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The historic market town of Hexham is situated in the North East of England between Newcastle upon Tyne and Carlisle. With a population of just over 11,000, it is the largest town in the Tyne Valley and the principal service centre for Tynedale.
The town centre is dominated by the Abbey (founded in AD 674) and this outstanding building attracts visitors from around the world.
Hexham benefits from good transport links and is within easy reach of Newcastle upon Tyne and the Metro Centre (to the East), it is 35 miles from the Scottish border (to the North) and relatively close to Cumbria and the Lake District (to the West).
The town also offers an array of leisure facilities including a race course, theatre, Border History Museum, Moot Hall, leisure centre, race course, running track, golf courses and cricket. There is a wide choice of eating establishments ranging from traditional English hotels, pubs and cafes to Italian, Cantonese and Indian restaurants.
With the downturn in farming, the local economy has become more reliant on tourism with visitors attracted to the Abbey and to the many places of interest located near the town. These include Kielder Forest and Water which offers walking, cycling, sailing and fishing and the internationally acclaimed Hadrian's Wall (a World Heritage site) with the historic Roman forts at Chesters, Vindolanda and Housesteads.
In 2005, Hexham was voted Best Town in the Britain in Bloom contest and England's favourite market town by Country Life magazine.
