Herts Essentials in Hitchin

Hitchin is a market town in the North Hertfordshire district, in the valley of the River Hiz at the north-eastern end of the Chiltern Hills — 16 miles north-west of the county town of Hertford and 35 miles north of London. The 2021 census recorded a population of 35,220. The town dates from at least the 7th century and retains a remarkably intact medieval and Georgian commercial centre: Hitchin Market Place (with twice-weekly Tuesday and Saturday markets that have run for centuries), the parish church of St Mary's — one of the largest in Hertfordshire — and a network of historic lanes around Sun Street, Bancroft and Tilehouse Street that today host an unusually high concentration of independent retailers, food-and-beverage and creative businesses. Our Herts Essentials service is perfect for businesses in Hitchin looking to establish a strong online presence and connect with local customers. Hitchin sits inside the North Hertfordshire local authority (shared with Letchworth Garden City, Baldock and Knebworth), which contains 6,205 business units per ONS UK Business Counts 2025. The sector mix is professional-services-led — 1,195 firms in professional, scientific and technical — followed by wholesale and retail trade (845), construction (830) and information and communication (560). 89% of North Herts businesses are micro (0-9 employees), the highest tier of micro-density in the region the site serves. Hitchin's town-centre economy reflects this: independent traders, small professional partnerships, creative agencies and the food-and-beverage cluster around the Market Place and Sun Street dominate. The Wilbury Way industrial area on the north side of town adds a layer of light manufacturing, automotive specialists and trade counters.