View source for Hereford

{{Short description|Cathedral city and the county town of Herefordshire, England}}
{{About|the city in England|other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox UK place
| type = [[City status in the United Kingdom|City]] and [[civil parish]]
| official_name = Hereford
| static_image_name = {{multiple images
| image1 = Centre of Hereford - geograph.org.uk - 4306743.jpg
| image2 = St Peter's church, Hereford - geograph.org.uk - 4448884.jpg
<!--please crop me at the top and bottom-->
| image3 = The Wye Bridge and Hereford Cathedral - geograph.org.uk - 5668005.jpg
|align = center |total_width = 300|perrow= 2 1
}}
| static_image_caption = Clockwise from the top: Hereford City Centre, St Peter's Church, River Wye Bridge and the Cathedral
| static_image_2_name = Coat of Arms of Hereford City Council.svg
| static_image_2_width = 150px
| static_image_2_caption = Coat of arms of the City Council
| coordinates = {{coord|52.056|-2.716|display=inline,title}}
| population = 53,112
| population_ref = ([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 Census]])<ref name="bua2011">{{cite web |title=Hereford |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/westmidlands/admin/county_of_herefordshire/E04000921__hereford/ |website=City population |access-date=25 October 2022}}</ref>
| os_grid_reference = SO515405
| london_distance = {{convert|135.7|mi|km}} [[Points of the compass|ESE]]
| civil_parish = Hereford
| unitary_england = [[Herefordshire]]
| lieutenancy_england = Herefordshire
| region = West Midlands
| country = England
| post_town = HEREFORD
| postcode_area = HR
| postcode_district = HR1, HR2, HR4
| parts_type = Areas of the city
| p1 = [[Aylestone Hill]]
| p2 = [[Bartonsham]]
| p3 = [[Belmont Rural]] (Village)
| p4 = [[Bobblestock]]
| p5 = [[Broomy Hill]]
| p6 = [[Central, Hereford|Central]]
| p7 = [[College, Hereford|College]]
| p8 = [[Eign Hill]]
| p9 = [[Greyfriars, Hereford|Greyfriars]]
| p10 = [[Hinton & Hunderton]]
| p11 = [[Huntington, Hereford|Huntington]] (Hamlet)
| p12 = [[Kings Acre]]
| p13 = [[Lower Bullingham]] (Village)
| p14 = [[Newton Farm, Hereford|Newton Farm]]
| p15 = [[Racecourse, Hereford|Racecourse]]
| p16 = [[Redhill, Hereford|Redhill]]
| p17 = [[Saxon Gate]]
| p18 = [[The Hamptons, Hereford|The Hamptons]]
| p19 = [[Tupsley]]
| p20 = [[Victoria Park, Hereford|Victoria Park]]
| p21 = [[Whitecross, Hereford|Whitecross]]
| p22 = [[Widemarsh]]
| dial_code = 01432
| constituency_westminster = [[Hereford and South Herefordshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Hereford and South Herefordshire]]
| area_total_sq_mi = 7.85
| website = {{url|http://www.herefordcitycouncil.gov.uk}}
| mapframe = yes
}}

'''Hereford''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=En-uk-Hereford.ogg|ˈ|h|ɛr|ᵻ|f|ər|d}} {{respell|HERR|if|ərd}}) is a [[cathedral city]] and the [[county town]] of the ceremonial county of [[Herefordshire]], England. It is on the banks of the [[River Wye]] and lies {{convert|16|mi|km}} east of the border with [[Wales]], {{convert|23|mi|km}} north-west of [[Gloucester]] and {{convert|24|mi|km}} south-west of [[Worcester, England|Worcester]]. With a population of 61,900 in 2024, it is the largest settlement in Herefordshire.

An early town charter from 1189, granted by [[Richard I of England]], describes it as "Hereford [[Welsh Lost Lands|in Wales]]".<ref name="charters">{{cite web |url= http://www.herefordwebpages.co.uk/charters.shtml |title= The Royal Charters of the City of Hereford |work= Hereford Web Pages |access-date= 7 September 2011 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120115175947/http://www.herefordwebpages.co.uk/charters.shtml |archive-date= 15 January 2012 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> Hereford has been recognised as a city since [[time immemorial]], with the status being reconfirmed in October 2000.<ref>Beckett, J. V. (2005). ''City status in the British Isles, 1830–2002'', Historical urban studies. Aldershot: Ashgate.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.herefordcitycouncil.gov.uk/history/municipal-history/charters/ |title=Hereford City Council Charter |publisher=Herefordcitycouncil.gov.uk |access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212221809/http://www.herefordcitycouncil.gov.uk/history/municipal-history/charters/ |archive-date=12 February 2012}}</ref> Hereford has been a [[civil parish]] since 2000.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://herefordcitycouncil.gov.uk/council-history/ |title= Council history |publisher= Hereford City Council |access-date= 23 August 2023 }}</ref>

Products from Hereford include [[cider]], [[beer]], [[leather]] goods, [[nickel]] alloys, [[poultry]], [[chemical]]s and [[sausage rolls]], as well as the [[Hereford (cattle)|Hereford breed]] of cattle.

==Toponymy==
The Herefordshire edition of [[Cambridge County Geographies]] states "a Welsh derivation of Hereford is more probable than a Saxon one", but the name "Hereford" is also said to come from the [[Old English language|Anglo-Saxon]] "''here''", an army or formation of soldiers, and the "[[Ford (crossing)|ford]]", a place for crossing a river (cf. [[Herford]], Westphalia, with the same Saxon etymology). If this is the origin it suggests that Hereford was a place where a body of armed men forded or crossed the [[River Wye|Wye]]. The [[Welsh language|Welsh]] name for Hereford is ''Henffordd'', meaning "old road", and probably refers to the [[Roman road]] and Roman settlement at nearby [[Stretton Sugwas]].

==History==
{{see also|History of Herefordshire}}
[[File:Hereford Cathedral, from Church Street.jpg|upright|thumb|Hereford Cathedral, from Church Street]]

Hereford became the seat of [[Putta]], [[Bishop of Hereford]], some time between 676 and 688 AD, after which the settlement continued to grow due to its proximity to the border between [[Mercia]] and [[Wales]], becoming the [[Anglo-Saxons|Saxon]] capital of West [[Mercia]] by the beginning of the 8th century.<ref name=DNB>{{cite odnb |first=Patrick |last=Sims-Williams |title=Putta (died c.688) |year=2004 |id=22912 }}</ref>

Hostilities between the Anglo-Saxons and the [[Britons (historical)|Welsh]] came to a head with the [[Battle of Hereford]] in 760, in which the Britons freed themselves from the influence of the English.<ref>''Annales Cambriae''</ref> Hereford was again targeted by the Welsh during their conflict with the [[Anglo-Saxon]] King [[Edward the Confessor]] in 1056 when, supported by [[Viking]] allies, [[Gruffydd ap Llywelyn]], King of Gwynedd and Powys, marched on the town and put it to the torch before returning home in triumph.<ref name=Archenfeld>{{cite web |url=http://www.archenfield.com/history_anglosaxon.htm |title=Archived copy |website=www.archenfield.com |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304124557/http://www.archenfield.com/history_anglosaxon.htm |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Hereford had the only mint west of the [[Severn]] in the reign of [[Athelstan]] (924–939), and it was to Hereford, then a border town, that Athelstan summoned the leading Welsh princes.<ref>J and M Tonkin, The Book of Hereford, 1975</ref>

The present [[Hereford Cathedral]] dates from the early 12th century, as does the [[Wye Bridge, Hereford|first bridge]] across the Wye.<ref>J. Hillaby, Bishop Richard de Capella and the foundation of Herefordshire's market towns, in Woolhope Naturalists Field Club,Essays in honour of Jim and Muriel Tonkin, 2011</ref> Former [[Bishop of Hereford|Bishops of Hereford]] include [[Thomas Cantilupe|Saint Thomas de Cantilupe]] and Lord High Treasurer of England [[Thomas Charlton (bishop)|Thomas Charlton]].

Hereford was home to a small but relatively important [[History of the Jews in England (1066–1290)|Jewish community]] until 1290, when Jews were [[Edict of Expulsion|expelled from England]] by [[Edward I of England|Edward I]]. Jews from [[Worcester, England|Worcester]] and [[Gloucester]] moved to Hereford after their expulsion in January 1275 by the Queen mother, [[Eleanor of Provence]]. The Bishops of Hereford campaigned against the presence of the community, including Cantilupe, and [[Richard Swinefield]], who tried to stop social contact between Christians and Jews.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Hillaby, Joe |title=The Hereford Jewry, 1179-1290 (third and final part) Aaron le Blund and the Last Decades of the Hereford Jewry, 1253-90 |journal=Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club |date=1990 |volume=XLVI |issue=III |pages=432–487|url=https://www.woolhopeclub.org.uk/document/transaction/transactions-1990}}; esp pp. 463–466</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Hillaby |first1=Joe |last2=Hillaby |first2=Caroline |title=The Palgrave Dictionary of Medieval Anglo-Jewish History |year=2013 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |location=Basingstoke |isbn=9780230278165 |ol= OL28086241M |pages=141–43, 157–67}}</ref>

The city gave its name (translated to French) to two suburbs of [[Paris]]: [[Maisons-Alfort]] (population 54,600) and [[Alfortville]] (population 36,232), due to a manor built there by [[Peter of Aigueblanche]], Bishop of Hereford, in the middle of the 13th century.

A base for successive holders of the title [[Earl of Hereford]], the city was once the site of [[Hereford Castle]], which rivalled that of [[Windsor Castle|Windsor]] in size and scale. This was a base for repelling Welsh attacks and a secure stronghold for English kings, such as [[Henry IV of England|King Henry IV]] when on campaign in the [[Welsh Marches]] against [[Owain Glyndŵr]]. The castle was dismantled in the 18th century and landscaped into Castle Green.

After the [[Battle of Mortimer's Cross]] in 1461, during the [[Wars of the Roses]], the defeated Lancastrian leader [[Owen Tudor]] (grandfather of the future [[Henry VII of England]]) was taken to Hereford by Sir Roger Vaughan and executed in High Town. A plaque now marks the spot of the execution. Vaughan was later himself executed, under a flag of truce, by Owen's son [[Jasper Tudor|Jasper]].

[[File:The Old House, High Town, Hereford - geograph.org.uk - 11172.jpg|thumb|[[The Old House, Hereford|The Old House]], High Town. This timber-framed Jacobean building, built in 1621, is now a museum]]

During the [[English Civil War]], the city changed hands several times. On 30 September 1642, [[Parliament of England|Parliamentarians]] led by [[Robert Harley (1579–1656)|Sir Robert Harley]] and [[Henry Grey, 1st Earl of Stamford]] occupied the city without opposition. In December they withdrew to [[Gloucester]] because of the presence in the area of a [[Cavalier|Royalist]] army under Lord Herbert. The city was again occupied briefly from 23 April to 18 May 1643 by Parliamentarians commanded by [[William Waller|Sir William Waller]], but it was in 1645 that the city saw most [[Military action|action]]. On 31 July 1645, a [[Scotland|Scottish]] army of 14,000 under [[Alexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven]] [[Siege of Hereford|besieged the city]] but met stiff resistance from its [[garrison]] and inhabitants. They withdrew on 1 September when they received news that a force led by [[Charles I of England|King Charles]] was approaching. The city was finally taken for [[Parliament of England|Parliament]] on 18 December 1645 by [[John Birch (soldier)|Colonel Birch]] and [[Sir Thomas Morgan, 1st Baronet|Colonel Morgan]]. King Charles showed his gratitude to the city of Hereford on 16 September 1645 by augmenting the city's coat of arms with the three lions of [[Richard I of England]], ten Scottish [[Saltire]]s signifying the ten defeated Scottish regiments, a very rare lion crest on top of the coat of arms signifying "defender of the faith" and the even rarer gold-barred peer's helm, found only on the arms of one other municipal authority: those of the [[City of London]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ngw.nl/int/gbr/h/hereford.htm |title=Coat of arms of Hereford (England) |publisher=Ngw.nl |access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315090804/http://www.ngw.nl/int/gbr/h/hereford.htm |archive-date=15 March 2012 }}</ref>

[[Nell Gwynne]], actress and mistress of King [[Charles II of England|Charles II]], is said to have been born in Hereford in 1650 (although other towns and cities, notably [[Oxford]], claim her as their own); Gwynn Street is named after her.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Weaver |first1=Phillip |title=A Dictionary of Herefordshire Biography |date=2015 |publisher=Logaston Press |location=Almeley, Herefordshire |page=185 }}</ref> Another famous actor born in Hereford is [[David Garrick]] (1717–1779).<ref>Text of plaque on site of Garrick Theatre, Hereford.</ref>

The Bishop's Palace next to the cathedral was built in 1204 and is still in use today.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-769-1/ahds/dissemination/pdf/vol04/4_069_080.pdf |title=Archaeology Data Service |access-date=6 September 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101217231722/http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-769-1/ahds/dissemination/pdf/vol04/4_069_080.pdf |archive-date=17 December 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.localhistories.org/hereford.html |title=A History of Hereford |publisher=Localhistories.org |access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107033042/http://www.localhistories.org/hereford.html |archive-date=7 January 2012 }}</ref> Hereford Cathedral School is one of the oldest schools in England. The [[Harold Street drill hall|Harold Street Barracks]] were completed in 1856.<ref name=redditch>{{cite web|url=http://www.redditchadvertiser.co.uk/news/regional/14972455.Plans_to_demolish_former_barracks_to_build_boarding_school_refused/|title=Plans to demolish former barracks in Harold Street, Hereford to build Hereford Cathedral School boarding school refused|date=16 December 2016|publisher=Redditch Advertiser|access-date=24 September 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924225934/http://www.redditchadvertiser.co.uk/news/regional/14972455.Plans_to_demolish_former_barracks_to_build_boarding_school_refused/|archive-date=24 September 2017}}</ref>

During [[World War I]] in 1916, a [[Garrick Theatre fire, Hereford|fire at the Garrick Theatre]] killed eight young girls who had been performing at a charity concert.<ref name="Chester">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-25154112|title=World War One: Hereford theatre fire killed eight at fundraiser|last=Chester|first=Jerry|date=24 February 2014|work=[[BBC Online]]|access-date=27 February 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303121958/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-25154112|archive-date=3 March 2014}}</ref>

==Governance==
[[File:Town Hall, Hereford - geograph.org.uk - 739270.jpg|thumb|upright|Hereford Town Hall, opened in 1904]]

The main [[local government]] body covering Hereford is [[Herefordshire Council]]. Hereford has a city council, a [[Parish councils in England|parish council]] with [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]], and has only limited powers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://herefordcitycouncil.gov.uk/council-history/|title=Council History|publisher=Hereford City Council|access-date=15 December 2024}}</ref>

Historically, Hereford has been the county town of Herefordshire. In 1974, Herefordshire was merged with [[Worcestershire]] to become part of the county of [[Hereford and Worcester]] and Hereford became a [[Non-metropolitan district|district]] of the new county.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1972/2039/schedule/part/18/made|title=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972 |publisher=Legislation.gov.uk |access-date=15 December 2024}}</ref> No [[successor parish]] was formed, so the former borough became [[unparished area|unparished]]. Hereford had formed a historic borough and was reformed by the [[Municipal Corporations Act 1835]].<ref>Vision of Britain – [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10024559 Hereford MB] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060109183737/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10024559 |date=9 January 2006 }}</ref> On 1 April 1998, the county of Hereford and Worcester was abolished; Herefordshire and Worcestershire were re-established as separate counties.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/1867/made|title=The Hereford and Worcester (Structural, Boundary and Electoral Changes) Order 1996|publisher=legislation.gov.uk|accessdate=15 December 2024}}</ref>
[[File:Hereford UK locator map.svg|thumb|the former district in Hereford and Worcester]]
However, the new Herefordshire was a [[unitary authority]] without any districts and so Hereford lost its district status (although, confusingly, the authority's full legal name is the County of Herefordshire District Council). [[Charter trustees]] were appointed to preserve mayoral traditions until a [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]] council could be set up, which happened on 1 April 2000 when the unparished area was parished as Hereford and [[Belmont Rural]], part also went to the existing parish of [[Clehonger]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/hereford.html|title=Hereford Registration District|publisher=UKBMD|access-date=15 December 2024}}</ref> Hereford is one of only eight [[Parish councils in England#Alternative styles|civil parishes in England which have city status]]. It is based at [[Hereford Town Hall]].<ref>{{cite web  |url= https://herefordcitycouncil.gov.uk/city-history/ |title= City History: Elizabeth II |publisher= Hereford City Council |access-date= 16 December 2020 |archive-date= 3 December 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201203110759/https://herefordcitycouncil.gov.uk/city-history/ |url-status= live }}</ref>

[[Hereford (UK Parliament constituency)|Hereford]] was the name of a parliamentary constituency that was centred in the city from 1295 to 2010, when it was renamed [[Hereford and South Herefordshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Hereford and South Herefordshire]]. The current [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] is [[Jesse Norman]] of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]]. He has represented the [[Electoral district|constituency]] since [[2010 United Kingdom general election|May 2010]].

== Geography ==
=== Climate ===
As with all of the UK, Hereford experiences a [[Oceanic climate|maritime climate]], with limited seasonal temperature ranges, and generally moderate rainfall throughout the year. The nearest [[Met Office]] weather station, for which 30-year averages are available, is [[Credenhill]] weather station, about {{convert|4|mi|0}} north west of the city centre. Before 2001, the weather station at [[Preston Wynne]] (7 miles, 11&nbsp;km to the north-east) provided the data.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gcq04hx21 |title=Hereford climate |website=Met Office |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906183129/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gcq04hx21 |archive-date=6 September 2015}}</ref>

Since 2001, extremes at Hereford Credenhill have ranged from {{convert|33.6|°C|°F}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tutiempo.net/en/Climate/HEREFORD_CREDENHILL/19-07-2006/35220.htm |title=July 2006 Maximum |access-date=2 March 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724114214/http://www.tutiempo.net/en/Climate/HEREFORD_CREDENHILL/19-07-2006/35220.htm |archive-date=24 July 2011 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> during July 2006, to as low as {{convert|-15.8|°C|°F}} during December 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tutiempo.net/en/Climate/HEREFORD_CREDENHILL/26-12-2010/35220.htm |title=December 2010 minimum |access-date=2 March 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724114234/http://www.tutiempo.net/en/Climate/HEREFORD_CREDENHILL/26-12-2010/35220.htm |archive-date=24 July 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In February 2020, many houses in Hereford were evacuated due to floods.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.myweather2.com/City-Town/United-Kingdom/Hereford/climate-profile.aspx |title=January Climate History for Hereford &#124; Local &#124; United Kingdom |access-date=12 August 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129122640/http://www.myweather2.com/City-Town/United-Kingdom/Hereford/climate-profile.aspx |archive-date=29 January 2016 }}?</ref>
{{Weather box
|location = Hereford, elevation: {{convert|75|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1970–1979)
| collapsed    = 
| metric first = y
| single line  = y
|Jan record high C = 13.5 
|Feb record high C = 15.1
|Mar record high C = 17.7
|Apr record high C = 22.7
|May record high C = 26.6
|Jun record high C = 32.6
|Jul record high C = 33.8
|Aug record high C = 32.8
|Sep record high C = 27.0
|Oct record high C = 22.8
|Nov record high C = 19.5
|Dec record high C = 15.4
|Jan record low C = -10.7
|Feb record low C = -8.9
|Mar record low C = -6.7
|Apr record low C = -5.0
|May record low C = -1.4
|Jun record low C = 1.0
|Jul record low C = 4.6
|Aug record low C = 3.3
|Sep record low C = -0.4
|Oct record low C = -2.2
|Nov record low C = -6.7
|Dec record low C = -7.2
|Jan high C = 7.8
|Feb high C = 8.5
|Mar high C = 10.9
|Apr high C = 13.7
|May high C = 17.0
|Jun high C = 19.9
|Jul high C = 21.9
|Aug high C = 21.4
|Sep high C = 18.8
|Oct high C = 14.6
|Nov high C = 10.8
|Dec high C = 8.1
| year high C = 
|Jan mean C = 4.7
|Feb mean C = 5.0
|Mar mean C = 6.8
|Apr mean C = 9.0
|May mean C = 12.1
|Jun mean C = 15.0
|Jul mean C = 16.9
|Aug mean C = 16.5
|Sep mean C = 14.0
|Oct mean C = 10.8
|Nov mean C = 7.3
|Dec mean C = 4.9
| year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 1.5
|Feb low C = 1.5
|Mar low C = 2.7
|Apr low C = 4.2
|May low C = 7.1
|Jun low C = 10.0
|Jul low C = 11.8
|Aug low C = 11.6
|Sep low C = 9.2
|Oct low C = 6.9
|Nov low C = 3.8
|Dec low C = 1.6
| year low C = 6.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 67.3
|Feb precipitation mm = 51.2
|Mar precipitation mm = 48.8
|Apr precipitation mm = 50.2
|May precipitation mm = 53.4
|Jun precipitation mm = 47.8
|Jul precipitation mm = 48.5
|Aug precipitation mm = 58.4
|Sep precipitation mm = 50.6
|Oct precipitation mm = 77.9
|Nov precipitation mm = 65.7
|Dec precipitation mm = 72.7
|year precipitation mm = 695.5
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 12.0
| Feb precipitation days = 10.1
| Mar precipitation days = 9.4
| Apr precipitation days = 9.8
| May precipitation days = 9.6
| Jun precipitation days = 8.6
| Jul precipitation days = 8.5
| Aug precipitation days = 9.1
| Sep precipitation days = 9.0
| Oct precipitation days = 11.9
| Nov precipitation days = 12.8
| Dec precipitation days = 12.5
| year precipitation days =123.3
| source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref name="MetOffice">{{cite web |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/location-specific-long-term-averages/gcq0233j7
|title = Station: Hereford, Credenhill, Climate period: 1991–2020 |publisher=Met Office |access-date=15 December 2024}}</ref> |source 2=Starlings Roost Weather<ref>{{cite web |url=http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/temp_month_record_tmax_map.php |title= Monthly Extreme Maximum Temperature, Monthly Extreme Minimum Temperature |publisher= Starlings Roost Weather |access-date=16 December 2024 |archive-date= 1 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201173843/http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/temp_month_record_tmax_map.php |url-status= dead}}</ref>
}}

==Demography==
In 2021 the built-up area had a population of 60,475,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/westmidlands/county_of_herefordshire/E63003830__hereford/|title=Hereford|publisher=City Population|accessdate=2 October 2025}}</ref> the urban area had a population of 61,014,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/cities/englandua/?cityid=7187|title=United Kingdom: Urban Areas in England|publisher=City Population|accessdate=2 October 2025}}</ref> the agglomeration had a population of 63,346<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/agglo/E34004334A__hereford/|title=Hereford|publisher=City Population|accessdate=2 October 2025}}</ref> and the parish had a population of 53,112.

The following statistics were recorded for the parish of Hereford at the [[United Kingdom 2021 Census|2021 Census]]:

{| class="wikitable"
| colspan="14" style="text-align:right;"|'''Hereford: Ethnicity''': 2021 Census<ref name="citypopulation.de">{{cite web |title=Hereford (Parish, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/westmidlands/admin/county_of_herefordshire/E04000921__hereford/ |website=www.citypopulation.de |access-date=26 August 2024}}</ref>
|-
! Ethnic group
! Population
! %
|-
||White
|style="text-align:right;"|50,427
|style="text-align:right;"|95%
|-
|Asian or Asian British
|style="text-align:right;"|1,167
|style="text-align:right;"|2.2%
|-
|Mixed
|style="text-align:right;"|718
|style="text-align:right;"|1.4%
|-
|Black or Black British
|style="text-align:right;"|319
|style="text-align:right;"|0.6%
|-
|Arab
|style="text-align:right;"|127
|style="text-align:right;"|0.2%
|-
|Other Ethnic Group
|style="text-align:right;"|350
|style="text-align:right;"|0.7%
|-
|Total
|style="text-align:right;"|53,112
|style="text-align:right;"|100%
|}

The religious composition of Hereford at the 2021 Census was recorded as:

{| class="wikitable"
| colspan="14" style="text-align:right;"|'''Hereford: Religion''': 2021 Census<ref name="citypopulation.de"/>
|-
! Religious
! Population
! %
|-
||Christian
|style="text-align:right;"|28,092
|style="text-align:right;"|57%
|-
|Irreligious
|style="text-align:right;"|20,029
|style="text-align:right;"|40.7%
|-
|Muslim
|style="text-align:right;"|426
|style="text-align:right;"|0.9%
|-
|Hindu
|style="text-align:right;"|196
|style="text-align:right;"|0.4%
|-
|Buddhist
|style="text-align:right;"|173
|style="text-align:right;"|0.4%
|-
|Other religion
|style="text-align:right;"|345
|style="text-align:right;"|0.6%
|-
|Total
|style="text-align:right;"|53,112
|style="text-align:right;"|100%
|}

==Transport==
=== Roads ===
[[File:Greyfriars Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 854117.jpg|thumb|Underneath Greyfriar's Bridge]]

Hereford, as an ancient crossing over the River Wye, has long been important within the regional and national transport network. Today, the city is served by several major routes, including the A49, A438, A465 and A4103. The nearest motorway is the {{UK road|M50}}, which passes to the south of Ledbury.

Along the northern rim of the city, the A4103 is named ''[[Roman roads|Roman Road]]'', running in a straight line from east to west. Only one major route [[List of crossings of the River Wye|crosses the River Wye]]: the A49/Victoria Street, which is carried by Greyfriars Bridge.

The Hereford Link Road was completed in December 2017,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/info/200196/roads/252/hereford_2020/3 |title=Hereford 2020 |website=Herefordshire.gov.uk |language=en |access-date=20 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420110607/https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/info/200196/roads/252/hereford_2020/3|archive-date=20 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> costing around £34,000,000 to build.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-42396310 |title=New £34m city link road opened |date=18 December 2017 |access-date=20 April 2019 |language=en-GB |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420113609/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-42396310 |archive-date=20 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2017, Hereford was named ''Britain's second slowest city'', with an average traffic speed of 14.09&nbsp;mph. Cambridge topped the list, whilst London came third with vehicles travelling at an average 14.59&nbsp;mph.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lubin|first=Rhian|date=11 April 2017 |title=The slowest motorway in Britain has been revealed – and no-one is surprised |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/slowest-motorway-britain-been-revealed-10202184|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730114944/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/slowest-motorway-britain-been-revealed-10202184 |archive-date=30 July 2019 |access-date=6 June 2020|website=[[Daily Mirror]]}}</ref>

====Future====
Following completion of the Hereford Link Road in December 2017, there are plans to add new homes, a university building and a transport hub to this area.<ref>{{Citation |last=Hereford 2020 |title=City Link Road – post regeneration |date=7 February 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo1kVMELuEY|access-date=20 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105084945/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo1kVMELuEY&gl=US&hl=en |archive-date=5 November 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Plans for a north–south bypass were scrapped in February 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hereford bypass plans scrapped |url=https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/hereford-bypass-plans-scrapped |url-status=live |access-date=31 March 2021 |website=The Construction Index |language=en |archive-date=3 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203130416/https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/hereford-bypass-plans-scrapped}}</ref>

===Railways===
{{The Railways of Hereford}}

[[Hereford railway station]] lies to the north of the city centre.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hereford (HFD) station information |url=https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/HFD/details.html |access-date=14 January 2021 |website=National Rail Enquiries |archive-date=16 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116040252/https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/HFD/details.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It is a junction of two lines: the western terminus of the [[Cotswold Line]] and a through station on the [[Welsh Marches line|Welsh Marches Line]] between {{rws|Abergavenny}} and {{rws|Leominster}}.

Services are provided by three [[train operating companies]]:

* [[Transport for Wales Rail|Transport for Wales]] operates services between {{rws|Swansea}}, {{rws|Cardiff Central}}, {{rws|Newport}} and {{rws|Shrewsbury}}; services continue either to {{rws|Chester}} and {{rws|Holyhead}} or to {{rws|Crewe}} and {{rws|Manchester Piccadilly}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timetables |work=Transport for Wales |date=15 December 2024 |access-date=26 April 2025 |url=https://tfw.wales/service-status/timetables}}</ref>
* [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] runs regular services to [[Paddington railway station|London Paddington]], via {{rws|Worcester Shrub Hill}}, {{rws|Oxford}} and {{rws|Reading}}.<ref>{{Cite web |work=Great Western Railway |title=Train Times |date=15 December 2024 |access-date=26 April 2025 |url=https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/train-times}}</ref> 
* [[West Midlands Railway]] operates services to {{rws|Birmingham New Street}}, via {{rws|Great Malvern}}, {{rws|Worcester Foregate Street}} and {{rws|Bromsgrove}}.<ref>{{Cite web |work=West Midlands Railway |title=Train timetables and schedules |date=15 December 2024 |access-date=26 April 2025 |url=https://www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk/travel-information/journey-planning/timetables}}</ref> 

A second station, {{rws|Hereford Barton}}, served the city between 1854 and 1893.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://htt.herefordshire.gov.uk/herefordshires-past/the-post-medieval-period/transport/railways/the-opening-of-the-herefordshire-railways/the-newport-abergavenny-and-hereford-railway/ |title=The Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford railway |work=Herefordshire Council |access-date=23 March 2017 |archive-date=23 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323235238/http://htt.herefordshire.gov.uk/herefordshires-past/the-post-medieval-period/transport/railways/the-opening-of-the-herefordshire-railways/the-newport-abergavenny-and-hereford-railway/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Buses ===
Since the decision of [[First Midland Red]] to pull out of the city in 2015, the majority of local bus routes have been operated by Hereford bus and coach operator ''Yeomans Travel''. Longer routes include:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hereford bus and coach services |work=Bus Times |access-date=26 April 2025 |url=https://bustimes.org/localities/hereford}}</ref>
* 23, which runs to [[Abergavenny]] and [[Newport, Wales|Newport]], run by [[Stagecoach South Wales]]
* 33 to [[Gloucester]] is operated by [[Stagecoach West]]  
* 66 to [[Monmouth]] is run by [[Newport Bus]]
* T14 links Hereford station to [[Hay-on-Wye]] and [[Brecon]], operated by [[TrawsCymru]].

=== Cycling ===
[[Cycling infrastructure]] in Hereford is maintained by [[Herefordshire Council]] and [[Sustrans]].

An unbroken [[Shared use path|shared-use path]] for cyclists and pedestrians runs along the western rim of the city, from Newton Farm to [[Holmer, Herefordshire|Holmer]]. The Great Western Way route crosses the River Wye using Hunderton Bridge and follows the route of a disused railway line.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hereford Walking and Cycling Map |url=https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/2527/hereford_walking_and_cycling_map.pdf|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605235338/https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/2527/hereford_walking_and_cycling_map.pdf |archive-date=5 June 2020 |access-date=5 June 2020 |website=Herefordshire Council}}</ref>

[[National Cycle Network|National Cycle Route 46]] runs southbound from Hereford to Swansea. The route is signposted and unbroken; the next destination from Hereford en route is [[Kilpeck Castle]]. The route passes through Abergavenny and the [[Heads of the Valleys]] as it enters Wales. As of summer 2020, Sustrans proposes an extension to Route 46 running eastbound from Hereford to [[Worcester, England|Worcester]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Herefordshire's Rural Cycling Network|url=https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/2530/rural_cycling_map.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605234956/https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/2530/rural_cycling_map.pdf|archive-date=5 June 2020|access-date=5 June 2020|website=Herefordshire Council}}</ref>

[[National Cycle Network|National Cycle Route 44]] leaves Hereford to the southeast and runs as far as [[Rotherwas Chapel|Rotherwas]]. The route is incomplete; once completed, Route 44 will run to [[Ludlow Castle]] to the north and [[Cinderford]], [[Forest of Dean]] to the south.<ref name=":0" /> The nearest bike park is the Black Mountain Bike Park.

==Military associations==
In 1999, the British Army [[Special Air Service]] (SAS) moved from their base at Stirling Lines (formerly Bradbury Lines) in Hereford, their home since 1960, to a former [[Royal Air Force]] base [[RAF Hereford|RAF Credenhill]] in [[Credenhill]] that had been redeveloped and was designated as [[Stirling Lines]] in 2000. The clock tower on which the names of deceased SAS soldiers are inscribed was relocated.<ref>{{cite news|last=Staff|date=19 May 1980|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,924110,00.html|title=World: Britain's SAS.: Who Dares Wins|newspaper=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=9 January 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110120104040/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,924110,00.html|archive-date=20 January 2011}}</ref>

The Anglican church of St Martin<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stmartinshereford.org.uk/|title=Home – St Martin's Church Hereford|author=Phillip Brown|work=stmartinshereford.org.uk|access-date=3 May 2015|archive-date=18 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218190441/http://stmartinshereford.org.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref> has part of its graveyard set aside as an SAS memorial, over twenty SAS soldiers are buried there. There is also a Wall of Remembrance displaying memorial plaques to some who could not be buried, including the 18 SAS men who lost their lives in the Sea King helicopter crash during the Falklands Campaign on 19 May 1982,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-18136957|title=SAS Falklands dead remembered at service|work=BBC News|date=20 May 2012|access-date=3 May 2015|archive-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925232936/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-18136957|url-status=live}}</ref> and a sculpture and stained glass window dedicated to the SAS.<ref>{{cite web |author=Ben Goddard |url=http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/14788397.Sculpture_will_be_more_relevant_for_today__39_s_regiment__says_veteran__39_s_wife/ |title=Sculpture will be more relevant for today's regiment, says veteran's wife (From Hereford Times) |date=7 October 2016 |publisher=Herefordtimes.com |access-date=2016-11-18 |archive-date=19 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119062807/http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/14788397.Sculpture_will_be_more_relevant_for_today__39_s_regiment__says_veteran__39_s_wife/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 17 October 2017, ''Ascension'', a new sculpture and window honouring the Special Air Service Regiment in [[Hereford Cathedral]], was dedicated by the then [[Richard Frith|Bishop of Hereford]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.herefordcathedral.org/news/ascension-memorial-dedicated|title=Ascension memorial dedicated|publisher=Hereford Cathedral|access-date=5 November 2017|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107030429/https://www.herefordcathedral.org/news/ascension-memorial-dedicated|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:Hereford, High Street pedestrian shopping area.jpg|thumb|right|The High Town pedestrianised shopping area]]

In 2005, Hereford was granted [[Fairtrade City]] status.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hereford/worcs/4323795.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |title=Fairtrade status given in county |date=6 March 2005 |access-date=10 December 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917132837/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hereford/worcs/4323795.stm |archive-date=17 September 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Major employers in the city include:
* [[H. P. Bulmer|Bulmers]], now owned by [[Heineken]] – [[Cider]] and alcoholic beverages producer. Brands include [[Woodpecker Cider]], [[Strongbow Cider|Strongbow]] and Bulmers Cider<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bulmer.com/age.cfm?url=/ |title=Bulmers – Getting things ready for 2012 (winter) |publisher=Bulmer.com |access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019151806/http://www.bulmer.com/age.cfm?url=%2F |archive-date=19 October 2013 }}</ref>
* Special Metals Wiggin Ltd – Manufacturers of [[nickel]] alloys<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.specialmetals.com/history.php|title=Special Metals Wiggin Ltd|publisher=www.specialmetals.com|access-date=16 August 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421064350/http://www.specialmetals.com/history.php|archive-date=21 April 2008}}</ref>
* [[Cargill]] Meats Europe (formerly Sun Valley) – Manufacturers and suppliers of food products for retailers and foodservice operators<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cargill.com/about/organization/sun_valley_europe.htm|title=Cargill Meats Europe|publisher=www.cargill.com|access-date=16 August 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080801171131/http://www.cargill.com/about/organization/sun_valley_europe.htm|archive-date=1 August 2008}}</ref>
* Painter Brothers – Manufacturers of galvanized steel towers including [[Skylon (tower)|The Skylon]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.painterbrothers.com|title=Painter Brothers|publisher=www.painterbrothers.com|access-date=16 August 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921101337/http://www.painterbrothers.com/|archive-date=21 September 2008}}</ref>

Herefordshire is a centre for [[cider]] production as it contains many acres of orchards; many breweries and associated organisations exist here, along with other heavy and light industries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/regional/herefordshire/11114579.Update__UBL_Ledbury___Cider_production_to_shift_to_Hereford/|title=Update: UBL Ledbury – Cider production to shift to Hereford |website=Hereford Times |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407095220/http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/regional/herefordshire/11114579.Update__UBL_Ledbury___Cider_production_to_shift_to_Hereford/|archive-date=7 April 2014}}</ref>

==Regeneration==
Many of the schools in Hereford have been rebuilt and improved.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hereford/worcs/8189738.stm |title=BBC News |date=7 August 2009 |access-date=28 January 2012}}</ref> The [[Herefordshire and Ludlow College]] has also been rebuilt to a 21st-century standard.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hct.ac.uk/College/h_campus.html |title=Herefordshire College of Technology |publisher=Hct.ac.uk |access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124130426/http://www.hct.ac.uk/College/h_campus.html |archive-date=24 January 2012 }}</ref> In September 2021 a new higher education institution NMITE (New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nmite.ac.uk/ |title=Homepage |access-date=18 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404131335/https://nmite.ac.uk/ |archive-date=4 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> welcomed its first students who are undertaking an MEng Integrated Engineering.

Hereford benefitted from the [[Private finance initiative|PFI]] reconstruction schemes for NHS hospitals, with the former County Hospital site having £60 million spent on a brand new, one-site hospital to replace the former three hospitals: the General, the Eye Hospital, and the County Hospital. The new [[Hereford County Hospital]] was the single largest investment in Herefordshire at that point. In 2015, further funds for more improvements at the hospital were granted.

===Current and future projects===
A major regeneration project is taking place in Hereford city centre, formerly known as the [[Edgar Street Grid]]. This covers an area of around {{convert|100|acre|km2}} just north of the old city walls. Work started on 8 October 2012,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/9172256.Work_starts_on_Hereford_s_old_cattle_market/ |title=Work Starts on Hereford's Old Cattle Market |publisher=Herefordtimes.com |date=2 August 2011 |access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404142654/http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/9172256.Work_starts_on_Hereford_s_old_cattle_market/ |archive-date=4 April 2012 }}</ref> and should take around 15 years to complete the whole project. The regeneration includes the rebuilding of the canal basin at the end of the currently disused [[Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal]]. The £80 million phase 1 includes a supermarket, department store, multiplex cinema, shops, restaurants, and other facilities and opened in late Spring 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stanhopeplc.com/?page=42&id=617 |title=Stanhope PLC |publisher=[[Stanhope plc|Stanhope]] |date=5 January 2011 |access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330053522/http://www.stanhopeplc.com/?page=42&id=617 |archive-date=30 March 2012 }}</ref>

A proposed [[bypass (road)|bypass]] has been drawn up to circle the city, which suffers from rush-hour traffic,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-07-27 |title=Agenda for Cabinet on Friday 27 July 2018, 10.00 am |url=https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=251&MId=6934&Ver=4 |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref> with potential routes either to the east or west of the city. Both routes would connect with the recently completed Rotherwas Access Road, connecting the Rotherwas [[Industrial Estate]] to the [[A49 road|A49]]. Rotherwas itself has recently been awarded [[Enterprise Zone]] status by the government; this is expected to boost the economy and bring in thousands of new jobs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-14555547 |title=Rotherwas named Enterprise Zone |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=17 August 2011 |access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904050723/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-14555547 |archive-date=4 September 2015 }}</ref>

A second railway station for Hereford has been discussed, which would be situated in Rotherwas as part of the Enterprise Zone.

Hereford is due to receive half of the 20,600 new homes expected to be built in the county by 2026, as part of the [[Regional Spatial Strategy]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wmra.gov.uk/Planning_and_Regional_Spatial_Strategy/Regional_Spatial_Strategy/Regional_Spatial_Strategy_(RSS).aspx |title=West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy |publisher=Wmra.gov.uk |date=31 March 2010 |access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111228022336/http://www.wmra.gov.uk/Planning_and_Regional_Spatial_Strategy/Regional_Spatial_Strategy/Regional_Spatial_Strategy_(RSS).aspx |archive-date=28 December 2011 }}</ref>

==Sport==
[[File:Hufc-lwme.jpg|thumb|right|Hereford United's Edgar Street ground]]

Hereford is the home of the [[association football|football]] club [[Hereford F.C.|Hereford FC]], who play at [[Edgar Street]] in the [[National League North]]. They are a phoenix club that was set up in the wake of the demise of [[Hereford United F.C.|Hereford United Football Club]] in 2014. United were best known for beating [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle]] 2–1 in an [[FA Cup]] replay in January 1972, when they were still a non-league side and Newcastle were in the top division of English football. Other city clubs include [[Westfields F.C.|Westfields]], [[Hereford Pegasus F.C.|Hereford Pegasus]] and [[Hereford Lads Club F.C.|Hereford Lads Club]], all of whom play in the [[Hellenic Football League]].

[[Hereford Rugby Club]] announced plans in 2012 for a £6 million move to a new home.<ref>{{cite web |last=Woodman |first=Ian |url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/herefordrfc/news/outline-planning-permission-gr-368789.html |title=Planning permission for new club |publisher=Pitchero.com |date=1 September 2011 |access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022061704/http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/herefordrfc/news/outline-planning-permission-gr-368789.html |archive-date=22 October 2012 }}</ref> Also based at the Rugby club are Hereford Stampede, who are an [[American football]] team who play in the [[BAFA National Leagues]] and made their full League debut in 2021.

Hereford Hockey Club is based at the Hereford City Sports Club, with teams entered into leagues in the [[West Hockey Association (field hockey)|West Hockey Association]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/herefordhockeyclub/ |title=Hereford Hockey Club |publisher=Pitchero.com |date=13 October 2014 |access-date=13 October 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017065218/http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/herefordhockeyclub/ |archive-date=17 October 2014 }}</ref>

The city is home to [[Hereford Racecourse]], a traditional [[National Hunt]] course to the north of the city centre which hosted around twenty meetings a year. The company who leased the site decided in 2012 that the site was not viable. What many thought to be the last meeting was held on 16 December 2012, however the course reopened for racing in October 2016.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hereford: Horse racing returns after four-year absence following closure|work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/37573642|access-date=6 October 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010164308/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/37573642|archive-date=10 October 2016}}</ref>

===Public leisure===
Hereford's public leisure facilities are managed by the not-for-profit trust HALO Leisure, which runs the Hereford [[Leisure Centre]] (which includes sports halls, [[gym]]nasium, squash courts, golf course and an outdoor [[sport|athletics]] facility), and the Hereford [[Human swimming|Leisure Pool]] (which includes a gymnasium, full size swimming pool, leisure pool, diving pool, and learners' pool).

===Clubs and societies===
The Hereford Rowing Club (along with the Kayak Club) uses the [[River Wye]]. The stretch of river is also used for other water sports.
Hereford has a nine pin [[Skittles (sport)|skittle]] league, formed on 24 October 1902, and today consists of five divisions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.herefordskittles.org/public_html/pages/history.htm |title=Hereford Skittles Club |publisher=Herefordskittles.org |access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316101450/http://www.herefordskittles.org/public_html/pages/history.htm |archive-date=16 March 2012 }}</ref>

==Education==
===University===
A new higher education institution, the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE), has been created in Hereford, which had its first intake of students in September 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nmite.ac.uk/node/50|title=Engineering, but not as you know it!|website=NMITE}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> It is envisioned as a seed institution for a future University of Hereford within a decade.

===Colleges===
Hereford is home to five colleges, including:
* [[Hereford College of Arts]] – a publicly funded art school on Folly Lane, with a [[Higher Education]] centre on College Road in the former main buildings of the Royal National College for the Blind. The University of Wales Trinity St Davids co-operate to provide degree qualifications.
* [[Herefordshire College of Technology|Herefordshire and Ludlow College]] (HLC), formerly known as Hereford College of Technology – The Folly Lane facility includes a university centre for the [[University of Worcester]].
* The [[National School of Blacksmithing]] is the oldest established [[blacksmithing]] college in the UK, also the largest facility for training smiths in Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Herefordshire & Ludlow College |title=Blacksmithing & Metalworking - Level 3 |url=https://www.hlcollege.ac.uk/course/580f7746ee748/Blacksmithing-Metalworking-Level-3 |website=Herefordshire & Ludlow College |access-date=9 March 2022 |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703172541/https://www.hlcollege.ac.uk/course/580f7746ee748/Blacksmithing-Metalworking-Level-3 |url-status=live }}</ref> This is also part of HLC.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hct.ac.uk/College/rural_crafts.html |title=HCT Rural Crafts Centre |publisher=Hct.ac.uk |access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131063113/http://www.hct.ac.uk/College/rural_crafts.html |archive-date=31 January 2012 }}</ref>
* [[Hereford Sixth Form College]]
* The [[Royal National College for the Blind]] – one of only two in Britain.{{Citation needed|date=March 2016}} The college occupies the former Hereford College of Education campus. 
* Holme Lacy College – an agricultural college that was part of the Pershore Group of Colleges (now [[Warwickshire College]]), but currently belongs to Herefordshire and Ludlow College (HLC).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pershore.ac.uk/ |title=Holme Lacy College |publisher=Pershore.ac.uk |access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070728041200/http://www.pershore.ac.uk/ |archive-date=28 July 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hct.ac.uk/College/hl_campus.html |title=Holme Lacy Campus |publisher=Hct.ac.uk |access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124120708/http://www.hct.ac.uk/College/hl_campus.html |archive-date=24 January 2012 }}</ref>

===Schools===
Hereford's many secondary schools include:

* The [[Steiner Academy Hereford]] – The first [[Rudolf Steiner]] school in England to become an academy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.steineracademyhereford.eu/ |title=Steiner Academy Hereford |publisher=Steineracademyhereford.eu |access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111214004741/http://www.steineracademyhereford.eu/ |archive-date=14 December 2011 }}</ref><ref>[[Anthroposophy]]</ref>
* [[Aylestone Business and Enterprise College]] – A [[co-educational]] [[comprehensive school]] for pupils aged between 11 and 16, created in 1976 by merging two former [[grammar schools]], the Hereford High School for Boys and the Hereford High School for Girls. Specialises in [[Business and Enterprise College|Business and Enterprise]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aylestone.hereford.sch.uk |title=Aylestone School |publisher=Aylestone.hereford.sch.uk |access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207035029/http://www.aylestone.hereford.sch.uk/ |archive-date=7 February 2012 }}</ref>
* The [[Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School]] – A co-educational [[Voluntary aided school|voluntary aided]] comprehensive school for pupils aged between 11 and 16, formed in 1973 from two former church secondary schools, the Bluecoat Foundation, dating back to 1710, and the Bishop's School, a [[secondary modern school]] founded in 1958. It is now a [[Technology College|technology college]] with a second specialism in [[Language College|languages]].
* [[The Hereford Academy]] – A high school for pupils aged between 11 and 19. It was known as Haywood High School in the late seventies until 2006, when it was renamed as Wyebridge Sports College. As of 1 September 2009 it was renamed The 'Hereford Academy'.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theherefordacademy.org.uk |title=The Hereford Academy Official Website |publisher=Theherefordacademy.org.uk |access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306195711/http://www.theherefordacademy.org.uk/ |archive-date=6 March 2012 }}</ref> It has been, like Whitecross High School, re-classified as a 'Sports College'. The academy's new building opened in September 2011, and the demolition of the old school site, making way for new playing fields to be laid out, was completed in Spring 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theherefordacademy.org.uk/latest_news/index.aspx?np=/latest_news/the_hereford_academy_new_build_update.aspx |title=The Hereford Academy's New Building |publisher=Theherefordacademy.org.uk |access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306195753/http://www.theherefordacademy.org.uk/latest_news/index.aspx?np=%2Flatest_news%2Fthe_hereford_academy_new_build_update.aspx |archive-date=6 March 2012 }}</ref>
* [[Hereford Cathedral School]] – A co-educational [[independent school]] and sixth form, and a member of the [[Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference]]. The earliest existing records date from 1384 though it is likely that a school was associated with the cathedral from its foundation in the late 7th century. HCS, together with HCJS (see below), educates the choristers for Hereford Cathedral Choir.
* [[St Mary's Roman Catholic High School, Lugwardine|St Mary's RC High School]] – A Roman Catholic comprehensive school for boys and girls aged 11–16. The school primarily serves the Catholic communities of Herefordshire and is in a rural location close to the River Lugg, a few miles to the east of the City of Hereford in the village of Lugwardine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.st-maryshigh.hereford.sch.uk/home.htm/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100802143116/http://www.st-maryshigh.hereford.sch.uk/home.htm/|url-status=dead|title=St. Marys RC High School|archivedate=2 August 2010}}</ref>
* [[Whitecross Hereford High School]] – A [[Specialist school|specialist]] [[Sports College|sports college]], which moved to a brand new [[Private Finance Initiative|PFI]] building in June 2006. The college for pupils aged between 11 and 16 aims to use the new facility to provide the best high school education for its pupils in the topic of Sports & Fitness.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whitecross.hereford.sch.uk/ |title=Whitecross High School & Sports College |publisher=Whitecross.hereford.sch.uk |access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210223817/http://www.whitecross.hereford.sch.uk/ |archive-date=10 February 2012 }}</ref>

Primary schools in the city include [[Hereford Cathedral Junior School]], a co-educational [[independent school]]. Hereford Cathedral Junior School is, with Hereford Cathedral School, part of the ancient Hereford Cathedral Foundation dating back to 676. The Junior School was founded as an independent school in 1898. The city's other primary schools are: Lord Scudamore Academy, St James C of E, St Francis Xavier R.C, Trinity, Holmer C of E, Marlbrook, Riverside, St Martin's, Broadlands, Riverside, Hampton Dene and St Paul's C of E.

==Health and social care==
In early 2008, [[Herefordshire Council]] and [[NHS Herefordshire]] became the first local authority and [[primary care trust]] to form a new kind of partnership.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.herefordshire.nhs.uk/55.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110315040901/http://www.herefordshire.nhs.uk/55.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 March 2011 |title=Who are we? |publisher=Herefordshire.nhs.uk |date=11 January 2010 |access-date=28 January 2012 }}</ref>

The major hospital in Hereford is the [[Hereford County Hospital]]. [[Ambulance]] services are provided by the [[West Midlands Ambulance Service]] NHS Trust. The [[Midlands Air Ambulance]] charity provides air ambulance services across Herefordshire.

A private national firm operates a hospital in Hereford.

==Society and culture==
===Agriculture===
[[Farming]] has played a major part in the history of the county of Herefordshire. For many years, the City of Hereford was the epicentre, playing host to the Cattle [[Market (place)|Market]], a major market site.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-13747344 |title=Cattle Market history |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=13 June 2011 |access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625170933/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-13747344 |archive-date=25 June 2011 }}</ref>

With the 2001 [[Foot-and-mouth disease|foot-and-mouth]] outbreak, the market suffered with reduced trade. Established by [[Act of Parliament]], the market had to be provided and so a Bill was introduced in 2003<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/2003/4/introduction/enacted |title=Hereford Markets Act 2003 |publisher=Legislation.gov.uk |date=30 October 2003 |access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107212610/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/2003/4/introduction/enacted |archive-date=7 January 2012 }}</ref> to move the site to the outskirts of the city. The inner-city site would then be available for redevelopment, a process that has now finished.

The new Hereford Cattle Market opened its doors in August 2011 on the site just outside the city;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-13780063 |title=New Cattle Market |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=16 June 2011 |access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625170929/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-13780063 |archive-date=25 June 2011 }}</ref> it has already proved so successful that trading and business is up on the previous site's record.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-15843847 |work=BBC News |title=Hereford livestock market move a 'success' |date=22 November 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125193556/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-15843847 |archive-date=25 November 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

===Music===
[[File:Elgar-Bicycle-Statue-by-Oliver-Dixon.jpg|thumb|right|Statue of Sir Edward Elgar on the [[Cathedral Close]]]]

The annual [[Three Choirs Festival]], originating in the 18th century and one of the oldest music festivals in the British Isles, is held in Hereford every third year; the other venues are Gloucester and Worcester.

The hymn "Hereford" was written by [[Samuel Sebastian Wesley]] (1810–1876). He was an organist at Hereford Cathedral (1832–1835). This tune is often sung to the words 'O Thou who camest from above'.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hymnary.org/tune/hereford_wesley/|title=HEREFORD (Wesley)|publisher=Hymnary.org|access-date=31 December 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101030305/https://hymnary.org/tune/hereford_wesley/|archive-date=1 January 2018}}</ref>

Composer Sir [[Edward Elgar]] lived at Plas Gwyn, Eign Hill, in Hereford between 1904 and 1911, writing some of his most famous works during that time. He is commemorated with a statue on the [[Cathedral Close]]. One of his [[Enigma Variations]] was inspired by a bulldog named Dan falling into the River Wye at Hereford, and the dog is similarly honoured with a wooden statue beside the river. Not long after moving into the city Elgar, despite not being a city council member, was offered but declined the office of mayor of the city. He visited the city as a conductor at the Three Choirs Festival, the last occasion in 1933 prior to his death.<ref name=HAC>{{cite book|title=Hereford 800, A Celebration|year=1989|publisher=Revelstone Publishing Ltd|pages=44–45, 47|isbn=1-871817-20-X}}Articles, ''Edward Elgar's Hereford'' by Jacob O'Callaghan, and ''The Three Choirs Festival'' by Graham J. Roberts.</ref>

Hereford is home to the Hereford Police Male Voice Choir who competed on the BBC TV show "[[Last Choir Standing]]",<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/lastchoirstanding/choirs/hereford/ |title=BBC Last Choir Standing |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030181156/http://www.bbc.co.uk/lastchoirstanding/choirs/hereford/ |archive-date=30 October 2012 }}</ref> and the Railway Choir.

A charity music school is based in Hereford.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.herefordfutures.co.uk/latest_news/music-school.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203165259/http://www.herefordfutures.co.uk/latest_news/music-school.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 December 2011 |title=Music School &#124; Regenerating Hereford City and County |publisher=Herefordfutures.co.uk |access-date=28 January 2012 }}</ref>

===Art===
''H.Art'', or Herefordshire Art Week, is an annual county-wide exhibition held in September, displaying the work of local artists.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://h-art.herefordshire.gov.uk/ |title=H.Art Week |publisher=H-art.herefordshire.gov.uk |access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121153439/http://h-art.herefordshire.gov.uk/ |archive-date=21 January 2012 }}</ref> Many places usually closed to the public are opened during this week, such as the Bishop's Palace at the cathedral.

[[Poland|Polish]]-born sculptor [[Walenty Pytel]] has had studios in Hereford since 1963 after training at Hereford College of Art.

There is a statue of a bronze Hereford bull designed by [[Brian Alabaster ARBS]] in front of The Old House.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-18826035|title=Hereford High Town life-sized bull statue installed|work=BBC News |date=13 July 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420163347/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-18826035|archive-date=20 April 2016}}</ref>

===Literature===
The troops of the fictional [[commando]] squad [[Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six|Rainbow]] were based at RAF Hereford, as detailed in the novel ''[[Rainbow Six (novel)|Rainbow Six]]''.

The action of the fictional novels ''[[Shades of Grey 1: The Road to High Saffron|Shades of Grey]]'' and ''[[The Last Dragonslayer]]'' by [[Jasper Fforde]] takes place in Hereford.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jasperfforde.com/grey/sleuth.html|title=Shades of Grey – sleuth|first=Jasper|last=Fforde|website=www.jasperfforde.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819155941/http://www.jasperfforde.com/grey/sleuth.html|archive-date=19 August 2010}}</ref>

[[Phil Rickman]]'s ''Merrily Watkins'' series of supernatural and mystery novels is set in and around Hereford.<ref>{{cite news |last=Knight |first=Adam |title=Major ITV drama to be set and filmed in Herefordshire |newspaper=[[Hereford Times]] |date=20 November 2014 |url=http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/14123932.display/ |access-date=11 February 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151213040435/http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/14123932.display/ |archive-date=13 December 2015 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Media===
The local radio stations include [[Hits Radio Herefordshire & Worcestershire]] (formerly known as ''Wyvern''), which broadcasts on 97.6&nbsp;MHz, 96.7&nbsp;MHz and 102.8&nbsp;MHz FM, [[Sunshine Radio (Herefordshire and Monmouthshire)|Sunshine Radio]] on 106.2&nbsp;MHz FM and [[BBC Hereford and Worcester]], which broadcasts on 94.7&nbsp;MHz FM. Hereford FC has its own on-line radio station, RadioHerefordFC, which covers all matches home and away.

The [[Hereford Times]] is the city's only remaining weekly local newspaper, as the ''Hereford Journal'' ceased publication on 11 June 2014 and the ''Hereford admag'' followed suit in September 2018.

Local TV content is currently provided by [[BBC Midlands Today]] and [[ITV News Central]].

===Entertainment===
The city's main theatre and cultural venue is the [[Courtyard, Hereford|Courtyard Centre for the Arts]], which was opened in 1998, replacing the New Hereford Theatre.

There is a multi-screen Odeon [[Movie theatre|cinema]] in the Old Market precinct.

MFA Bowl (formerly known as TGS), home to a [[Ten Pin Bowling]] alley and [[Mini Golf]] course, is near the railway station.

There is a dedicated [[Skateboarding|skatepark]] on Holmer Road.

===Notable people===
:''See [[:Category:People from Hereford]]''
[[File:Simon Verelst - Portrait of Nell Gwyn.jpg|thumb|upright|Hereford claims to be the birthplace of Nell Gwyn, 17th-century actress and mistress of King [[Charles II of England]].]]

* [[Richard Hakluyt]] (1553–1616), an English writer who promoted the [[British colonization of the Americas|English colonisation of North America]], was born in the town.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Hakluyt, Richard|volume=12|pages=828–829||first1= Charles Henry |last1= Coote |author-link1=Charles Henry Coote |first2=Charles Raymond |last2=Beazley |author2-link=Raymond Beazley||short=1}}</ref>
* [[John Kemble (martyr)|John Kemble]] (c. 1599–1679), Catholic priest and martyr, was born at Rhydicar Farm, [[St Weonards]], near Hereford.
* [[Thomas Traherne]] (1636 or 1637 – 1674), English [[Metaphysical poets|metaphysical poet]], cleric, theologian and writer.
* [[Nell Gwyn]] (1650–1687), [[David Garrick]] (1717–1779) and [[Sarah Siddons]] (1755–1831), actors and actresses, are all historical figures popularly associated with Hereford.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Gwyn, Nell |volume= 12 | page = 750 |short=1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Garrick, David|volume=11|pages=475–477||first1= Robert |last1= Carruthers |author-link1= Robert Carruthers |first2= Adolphus William |last2= Ward |author2-link= Adolphus William Ward||short=1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Siddons, Sarah |volume= 25 | pages = 37-38 |short=1}}</ref>
* The [[highwayman]] [[William Spiggot]] (1691–1721) declared, before his execution to the Ordinary's Accounts of [[Newgate Prison]] in London, that he was the son of an innkeeper from Hereford.<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=OA17210208&div=OA17210208 |title= Ordinary of Newgate's Accounts |location= February 1721 (OA17210208) |access-date = 28 October 2015 |website = [[Old Bailey Online|Old Bailey Proceedings Online]] |version = 7.2|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151226115112/http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?div=OA17210208|archive-date = 26 December 2015|df = dmy-all}}</ref>
* Major-General [[Stringer Lawrence]] (1698–1775), first commander-in-chief of British troops in India, under whose command [[Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive of Plassey|Robert Clive]] (1725–1774) served, was born in Hereford.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Lawrence, Stringer |volume= 16 | page = 308 |short=1}}</ref>
* [[William Samuel Symonds]] (1818–1887) was an English cleric, geologist and author from Hereford.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Symonds, William Samuel |volume= 26 | page = 287 |short=1}}</ref>
* [[Henry James, 1st Baron James of Hereford]] (1828–1911), known as Sir Henry James, was an Anglo-Welsh lawyer and statesman.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= James of Hereford, Henry James, 1st Baron |volume= 15 | pages = 144-145 |short=1}}</ref>
* The composer Sir [[Edward Elgar]] (1857–1934) lived in Hereford 1904–1911, during which time he was offered but declined the city mayoralty.<ref name=HAC/>
* The rugby union player and sports broadcaster [[Teddy Wakelam]] (1893–1963) was born in Hereford.
* Broadcaster [[Gilbert Harding]] (1907–1960) was born there when his father was master of the local workhouse, as was contemporary actress [[Beryl Reid]] OBE (1919–1996).
* Pianist, composer and radio broadcaster [[Austen Herbert Croom-Johnson]] (1909–1964) was born in Hereford. He made his later career and life in the US.<ref>[http://www.musicweb-international.com/garlands/120.htm "A 120th Garland of British Light Music Composers,"] ''British Light Music: A Personal Gallery of 20th-Century Composers,'' by [http://www.musicweb-international.com/garlands/biog.htm Philip L. Scowcroft] (born 1933), Thames Publisher (1997); {{OCLC|231857154}};  {{ISBN|978-0-9034-1388-6}}</ref>
* Flight Lieutenant [[Jack Grisman]] (1914–1944), RAF officer who took part and was killed in the [[Stalag Luft III|Great Escape]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Tim Carroll|title=The Great Escape from Stalag Luft III|publisher=Pocket Publishing|year=2005|page=57|isbn=1416505318|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/greatescapefroms00timc}}</ref>
* [[Al Vandenberg]] (1932–2012), American photographer, worked and died in Hereford.
* [[John Williamson (economist)|John Williamson]] (1937–2021), international economist and author of "What Washington Means by Policy Reform", was born in Hereford.
* [[Mike Osborne]] (1941–2007), notable jazz saxophonist active from 1966 to 1981, was born and spent the last decades of his life in Hereford suffering from mental illness.
* [[Frank Oz]] (born 1944), puppeteer for ''[[The Muppets]]'' and [[Yoda]] of ''[[Star Wars]]'', was born in Hereford and lived there for the first five years of his life.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Frank Oz Biography|url=http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800020736/bio|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628223135/http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800020736/bio|archive-date=28 June 2011|access-date=31 January 2022|website=Yahoo! Movies}}</ref>
* [[Simon Carroll]] (1964–2009), studio potter, was born in Hereford.
* The original lineup of [[The Pretenders]] (formed 1978), with the exception of lead singer [[Chrissie Hynde]], were from Hereford, as were the rock band [[Mott the Hoople]] (formed 1966).
* [[Ellie Goulding]] (born 1986), pop singer and songwriter, was born in Hereford.
* [[Lucy Letby]] (born 1990), serial killer, grew up in Hereford.<ref name="bbc20230818">{{Cite news |title=Who is baby serial killer Lucy Letby? |last=Hirst |first=Lauren |date=18 August 2023 |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-65058159 |access-date=18 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818124114/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-65058159 |archive-date=18 August 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Footballer [[Connor Wickham]] (born 1993) was born in the city.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Morgan |first=Ian |title=Bright future ahead for Ipswich Town's Connor Wickham |newspaper=[[Hereford Times]] |date=14 May 2010 |url=http://www.herefordtimes.com/sport/other/8166595.Bright_future_ahead_for_Ipswich_Town_s_Connor_Wickham/ |access-date=16 May 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404142345/http://www.herefordtimes.com/sport/other/8166595.Bright_future_ahead_for_Ipswich_Town_s_Connor_Wickham/ |archive-date=4 April 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* [[Jordan James (footballer, born 2004)|Jordan James]] (born 2004), professional footballer with [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] and [[Wales national football team|Wales national team]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/archive/meet-blues-new-academy-scholars |title=Meet Blues new Academy Scholars |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=1 October 2020 |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008084211/https://bcfc.com/news/articles/2020/meet-blues-new-academy-scholars/ |archive-date=8 October 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Stewart Phillips]] (born 1961) is an English former footballer who spent most of his career at Hereford United. He has scored more goals for Hereford in the Football League than any other player in the club's history. During his youth Phillips played for Hereford Lads Club. In 1979, nine years before joining West Bromwich Albion, he played in a benefit match for Len Cantello, that saw a team of white players play against a team of black players at The Hawthorns.

===Tourism and attractions===
[[File:Hereford Mappa Mundi.jpg|thumb|upright|The cathedral is home to the Hereford Mappa Mundi, a map of the known world from the late 13th century]]

Hereford Cathedral dates from 1079 and contains the ''[[Hereford Mappa Mundi|Mappa Mundi]]'', a [[medieval]] map of the world dating from the 13th century, which was restored in the late 20th century. It also has a [[chained library]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herefordcathedral.org/visit-us/mappa-mundi-1|title=Mappa Mundi|publisher=Herefordcathedral.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126083838/http://www.herefordcathedral.org/visit-us/mappa-mundi-1|archive-date=26 January 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=28 January 2012}}</ref>

[[The Old House, Hereford]] is an historic black and white house in the centre of High Town in Hereford. It is now a museum about life in the [[Jacobean era]] of the 1600s when it was built.

The [[Hereford Museum and Art Gallery]], housed in a [[Victorian Gothic]] building and opened in 1874, presents artefacts, fine art, and decorative art associated with the local area.

The [[Museum of Cider]] is in the city, with a shop, and an interactive guide to producing the drink. It is a registered Charity Trust founded in the early 1970s by people who wanted to record the past, and the disappearing traditional art of cider making that had been practised for generations on the farms in the "Cider Counties". Situated in an old cider factory, it opened in 1980 and 1981.{{Which|date=November 2015}} In the spring/summer a cider festival is held, started in the mid-1980s, by the Friends of the Museum with the advice of [[Long Ashton Research Station]] near Bristol. It has a display of named cider apples and the apples are pressed in the old way. The museum holds in its Pomological Archive a number of records pertaining to apples and cider.

The [[Violette Szabo]] Museum is in [[Wormelow Tump|Wormelow]] village, outside the city.

[[Holme Lacy]] House, now a hotel for a national chain, was built near the city by [[John Scudamore (landowner)|John Scudamore]] in the 1500s. It has played host to famous historical figures in its time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk/hotels/holme-lacy-house-hotel/history/index.aspx |title=Warner Holidays |publisher=Warnerleisurehotels.co.uk |access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301013229/http://www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk/hotels/holme-lacy-house-hotel/history/index.aspx |archive-date=1 March 2012 }}</ref>

====Festivals====
Several festivals are hosted in Hereford including the Beer on the Wye festival, the Hereford Food Festival, and the [[Three Choirs Festival]].

==Twin towns==
* [[Dillenburg]], Germany
* [[Vierzon]], France (since 1994)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns |title=Twin towns - Complete France |access-date=20 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705094933/http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns |archive-date=5 July 2013 }}</ref>

==Freedom of the City==
The following people and military units have received the [[Freedom of the City]] of Hereford.
 
{{Incomplete list|date=January 2020}}

===Individuals===
* [[John Masefield|John Edward Masefield]]: 1930.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://herefordshirehistory.org.uk/archive/herefordshire-images/people-and-portraits/146836-john-masefield-freedom-of-the-city-of-hereford-ceremony-1930|title=John Masefield – Freedom of the City of Hereford Ceremony, 1930 – Herefordshire History|website=herefordshirehistory.org.uk|date=23 July 2014 |access-date=3 May 2021|archive-date=3 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503105924/https://herefordshirehistory.org.uk/archive/herefordshire-images/people-and-portraits/146836-john-masefield-freedom-of-the-city-of-hereford-ceremony-1930|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Graham Turner|Graham John Turner]]: 31 October 2010.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-11661620|title=Freedom of Hereford for Shrewsbury football boss Turner|work=BBC News|date=31 October 2010|access-date=3 January 2020|archive-date=3 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403021143/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-11661620|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Military units===
Source:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://herefordcitycouncil.gov.uk/freedom-of-entry/|title=Freedom of Entry – Hereford City Freedom of The City Members|access-date=3 May 2021|archive-date=3 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503105925/https://herefordcitycouncil.gov.uk/freedom-of-entry/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* The [[Herefordshire Light Infantry]]: September 1945.
* [[RAF Credenhill|RAF Hereford]]: April 1959.
* The [[King's Shropshire Light Infantry]]: April 1960.
* [[The Light Infantry]]: July 1971.
* [[HMS Antelope (F170)|HMS Antelope]], [[Royal Navy|RN]]: March 1976.
* The [[Royal British Legion]]: April 1976.
* The [[Special Air Service|22nd Special Air Services Regiment]]: April 1981.
* The [[Burma Star Association]]: April 1982.
* [[The Rifles]]: July 2008.

==See also==
* [[Bobblestock]]
* [[Hereford (UK Parliament constituency)|List of Hereford MPs]]
* [[Herefordshire]]
* [[Hereford City Council elections]] for political history of the pre-1998 district council.
* [[College, Hereford]]
* [[Hinton & Hunderton]]
* [[Railways in Hereford]]
* [[Saxon Gate]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Hereford}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
* [http://www.herefordcitycouncil.gov.uk Hereford City Council]

{{UK cities}}
{{Herefordshire}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hereford| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Herefordshire]]
[[Category:Towns of the Welsh Marches]]
[[Category:County towns in England]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 1st millennium]]
[[Category:Cities in the West Midlands (region)]]
[[Category:Mercian settlements]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Herefordshire]]
[[Category:Former non-metropolitan districts of Hereford and Worcester]]
[[Category:Former boroughs in England]]