like Hitchin, Luton, or Baldock.
Living in Letchworth Garden City
The world’s first Garden City, Letchworth Garden City was planned to combine the best of town and country living. The town centre houses the Broadway Cinema and Theatre in a spectacular art deco building; there’s the International Garden Cities Exhibition, Broadway Gallery, the iconic Spirella Building, plus plenty of places to eat and drink. As the name implies there’s plenty of green open spaces too, including Broadway Gardens, Howard Park, golf courses, and Letchworth’s famous lido. The Garden City Greenway is a 13-mile walking/cycling route, encircling the town, and you’re just half an hour by road from the towns of Cambridge and Luton and 25 minutes via train from London’s King Cross.
Living in Royston
Royston is a historic market town 12 miles from Hitchin, with independent shops, cafes, and a weekly market. Royston has its own railway station on the Cambridge Line, with direct trains to London King’s Cross taking around 45–50 minutes.
Living in Stevenage
Originally a Saxon village, in 1946 Stevenage became the UK’s first New Town, part of a government effort to create modern, well-planned communities outside of London. Stevenage is now a large town about 10 miles south of Letchworth Garden City. Considered a vibrant commuter town with exceptional transport links, Stevenage train station offers direct services to London King’s Cross in just 19 minutes, Cambridge in 41 minutes and Peterborough in 28 minutes. Quick access to the A1(M), A602 and M25 also makes Stevenage ideal for car commuters.
Living in Whitwell
Whitwell is a small village, 5 miles from the market town of Hitchin, and is known for being an extremely safe place to live – a detail that has made it extremely popular with families. Amenities are fairly limited in the village, with just a Londis and Emily’s Tea Shop, but there is a doctor’s surgery and a post office. The village sits in the Mimram Valley with beautiful natural surroundings including Hitch Wood, famous for bluebells in spring, The Whitwell & Breachwood Common, and neighbouring villages like St Paul’s Walden, childhood home of the Queen Mother.
Contact your local Hitchin office
Our high street offices know their local area inside out. Across our whole network, our Michael Graham team are active members of their local communities, regularly sponsoring local school and charity events. Whether you’re thinking of selling, or are looking to buy or to rent, pop in to meet our team in Hitchin’s town centre or give us a call – we would be delighted to help you find a property that’s perfect for you.
