Excellent place! Parking is easy if you are only visiting the High Street. Shops, bars and restaurants ....... An excellent food supermarket and two charity shops, one like a book shop and one like an antique shop. Really good chip shop and a quiet and pretty church. There is the fair on the High Street once a year and it has hosted music festivals and cycling races.

For a street in southern England it ranks with Whistables High street. It's not near the sea, but that's what happens in Hertfordshire. It has many restaurants and cafes and pubs and bistros. It also has three small supermarkets. One of these is independent and Mediterranean. Many shops are independent and most pubs act as if they are. Famous for motor bikes and coaching inns.

In 1946, Stevenage was designated the United Kingdom's first New Town under the New Towns Act. Many inns in the High Street served the stagecoaches, 21 of which passed through Stevenage each day in 1800. In 1861 Dickens wrote about it: "The village street was like most other village streets: wide for its height, silent for its size, and drowsy in the dullest degree. The quietest little dwellings with the largest of window-shutters to shut up nothing as if it were the Mint or the Bank of England." But now, it has a certain charm that you just love.

Old Stevenage High Street is full of charm and character. With its mix of historic buildings, independent shops, cafes, and pubs, it offers a refreshing contrast to modern shopping areas. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, making it a great place for a quiet walk, a coffee break, or browsing local businesses. It’s especially nice in the evenings when the street lights give it a cozy, timeless feel. A lovely spot that blends history and community spirit.

This area seemed more peaceful than the new town area nearer the station. It has several historical buildings with plaques explaining their history.