please empty your brain below
Who knew? One of those English towns full of interest but often overlooked because of a famous neighbour.

David B | 20.04.26 - 8:01 a.m. | #

My family lives in East Hertfordshire. During my lifetime, the local dialect has shifted from traditional Hertfordshire speech to Estuary English. I think the distinctive Hertford “twang” has largely died out now, with the electrification of the railways since 1960 and the development of Harlow being mostly to blame.

Steve | Homepage | 20.04.26 - 8:06 a.m. | #

A walk along the Stort at this time of the year has added entertainment for a few weeks. Last year’s cygnets are now on their own, abandoned by their parents who are concerned with the 2026 batches.

Without adult guidance the year olds go through a ‘hooligan’ stage, flocking together, squabbling, aggressive wing displays. The chaos grows until nature takes over and the youngsters enter the adult stage and look to pair off. They will be ready to care for offspring in Spring 2027!

Kenneth Morton | 20.04.26 - 8:31 a.m. | #

I'd say Bishop's Stortford isn't immensely commutable for easyJet cabin crew as easyJet don't have a base at Stansted and operate very few flights from there.

Charlie | 20.04.26 - 9:09 a.m. | #

OK Charlie, it's Ryanair.

N'enculons pas des mouches

dg writes: I’m more than happy for Charlie to split hairs. Updated thanks.

David B | 20.04.26 - 9:13 a.m. | #

I've been few Bishops Stortford a few times in recent years, as it's a very good transport base for walking in the area, with buses to the countryside enabling one way walks.

The airport is surprisingly unobtrusive, it doesn't feel like a town next to an airport.

Mikey C | 20.04.26 - 10:17 a.m. | #

More interesting than it first appears.

Also briefly the home of not one, but two 'London Transport' garages - both were inherited and vacated when Epping opened in 1934 - one was shared with what became Eastern National, London Transport sold it to them in 1935, although closed in the 1990s, this building still stands and is in use by a private business. The other had belonged to ACME Pullman Services and was acquired by Green Line in 1932, although the yard has gone, the building at 39 South Street still stands.

Still Anon | 20.04.26 - 10:59 a.m. | #

Agree it’s a lovely town. I went about a year ago and walked all the way along the river until it meets the Lee, it’s a beautiful walk just about manageable in a day and perfect for the ‘sunny solitude’ I really needed at the time. IIrc I got back on the train at Broxbourne.

Nick | 20.04.26 - 12:51 p.m. | #

Looks lovely, especially on such a fine day.

Cornish Cockney | 20.04.26 - 2:21 p.m. | #

I hope you had a lovely day! If Jackson Square is now fully complete and re-opened, that's welcome news to me. That has dragged on for years. Although the Goods Yard flats are obviously a better use of land than parking, it's a shame that they and the multistorey overshadow the old cinema and bowling complex which I and friends frequented throughout the early 2010s. Stortford has definitely got posher since then, and probably a less fun place to grow up, but it does still have the budget shops and rough pubs (sadly the Bridge Cafe greasy spoon has closed). It was always the nearest town with anything really going on in that corner of the world. It even had a nightclub!

anna | 20.04.26 - 6:43 p.m. | #

You have encouraged me to think about visiting sometime soon rather than just continuing to speed past on the M11 every few months - thank you. The mug provides a superb double entendre. Your chess references were already decent and then the pawn shops were the icing on the cake - it was good of you to check, mate.

DavidC | 20.04.26 - 10:23 p.m. | #

The Coopers mail order company has its shop there, where I bought my wonderful hand-held shredder.

Basil Jet | 21.04.26 - 2:43 a.m. | #

Enjoyed the Stortford wander, especially the museum frisson. Rhodes was undeniably ruthless and his policies towards Africans were indefensible by today's standards — yet labelling a 19th-century empire-builder an "apartheid-enabler" imports 1948 politics back half a century too early. He founded a country, built railways, schools and an economy that still underpin southern Africa, and his Scholarship has lifted thousands regardless of race. The old museum's restraint isn't outdated hagiography; it's refreshing restraint in an age that prefers one-dimensional villains. History is messy. Airbrushing the name doesn't make it cleaner — just thinner.

Iain | 21.04.26 - 5:52 a.m. | #











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