Pictures of Bishop's Stortford
About Bishop's Stortford
The urban sprawl of Hertfordshire hides many English gems. Such a one is this pleasant town where the Norman Bishop's of London had a castle. The castle gardens remain but King John destroyed most of the castle.
Walking around the town there is much to remind you of the town's history. Glance up from the modern shop fronts of today and you will get a glimpse of beautiful timber-frame buildings of Tudor England. The streets show a rich variety of architecture with elegant Georgian town houses and those solidly built in Victorian times.
This is the birthplace of Empire builder Cecil Rhodes who was born in 1853, the son of a vicar of Bishop's Stortford. Cecil Rhodes made a vast fortune from diamonds in South Africa. In the 1880's he founded the colony of Rhodesia, now known as Zambia and Zimbabwe. The vicarage where he was born is preserved as a museum of his life and times.
Trade in Bishop's Stortford did not begin to develop until the River Stort was made navigable in 1769. Following this the town began to advance its industries and became a central shopping and market area for the surrounding communities. It remains a pleasant market town with a lively, bustling atmosphere. There are many interesting places to visit including St.Michael's Church which is exceptionally spacious and has a spire that can been seen for miles around.
Now largely a commuter area for London, the town continues to attract a fair share of visitors who find comfortable hotel accommodation, a good choice of restaurants, inns and pubs, excellent shops with some specialist shops and galleries.
Places to visit include: Hatfield Forest (NT), St.Michael's Church, Cecil Rhodes Memorial Museum and Castle Gardens.
Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.
Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner
Recommended attractions near Bishop's Stortford
| Hatfield Forest Country Park | (3.8 miles, 6.1 km, direction E) | Pictures |
| Mole Hall | (7.8 miles, 12.6 km, direction NE) | Pictures |
| Audley End | (10.9 miles, 17.5 km, direction N) | Pictures |
| Saffron Walden Castle | (11.3 miles, 18.2 km, direction N) | Pictures |
| Saffron Walden Museum | (11.3 miles, 18.2 km, direction N) | Pictures |
| Bridge End Gardens | (11.3 miles, 18.2 km, direction N) | Pictures |
| Benington Lordship | (12.1 miles, 19.5 km, direction W) | Pictures |
| Paradise Wildlife Park | (12.8 miles, 20.5 km, direction SW) | Pictures |
| Lee Valley Park | (14.2 miles, 22.9 km, direction SW) | Pictures |
| Fairlands Valley Park | (14.3 miles, 23.0 km, direction W) | Pictures |
| Waltham Abbey Church | (14.5 miles, 23.3 km, direction SW) | Pictures |
| Hylands Park | (15.3 miles, 24.6 km, direction SE) | Pictures |
| Epping Forest | (15.6 miles, 25.1 km, direction S) | Pictures |
| Imperial War Museum Duxford | (15.6 miles, 25.1 km, direction N) | Pictures |
| Knebworth House | (16.0 miles, 25.7 km, direction W) | Pictures |
All attractions in Bishop's StortfordAll attractions in HertfordshireComplete A to Z of attractions in EnglandRecommended towns near Bishop's Stortford
Much Hadham, in the county of Hertfordshire (3.8 miles, 6.1 km, direction W)
The village is quite large, with an attractive mixture of cottages and houses that are mostly fronted by pretty gardens.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Brent Pelham, in the county of Hertfordshire (6.8 miles, 11.0 km, direction NW)
Brent Pelham can be found mid-way between the town of Buntingford and the village of Newport.
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Great Hormead, a Picturesque Village in the county of Hertfordshire (7.7 miles, 12.4 km, direction NW)
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Beauchamp Roding, in the county of Essex (9.0 miles, 14.5 km, direction SE)
This is just one of a group of delightful Essex village's all bearing the name Roding. The name is probably taken from the River Roding which winds its way through the region watering fertile fields and meadows.
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Wendens Ambo, a Picturesque Village in the county of Essex (9.6 miles, 15.5 km, direction N)
This enchanting village with its unusual name lies at the western boundary of the county. Its quaint name comes from the joining of Great and Little Ambo in the 17th century.
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Thaxted, in the county of Essex (10.0 miles, 16.0 km, direction NE)
The village of Thaxted is stunningly beautiful with many reminders that it was once and perhaps always has been an extremely prosperous place.
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Hoddesdon, in the county of Hertfordshire (10.6 miles, 17.0 km, direction SW)
Hoddesdon is an ancient market town located in a spacious area of Hertfordshire close to its boundary with Essex.
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Saffron Walden, in the county of Essex (11.4 miles, 18.4 km, direction N)
The outstanding feature of Saffron Walden is its rich variety of properties tangled around its web of ancient streets.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Broxbourne, in the county of Hertfordshire (11.6 miles, 18.7 km, direction SW)
This is an attractive place lying close to the eastern border of the county between the River Lee and the Lee Navigation system, with Hoddesdon being the closest town.
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Ardeley, a Picturesque Village in the county of Hertfordshire (11.6 miles, 18.7 km, direction W)
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Epping, in the county of Essex (11.9 miles, 19.1 km, direction S)
Queen Elizabeth 1st was a frequent visitor to Epping. It was in 1575 on a visit to Thomas Heneage at Copped Hall that the Queen costituted him Clerk of the Market with his heirs forever, she also granted further market rights.
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Chipping Ongar, in the county of Essex (11.9 miles, 19.1 km, direction S)
Chipping Ongar is a pleasing town, it is within easy driving distance of Waltham Abbey and is surrounded by several places of interest.
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Hempstead, in the county of Essex (13.8 miles, 22.2 km, direction NE)
The village of Hempstead lies a short distance from the delightful town of Saffron Walden. It is the place where the highwayman, Dick Turpin is said to have been born the son of parents who kept the Bell Inn.
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Blackmore, in the county of Essex (14.1 miles, 22.7 km, direction SE)
The village of Blackmore has a long and fascinating history. It lies in an area mentioned in the Doomsday Book of 1086, and one of its oldest and most attractive buildings is the Priory Church of St. Lawrence.
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Finchingfield, a Picturesque Village in the county of Essex (14.3 miles, 23.1 km, direction NE)
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All towns in HertfordshireComplete A to Z of towns in EnglandNearby travel help
| Bishop's Stortford Station | (0.4 miles, 0.6 km) |
| M11 Junction 8 | (1.8 miles, 2.9 km, direction E) |
| Stansted Mountfitchet Station | (2.5 miles, 4.0 km, direction NE) |
| London Stansted Airport | (3.7 miles, 5.9 km, direction E) |
| M11 Junction 7 | (8.7 miles, 14.0 km, direction S) |
| London Luton Airport | (22.7 miles, 36.6 km, direction W) |
| Bishop's Stortford to London | (27.8 miles, 44.7 km, direction SW) |
Hotels & Accommodation in Bishop's Stortford
| Hotel Name | Approximate distance from Bishop's Stortford center |
| Pearse House | (1.1 miles, 1.7 km) |
| Days Inn Hotel London Stansted | (1.5 miles, 2.5 km, direction E) |
| Latchmead bed & breakfast | (1.7 miles, 2.7 km, direction S) |
| Best Western Stansted Manor Hotel | (1.7 miles, 2.7 km, direction E) |
| The Waggon & Horses | (1.7 miles, 2.8 km, direction NE) |
| The Old Bell Hotel | (2.5 miles, 4.0 km, direction NE) |
| Little Hallingbury Mill | (2.7 miles, 4.3 km, direction S) |
| Chimneys | (3.1 miles, 5.0 km, direction NE) |
| The Railway Hotel | (3.8 miles, 6.1 km, direction S) |
| Manor Of Groves Hotel Golf & Country Club | (4.3 miles, 6.9 km, direction SW) |
| All hotels in Bishop's Stortford |