History

Hexham is a charming, picture-postcard town full of medieval architecture - the Abbey, Moot Hall and Old Gaol in the centre of town, its winding road layout and grand townhouses.

Its cobbled streets are trodden by thousands of tourists every year, attracted by its hilltop Italianate look - as described by famed historian Nicolas Pevsner - or its proximity to Hadrian's Wall.

Evidence of the Romans can be found within the fabric of Hexham Abbey , with stonework in the Saxon crypt being recycled from the nearby Roman fort at Corbridge and bearing inscriptions and intricate patterning. There is also a Roman gravestone within the abbey, dedicated to a cavalry soldier Flavinus.

The abbey has beautiful stained glass, artwork, carvings and a new interactive visitor centre with refectory cafe and gift shop.

Also of historical interest within the town centre is the old glove-making section, from where thousands of the famous Hexham Tans gloves were shipped out across the country and beyond.

Living here

Hexham was voted England's favourite market town by readers of Country Life in 2005, for its mix of charm, accessibility and community spirit that sets it apart from its peers.

The town is home to about 13,000 people and is served by three major supermarkets, two department stores and a host of high-street shops and smaller independent traders, as well as a good selection of pubs, restaurants and coffee shops.

It has several primary schools within its catchment area and a well-regarded secondary, Queen Elizabeth High School, known to all as QEHS. Its buildings include the Edwardian Winter Gardens and Hydro Hall - formerly the Tynedale Hydropathic Hotel - which is licensed for events.

Find Ofsted reports on Hexham's schools here .

Recreational opportunities abound, from the town's parks and leisure centres to its sporting clubs, to its sporting clubs, the many paths and bridleways within and around it, the racecourse above the town and the River Tyne at its foot.

Rowing is popular, and every year Tyne Green, a flat area running alongside the river and now a tree-lined country park, is home to a forest of tents for the Tyne Tour , a mass participation canoeing event run by Hexham Canoe Club.

The majority of campers walk up to the lovely public park The Sele, for the wonderful firework display put on every Bonfire Night by the local Round Table.

Getting around

Roads - the A69 trunk road linking Newcastle and Carlisle is close to Hexham town centre. The A695 runs from the town centre along the south bank of the Tyne to Newcastle.

Trains - Hadrian's Wall Line, which is very popular with commuters, is one of the country's oldest rail lines and first carried passengers between Hexham and Blaydon in 1835.

Buses - Arriva provides the majority of bus routes around Hexham from the bus station on Priestpopple. A new bus station is being built opposite Hexham General Hospital with services to Carlisle and Newcastle and many of Tynedale’s villages.