Herts &amp; Beds


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why">WHY?</h2>



<p>This historic town (in the borough of the same name, covering Cheshunt, Hoddesdon and Waltham Cross), is flanked by the Lee Valley Country Park, with its waterways, meadows and wetlands to the East, and the A10, which offers a quick whizz up to Cambridge, on the West. Not one, but two rivers run through it (the River Lea and the New River) and you&#8217;ll find hundreds of acres of woodlands to explore here. s a super family friendly vibe, with a good range of schools, sports facilities and local events &#8211; even its own zoo! Plus, it&#8217;s a zippy 30 min commute by train into London Liverpool St. &nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eat">EAT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/Woodman-and-olive-broxbourne-1000x1000.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-85557" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/Woodman-and-olive-broxbourne-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/Woodman-and-olive-broxbourne-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/Woodman-and-olive-broxbourne-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/Woodman-and-olive-broxbourne-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/Woodman-and-olive-broxbourne-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/Woodman-and-olive-broxbourne.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Woodman and Olive</figcaption></figure>



<p>You&#8217;ll find a couple of good pubs here, including the McMullen&#8217;s <a href="https://www.mcmullens.co.uk/local-pub/bulls-head/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bulls Head</a> and Vintage Inns&#8217; <a href="https://www.vintageinn.co.uk/restaurants/east/thecrownbroxbourne#/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Crown</a>, as well as <a href="https://whitebearbroxbourne.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The White Bear</a> and <a href="https://www.thewoodmanandolive.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Woodman and Olive</a> &#8211; a modern Greek pub and restaurant which also does a good roast. There&#8217;s also a handful of Indian and meze bars including <a href="https://shishbourne.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shishbourne</a>, a Pan-Asian takeaway, <a href="https://tuktukpanasian.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tuk Tuk &amp; Rayu</a> and tapas bar, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bar37broxbourne" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bar 37</a>. </p>



<p>Plus there&#8217;s a wide range of options in nearby Hoddesdon, including the waterside pub, <a href="https://www.vintageinn.co.uk/restaurants/east/thefishandeelshoddesdon#/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Fish and Eels</a>, Sicilian restaurant, <a href="https://www.nonnaskitchenuk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nonna&#8217;s Kitchen</a>, modern Turkish, <a href="https://sparkbarandkitchen.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spark Bar and Kitchen</a>, and BBQ experience, <a href="https://www.smokeshed.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Smokeshed</a>. And in the other direction, in Cheshunt, you&#8217;ll find all-day Mediterranean dining and cocktails at <a href="https://reynabrasserie.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reyna Brasserie</a> as well as slick bistro, <a href="https://lailakitchen.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Laila Kitchen.</a> </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shop">SHOP</h2>



<p>Whilst Broxbourne isn&#8217;t brimming with cool high street stores and indies, there&#8217;s a handful of convenience stores (including a Little Waitrose and Sainsbury&#8217;s Local) and a butchers. Just out of town you&#8217;ll find the <a href="https://www.brookfieldshoppingcentre.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brookfield Shopping Centre</a>, with an M&amp;S. For boutiques and lifestyle stores, the nearest hub is Hertford, with Welwyn and Hatfield within easy reach too. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-amp-wellbeing">HEALTH &amp; WELLBEING</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/Broxbourne-sports-club.jpg" alt="tennis courts at Broxbourne sports centre" class="wp-image-85559" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/Broxbourne-sports-club.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/Broxbourne-sports-club-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/Broxbourne-sports-club-1000x667.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Broxbourne Sports Centre</figcaption></figure>



<p>You&#8217;ll find three GP surgeries in Broxbourne, as well as private clinic, <a href="https://www.medicspot.co.uk/private-gp-appointment/hertfordshire/medicspot-clinic-broxbourne" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Medicspot</a> a physiotherapy clinic, <a href="https://www.broxbournephysioclinic.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Broxbourne Physio</a>, and three NHS and private dental practices including <a href="https://together.dental/broxbourne/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Together Dental</a> and <a href="https://www.dentalsmileclinic.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dental Smile Clinic</a>. For beauty treaments, there&#8217;s everything from the <a href="https://hertslaserandbeautyclinic.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Herts Laser and Beauty Clinic</a> for hair removal and aesthetics, to a clutch of small nail bars and <a href="https://www.trendsbrowbar.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trends Brow Bar</a> in Hoddesdon, to hairdressers including <a href="https://www.fresha.com/a/studio-66-broxbourne-66-high-road-pzc823uo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Studio 66</a>. </p>



<p>Swingers (not that knind) will make a beeline for <a href="https://www.thgcc.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Hertfordshire Golf and Country Club</a>, luxury loafers detour to the <a href="https://www.elysiumspahertfordshire.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elysium Spa</a> at Broxbournebury Mansion. Fitness-wise, check out <a href="https://broxbournesportsclub.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Broxbourne Sports Club</a> with its wide range of facilities for sports from tennis and padel to hockey, cricket and running. And if stretching and working our are more your thing, try <a href="https://www.instagram.com/21pilatesstudio/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">21 Pilates</a>, <a href="https://pilateslodge.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pilates Lodge</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/avjoes/?locale=en_GB" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Average Joe&#8217;s Gym</a>, which has a ladies only studio as well as <a href="https://bebroxbourne.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BeBroxbourne</a> fitness and leisure centres.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community">COMMUNITY</h2>



<p>There&#8217;s a great sense of community, thanks to plenty of parks and shared outdoor spaces, primarily Broxbourne Common and Station Road Recreation Ground, with its play area and bike ramps handily close to the train station. Local football teams play in the latter, and the New River runs right through it. There&#8217;s a free summer holiday parks programme for kids, and Hoddesdon hosts an annual midsummer dog show and a Food and Drink Festival as well as Christmas extravaganza with live music, parades, performances and fireworks. <a href="https://broxbournesportsclub.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Broxbourne Sports Club</a> also has a clubhouse with bar/function room and is big on tennis, as well as all-weather pitches and floodlit hard courts, plus mini courts for little ones, making it a great community centred space. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nearby-attractions">NEARBY ATTRACTIONS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/Lion-Hertfordshire-Zoo.jpg" alt="lion hertfordshire zoo" class="wp-image-82641" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/Lion-Hertfordshire-Zoo.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/Lion-Hertfordshire-Zoo-800x533.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hertfordshire Zoo</figcaption></figure>



<p>You won&#8217;t run out of things to do round here. The 600 acre <a href="https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/media-library/documents/environment-and-planning/countryside-management-service/places-to-visit/broxbourne-woods/broxbourne-woods-walkers-guide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Broxbourne Woods</a> – run by Woodland Trust and is Hertfordshire’s only National Nature Reserve – are ideal for dog walking, cycling and weekend rambles and it has a sculpture trail to keep the kids entertained. <a href="https://www.visitleevalley.org.uk/river-lee-country-park" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lee Valley Country Park</a>, which stretches the full length of the borough, includes the <a href="https://www.visitleevalley.org.uk/broxbourne-old-mill-and-meadow" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Broxbourne Old Mill and Meadows</a>, the <a href="https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/lee-valley/white-water-centre" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lee Valley White Water Centre</a>, with a huge range of high octane water sports, the nearby <a href="https://www.visitleevalley.org.uk/rye-house-gatehouse" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rye Gatehouse</a>, which dates back to 1443, and the wildlife watching haven of <a href="https://www.visitleevalley.org.uk/dobbs-weir" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dobbs Weir and Nazening Lagoons</a>. Talking of wildlife, the <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/rye-meads" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RSPB&#8217;s Rye Meads Reserve</a> is close by, as is the recently re-branded <a href="https://www.hertfordshirezoo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hertfordshire Zoo</a> which is in Broxbourne itself, with its animatronic dinosaurs, family events and Speedway Museum.  </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture">CULTURE</h2>



<p>You might not expect it but Broxbourne is stone&#8217;s throw from one of Hollywood&#8217;s major production studios, <a href="https://www.sunsetstudios.com/waltham-cross-production-studios/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sunset Studios</a> (in Waltham Cross), so keep an eye out for c&#8217;lebs if you&#8217;re in the area! Broxbourne has its own <a href="https://broxbournetheatrecompany.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">theatre company</a> if you&#8217;re keen on treading the boards, and you can catch performances, films, comedy and more at the <a href="https://www.thespotlightvenue.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spotlight Theatre</a> in nearby Hoddesdon. The borough of Broxbourne even has its own museum, <a href="https://lowewoodmuseum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Lowewood Museum</a> in Hoddesdon, which is open on Fridays and Saturdays (free entries) and is packed with local history, as well as holding regular family friendly exhibitions and events. If you&#8217;re a motorcycling fan, check out the <a href="https://www.hertfordshirezoo.com/attractions/national-speedway-museum/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Speedway Museum</a> at Hertfordshire Zoo, dedicated to the zoo&#8217;s founder&#8217;s successes in the sport.  </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-average-house-price">AVERAGE HOUSE PRICE</h2>



<p>The average overall house price in the town last year was £490,000 with detached properties fetching a whopping £910,000, whilst terraces are around the £435,000 mark. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hot-property">HOT PROPERTY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Big-black-hen-broxbourne-1000x667.jpg" alt="Detached gothic house " class="wp-image-86195" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Big-black-hen-broxbourne-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Big-black-hen-broxbourne-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Big-black-hen-broxbourne.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Top of the class this pretty detached Grade II-listed former school house. <a href="https://www.bigblackhen.com/properties/broxbourne-3-bedrooms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">On the market for £795,000</a>. </figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nurseries">NURSERIES</h2>



<p><a href="https://littlehummingbirdnursery.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Little Hummingbird Nursery</a> is in the Broxbourne recreation ground overlooking parkland and close to the station for parents who commute, and <a href="https://bearcubsdaynursery.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bear Cubs Day Nursery</a> offers a woodland setting, whilst <a href="https://squirrelsnurseries.co.uk/nurseries/squirrels-nursery-broxbourne/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Squirrels Day Nursery</a> has a focus on outdoor learning thanks to it&#8217;s large garden. Then there&#8217;s <a href="https://www.milllanepreschool.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mill Lane Pre-school</a>, <a href="https://wormleypreschool.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wormley Pre-school</a> and <a href="https://www.squigglespreschools.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Squiggles Pre-School</a> in Wormley and Cheshunt. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-schools">SCHOOLS</h2>



<p>The two most local primaries, <a href="https://www.broxbourne-pri.herts.sch.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Broxbourne CE Primary</a> and <a href="https://sheredesprimary.herts.sch.uk/">Sheredes Primary</a> (in Hoddesdon) are both rated Ofsted Outstanding. For Secondary there are are two Good rated co-eds with sixth forms, <a href="https://www.broxbourne.herts.sch.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Broxbourne School</a> and <a href="https://www.robertbarclayacademy.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Robert Barclay Academy</a> in Hoddesdon. If you&#8217;re going down the independent route, <a href="https://herts.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/haileybury-hertford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Haileybury</a> is the closest Senior and an excellent option. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-kept-secret">BEST KEPT SECRET</h2>



<p>The area (technically Hoddesdon, but we&#8217;re claiming it), is home to TV chef Gino D&#8217;Acampo. Ok, we can&#8217;t promise that living here will make you a whizz in the kitchen but you could be rubbing noses with the foodie set if you move here.    </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commute">COMMUTE</h2>



<p>Couldn&#8217;t be easier. There are three to six trains per hour from Broxbourne station into London Liverpool St, which takes less than 30 mins, whilst there&#8217;s a fast service to Tottenham Hale in just 12 mins<strong>!</strong></p>



<p><em>View the full&nbsp;</em><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/"><em>Top 300 Best Places to Live</em></a>.</p>


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