Hoddesdon Area Guide

Hoddesdon is a vibrant, family-orientated town located north of London in Hertfordshire. Today, Hoddesdon is largely a commuter town, but the history of Hoddesdon dates all the way back to Saxon times. The small village, which appeared in the Domesday Book, was granted permission for a market by King Henry III in 1253. The Hoddesdon market still stands today and operates on a Wednesday and Friday each week. There are typically a variety of stools, but staples include a fishmonger, fruit and vegetable grocer, florist, baker, and a butcher. In the Middle Ages, Hoddesdon became a focal point along the main road that ran from London to the northern parts of England. As such, the town enjoyed a consistent stream of stagecoaches. Evidence of stage-coach arches and entrances can be seen between some of the buildings opposite our Hoddesdon office. An iconic landmark of Hoddesdon Town Centre, The Clock Tower, was built in 1835, just before the arrival of local train lines, which laid the groundwork for the commuter town that it has become today.

Traveling to and from Hoddesdon

Hoddesdon has enviable transport links that lend a great deal in understanding why it has become one of the most popular commuter towns in Hertfordshire. The A10, one of the oldest road routes in England, stretches from London Bridge right the way up to Kings Lynn in Norfolk and has two junctions in Hoddesdon (one at the northernmost point of the town and one located relatively centrally). Traveling southbound down the A10, towards London, the A10 passes Broxbourne and Cheshunt, before crossing the M25. This short drive to the M25 really opens other roads routes into London that extend beyond the direct route of the A10.

There are two primary train stations that service the residents of Hoddesdon: Rye House Station and Broxbourne Train Station. Broxbourne Train Station is positioned along one of the furthest routes outside of London that accept Oyster Card and contactless payments, for services traveling to and from the capital. The station at Broxbourne has regular services into London Liverpool Street, Tottenham Hale (where the Victoria Line can be accessed), Stratford, and Seven Sisters as well as services out to Hertford, Cambridge, Bishops Stortford, and Harlow. Typically, off-peak trains to Liverpool Street run at three an hour (rising to six an hour during peak times). Fast services stop at Cheshunt and reach Tottenham Hale within 12 minutes. Liverpool Street can be reached in 27 minutes for faster service and 38 minutes for a slower service.

Finally, Hoddesdon is within a 35-minute drive to Stanstead Airport, which offers intentional travel connections. Trainline connections to Stanstead can be achieved from Broxbourne Train Station with a change at Harlow Town, to board the Stanstead Express Service.

Amenities in Hoddesdon

Hoddesdon high street is largely pedestrianised and is home to all of the shops and services you would hope would be in a small town of this standing. There are a variety of coffee shops, supermarkets, banks, pubs, and restaurants along the flanks of the high street. Hayta and Spark are two of the newer restaurants in the town. Both restaurants offer Turkish cuisine and market themselves as being ‘dedicated to modern dining’. Along the A10 is another historic market town, Hertford, which has a wealth of trendy bars and evening venues that are perfect for carrying the night on in, after frequenting the pubs and restaurants of Hoddesdon.

The Brookfield Farm shopping center in Cheshunt provides a more upscale shopping experience.

Schooling in Hoddesdon

Similar to the wealth of travel options, a variety of schooling is available to local residents. Locally there is schooling to suit the needs of each family. For state schooling, there are several senior and junior schools throughout Hoddesdon. Senior schools include the historic John Warner school and Robert Barclay Academy. Whilst plentiful, the crown jewel of our local primary schools and the one incoming buyers mention to us most, is Sheredes Primary School which boasts an Outstanding from Ofsted. Amwell View in Stanstead Abbotts also benefits from the same Ofsted rating but with a specific focus on those children who have severe learning difficulties and require extra support. Private schooling locally is in just as good supply; Haileybury, St Edmund’s, St Joseph’s in the park, Duncombe, Heath Mount, Queenswood, Stormont, Bishop’s Stortford College, and Lochinver are all within a short drive – some offering boarding and or bus collection routes from local bus stops.

Green space in Hoddesdon

Barclay Park is one of the town’s green spaces for public use and is positioned behind Hoddesdon high street, next to Hoddesdon Football and Cricket Club. The park is comprised of 18.3 acres of field and woodlands. Pathways lead around the land and culminate at the large ornamental central lake. The park has earned a Green Flag accreditation in recent years. As well as a number of children-focused events, such as Easter Egg hunts (as well as children’s play equipment), there is also a weekly park run each Saturday morning. Other local green spaces include The Hertfordshire Golf, Spa & Country Club, and Hanbury Manor. As part of the Lea Valley Regional Park, Hoddesdon boasts Dobbs Weir, Glen Faba, and Admiral's Walk Lakes. Dobbs Weir consists of nature walks, fishings, a cafe and pub and a whole lot of wildlife. Glen Faba is slightly further north than Dobbs Weir and is slightly wilder in nature. Unmade pathways through woods, grasslands, and lakes guide trepid visitors around lesser-visited areas of wildlife habitat.