Bishop's Stortford is fast becoming a commuter favourite

During the mid-19th Century, connection to the railway network laid the foundation for today’s Bishop’s Stortford being part of the commuter belt with a fast service now taking just 38 minutes to both London or Cambridge. Stanstead Airport and the M11 are both close by. The town’s buildings include the Corn Exchange, the Museum and the mound remains of a motte and bailey wooden castle, Waytemore Castle.

Bishop’s Stortford boasts a variety of shops including well-known high street stores and independent shops. The main modern shopping complex is called Jackson Square with a supermarket and there are regular market days on a Thursday and Saturday. There is also a great selection of cafés, pubs and restaurants. Bishop Stortford is said to have given the River Stort its name, not the other way round as is more usual. 

The Rhodes Art Complex on South Road, is a state of the art venue which includes a cinema, theatre, dance studio, gallery and houses musical events. The Bishop's Stortford Museum can also be found here, set within the original Victorian house that was the birthplace of Cecil Rhodes - founder of the diamond company, De Beers. Other leisure facilities include another cinema and two leisure centres. Sworders Field hosts community events, fairs, circuses and the annual Cazfest music festival, and there is the Bishop’s Stortford College Festival of Literature each year.

The area is well-known for some excellent primary schools. At secondary level, there is the Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College, Hockerill Anglo-European College, the Bishop’s Stortford High School and Leventhorpe School at Sawbridgeworth. Major independent schools include Bishop’s Stortford College, Felsted School near Great Dunmow, St Edmund’s College at Ware and Haileybury near Hertford.

A monthly season ticket to London costs £381.40 from Bishops Stortford (£3,972 annually) with the fastest journey time between Bishops Stortford and London Liverpool Street 38 minutes. Trains to Cambridge take 38 minutes (£208.90 monthly, £2,176 annually); Harlow takes 8 minutes (£73 monthly, £760 annually).

The M11 motorway is nearby, giving easy access to Cambridge 30 miles to the north and the M25 motorway to the south for connections all over London which is 1 hr 10 minutes by road. For travel further afield, Stansted Airport can be reached in just eight minutes.

Here’s a round-up of great new homes to buy in Bishop’s Stortford:

Regents Court (Redrow Homes) - Located on South Street in the heart of this popular commuter town just a few minutes’ walk from the station and 38minutes from London Liverpool Street, these smart one- and two-bedroom apartments have just been launched. Prices from £244,995. Find out more about Regents Court from Redrow Homes.
Nicholls Lodge (Churchill Retirement) - A stylish development of 53 one- and two-bedroom energy efficient retirement apartments within easy reach of the station. Each home features 24-hour Careline support system, fully fitted kitchens and shower rooms and Intruder alarm system. Prices from £298,950. View more about this development
Kingswood Place (David Wilson Homes) – Set in the desirable Essex village of Elsenham near Bishop’s Stortford this exceptional range of two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes are designed with unique architectural features to reflect the character of the local area. Priced between £364,995 and £834,995. View more properties from David Wilson Homes
Hailes Wood (Charles Church) - A new collection of homes for sale in Elsenham close to Bishop’s Stortford. The two-, three- and four-bedroom detached and semi-detached new homes each have a garage and off-street parking and a range of amenities close by. Prices from £290,000. Find out more about Hailes Wood from Charles Church
The Ashes (Bovis Homes) - This attractive new development at Takeley offers a convenient, rural lifestyle in a location that's ideal for London commuters close to Bishop’s Stortford and Stansted Airport. Two-bedroom bungalow and three-, four- and five-bedroom homes feature designs from the Portfolio range. Prices from £499,995. Find out more about The Ashes from Bovis Homes	​​​​​​