Hitchin has beaten St Albans and Harpenden in a public vote for the best place to live in Hertfordshire

Hitchin topped eight places across Hertfordshire with Muddy Stilletos readers voting our town the best.

Hertfordshire's historic town of Hitchin was voted as the most popular place to live for those who're not quite ready to ditch city life - with its renowned raft of top quality restaurants impressing, not to mention our town's brilliant indie boutiques, arty shops and vintage emporiums.

Driven not by size but quality, the vote revealed the strength of passion for each town or village's sense of community, local facilities, and immediate surroundings.

Muddy Stilletos said of Hitchin: "It could easily be mistaken for a London suburb with its relaxed community vibe, cafés culture, chic eateries and bars, plus it's got a market square, winding cobbled streets, tonnes of green space, historic pubs, and unique local attractions, such as the lavender farm and a lido.

"It ticks all the boxes for young professionals and families who want the perks of country life but remain within easy commuting distance of London and Cambridge.

The average price for Hitchin property stands at a reasonable £454,011. So, you're looking at £450-550k for spacious terraces and £700,000 + for the grander properties.

"Not bad at all for such a happening place," concluded Muddy Stilletos.

The Top Eight most popular towns and villages in Herts were:

1 Hitchin

3 Tring

5 Hertingfordbury

7 Rickmansworth