If you are looking for local groups to take your baby to, toys or books to borrow to while away the hours, let the kids go sport crazy, or find someone who might help you understand your teenager, then take a look below for everything you need to know about family-friendly Hitchin.

Tourist/Local Information

The Hitchin Tourist and Community Information Hub is very active and an ideal place to start if you are new to the area or just interested in what's going on locally. They are located at 1A Churchyard in town, open Monday-Saturday 9.30am – 4:30pm.  

There is also a fairly new initiative called The Hitchin Basket where you can browse local businesses for opening times and also purchase from them directly, as well as purchase ‘H-Town Pounds’, which are vouchers that can be used at a number of local businesses. Hitchin is a great town for ‘supporting local’!

For more information on the parks and play areas in Hitchin, see our Things to do page, and don’t forget to check the What’s On page for local events.

Local Services

Hitchin Police Station is located on College Road and whilst it doesn’t have a front counter service, it does have a free outside public telephone to the police control room. The closest police station with a front counter service is in Stevenage and is open: Monday – Saturday 8am – 8pm and Sunday 10am – 8pm. 

Moving to the area? Needing to register with a doctor can be a daunting prospect. Find details of all local healthcare services in our Family Health section, including local doctors, hospitals, dentists and out of hours services. 

Citizens Advice give free, independent, impartial and confidential advice and information on a range of subjects including: Benefits, housing and council tax benefits, Consumer Rights and issues, Debt and money advice, Family and relationships, Housing, Legal issues and Employment.  They also hold foodbank vouchers. Hitchin Citizens Advice is based at Thomas Bellamy House, Bedford Rd, Hitchin SG5 1HL, but their opening hours are limited, so please check the website.  They do have a 24 hour answerphone though, so you can always leave them a message at 01462 689801. You can also call the advice line on 0800 1448848. 

Hitchin Library is located a sort walk from the town centre near Waitrose at Paynes Park. It is buggy-friendly and has disabled parking bays, with some on-road parking, but various public car parks within a few minutes’ walk. They run a variety of activities for babies, toddlers and young people and regularly run library challenges through the year. Regular groups include Baby Rhyme Time and Story time. They have a very active Facebook page, so you’ll find all of their events on there.

Hitchin's main Post Office is located within Brookers at 39 Bucklesbury in town with other smaller local post offices found at 12 Redhill Road, 20-21 Highbury Road, 95 Woolgrove Road, 63-65 High Street, Pirton and Offley Hoo Farm, Offley.

Travel

With frequent trains to London, it is no wonder Hitchin Station is so busy. However, if you are unfamiliar with the station it is good to know what to expect. The lifts to the platforms make life easier for buggies and wheelchairs, but bear in mind there are no baby changing facilities. There are drop-off points, taxi rank and bus stops, plus bicycle parking, accessible car parking near the station itself, and a privately operated car park.  There are automatic ticket machines plus a counter service.

Local bus service information can be found here.

Family support

Hitchin is also lucky to have three wonderful Family Centres that come under the North Herts Hub – there’s Bluebell, Oughton and York Road. All events and activities are listed on their Facebook page.

If you have a teenager, then you will probably be ready for Hertfordshire Services for Young People. This service is part of Hertfordshire County Council and provides youth work projects, information, advice, guidance, work-related learning and wider support for young people in Hertfordshire, as well as help and advice for parents and carers. 

Hitchin is lucky to have a variety of good schools and childcare providers, which you can find in our Education and Childcare section, along with information on School admissions, open days and appeals.

Just had a baby and looking to find where the local baby weighing clinics are in East Herts or how to contact your Health Visiting Team for advice? Check out the Hertfordshire Family Centre Service website.

Things to Do

Hitchin is also home to not one, but two museums in the town centre: the North Hertfordshire Museum located on Brand Street and The British Schools Museum on Queen Street (showcasing the only surviving example of a Lancasterian schoolroom in the country). Both museums have lots of regular events for all ages, so are well worth checking out.

If 'the Arts' is your thing, then this is something Hitchin excels at! The Queen Mother Theatre and The Market Theatre both present a range of productions. Hitchin Art Hub consists of over 250 local artists from Herts & Beds exhibiting and selling work through different local events and a permanent exhibition space in The Hitchin Information Office.

Hitchin also has a great music scene spanning all genres – from classical concerts at Benslow Music Trust to regular folk nights from Hitchin Folk Club, North Herts’ independent music venue Club 85, and brilliant busking in the Market Square organised by Hitchin BID – there really is something for everyone! 

Now, one thing that’s a bit unusual about me, is that I don’t drink tea or coffee (I know, how do I survive as a tired parent?!), however if you are a fan of the hot stuff, you’ll be pleased to know there are lots of coffee shops within Hitchin and far too many to list here! From independents, to chains, and ones with play areas to keep the little ones entertained, you really are spoilt for choice!

Cant see what you need on our website? Please do feel free to contact me ([email protected]) if I can be of any further assistance or add anything new.