Cheshunt

Cheshunt (/ˈtʃɛzənt/ CHEZ-ənt) is a town in the Borough of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, England, situated within the London commuter belt approximately 13 miles (21 km) north of Central London. The town lies on the River Lea and Lee Navigation, bordering the Lee Valley Park, and forms part of the Greater London Urban Area. As of the 2021 census, the built-up area subdivision of Cheshunt had a population of 43,770.

Historically recorded as Cestrehunt in the Domesday Book of 1086, Cheshunt developed along the Roman road of Ermine Street and shows evidence of prehistoric, Roman, and Anglo-Saxon settlement. The nearby Theobalds Palace hosted monarchs such as Elizabeth I and James I, and the town later became known for glasshouse horticulture, rose cultivation, and corporate retail, serving as the headquarters of Tesco until 2016.

Cheshunt today is a commuter town with regular services via Cheshunt railway station on the West Anglia Main Line and London Overground, and is accessible by road via the A10 and M25 motorway. The local economy includes logistics, retail, business parks, and hospitality, and is undergoing transformation with major developments such as Cheshunt Lakeside, Brookfield Riverside, and a £1 billion Google data centre.

Notable residents have included Cliff Richard, Victoria Beckham, and Olympic cyclist Laura Kenny.