Superbly situated in rural Hertfordshire, on the border with the county of Essex, it can be anticipated that there will eventually be between 40,000 and 45,000 people living in Bishop’s Stortford on the Hertfordshire side of the County boundary, with, perhaps, another 5,000 to 10.000 living in Essex, but looking to Bishop’s Stortford as the natural centre for their shopping and leisure pursuits.

Bishop’s Stortford is an affluent area, partly due to its status as a commuter town for mainly financial workers in London. The town is also home to many people working in the tourist industry, including hotels, catering and airline staff, as it is the closest large town to Stansted Airport. In total, about 85 per cent work in the services sector (2001 census). Bishop’s Stortford is served both by high street chain stores and long-established family shops. The main retail streets are South Street, Potter Street, North Street and Hockerill Street. There is a modern shopping complex called Jackson Square. Market days are Thursday and Saturday, which consist of a selection of stalls with a variety of goods including bags and luggage, flowers, cards and clothing

Bishop’s Stortford Chamber of Commerce is the town’s largest business organisation. It actively champions local projects and interests at local, regional and government level. Business Stortford is an initiative set up to showcase the town’s unique location and encourage companies from the UK, Europe and beyond to relocate or expand their operations in the area. It is targeting European businesses seeking a base in the UK, international companies wanting a well-connected location in Europe and UK firms looking for first-class air transport links to Europe. Business Stortford is backed by Bishop’s Stortford Chamber of Commerce and supported by the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership. Bishop’s Stortford today, retains the charm of a market town and many of its old buildings and has become an important hub for commuters into London and to the nearby Stansted Airport.

In 2002 Rhodes Memorial Museum and Bishop’s Stortford Local History Museum merged to create Bishop’s Stortford Museum. Today the population of Bishop’s Stortford is 39,000

Just west of the M11 motorway on the county boundary with Essex. It is the closest sizeable town to London Stansted Airport, 27 miles north-east of Charing Cross in central London, and 35 miles by rail from Liverpool Street station, the London terminus of the line to Cambridge that runs through the town.