Two railway stations

Hertford benefits from having two railway stations operated by two different train companies. Greater Anglia run services between Hertford East and Liverpool Street during the week and Stratford at weekends, whilst Great Northern run services between Hertford North and Moorgate.

Three schools

Hertford has three schools offering secondary education. Richard Hale School is an all boys science academy, with girls admitted to the sixth form. Sele School is a mixed secondary school, whilst Simon Balle School is an all-through school. There are a further nine primary schools

Four supermarkets

Tesco, Sainsbury's, Aldi and Marks & Spencer all have supermarkets in the town. Tesco and Sainsbury's are the largest, followed by Aldi, whilst the M&S Foodhall is relatively small, but popular. All have their own car parks and easy pedestrian links to the town centre.

A brewery

The Hertford Brewery was built in 1891 by McMullens, who had outgrown their site on nearby Mill Bridge.

The Victorian brewery was sold to Sainsbury's in 2007 although McMullens still operate on an adjacent site brewing Rivertown beers.

A castle

The stone walls of Hertford Castle date back to the 11th century. The Tudor gatehouse overlooks the castle lawn where a Royal Palace once stood. The grounds are often used for community events organised by Hertford Town Council.

Theatre & Cinema

BEAM Hertford is the focal point for live shows and cinema, providing a large 550-seat auditorium, a new three-screen cinema, an additional 150-seat studio, plaza style foyer, riverside café and 1st floor bar.

Eleven churches

All the principal denominations can be found in the town - Church of England, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Methodist and the United Reformed Church. The Quakers, Plymouth Brethren and Jehovah's Witnesses also have their own premises in the town.

Four rivers

Hertford lies at the confluence of four rivers - the Beane from Sandon, the Rib from Therfield, and the Mimram from Whitwell. All feed in to the River Lea, which originates in the Chiltern hills near Luton. The Lea is navigable from Hertford down to The Thames.

250 shops

The town centre features over 250 shops, most of which are independent, covering a range of trades including baking, clothing, white goods and tech. There are also popular coffee shops, restaurants and bars across the town.

A Museum

Hertford Museum was established in 1903 by The Andrews Brothers, who began collecting items of local interest in the late 19th century. The museum now holds over 100,000 objects and has a regular programme of events including themed exhibitions, lectures and children's events.

A hospital

The County Hospital provides a wide range of outpatient, ante/postnatal, diagnostic and therapeutic services. The original hospital opened in 1833 and expanded in the early 20th century before a comprehensive redevelopment saw the new hospital open in 2004.

Three councils

Hertford is governed by three councils, all of which are based in the town. The county, district and town councils have different responsibilities and are funded by a combination of local taxes and government grants. The local government system can often be confusing and hard to understand.