UK’s ‘greatest place to reside’ is house to influencers like ‘most hated mum’

Every town of course has its faults – even those that have been voted one the ‘best places’ to live in the UK.

We often report on places around the country that have been riddled with shop closures and crime – or both at the same time.

But, what about the towns that are often put on a pedestal and attract London-bound commuters in the droves.

READ MORE: UK’s first ‘new town’ labelled ‘slum’ with closed shops and 100-person bar brawl

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Well, if you scratch the shiny surface, then it turns out that even a real estate hot spot in one of the home counties isn’t all white picket fences and artisan bread in reality.

And that’s the case for Hitchin, Hertfordshire. The seemingly plush market town just a 30 minute train commute into London is a wet dream for those wanting a taste of suburbia, but at smidge of a smaller price.

But, as they say, you get what you pay for…

Here, we look at the plush Hertfordshire market town Hitchin – home to Britain’s most hated mum, horror eye stabbing attack and a big wig Love Islander.

‘Best place to live’

Just a stone’s throw – or a four minute train journey – from Stevenage, infamously dubbed the ‘slums’, lives the market town of Hitchin.

Despite being the neighbour to one of the ‘worst places to live’ in the UK, Hitchin has managed to land itself on the other end of the spectrum.

In a yearly poll conducted by popular blog Muddy Stilettos – the self-proclaimed “urban guide to the countryside” – they placed the ‘hip’ market town at number two. Godalming in Surrey just pipped the Herts town to the post.

“I’m just going to come out and and say it – I am in love with Hitchin,” blog editor Hero Brown admitted.

She continued: “This super convenient commuter town has everything you could possibly want, and more. It’s historic – with narrow winding streets, gorgeous architecture and a traditional market square – but also oh-so-trendy.

“There’s also plenty of green space in which to sit with your high-end coffee and watch the world go by. Oh, and the commute to London or Cambridge is a cinch.”

Hitchin also made the Telegraph’s thought-to-be coveted ‘best 50 places to live in the UK’ list. And some social media users have named it as the ‘dreamiest’ place in the UK.

Influencer hotspot

Some people like to boast about their town alumni. It’s true that some locations in the UK are notorious for pumping out talent – whether that’s services to entertainment, science or politics.

However, Hitchin has a different style of celebrity that is seems to be known for. It turns out that the prim and proper town of Hitchin is home to ‘Britain’s most hated mum’ Carla Bellucci.

The parent-of-four, 42, gained infamy after she publicly admitted to feigning depression in order to blag a free nose job off the NHS – hence her controversial title.

Since then, Hitchin-based Carla has well and truly lived up to her name thanks to her untraditional parenting methods and opinions that often go against the status quo.

She’s controversially admitted that she would pay her 18-year-old £7,000 to fly the nest, put her youngest in day-care everyday so she can spend more time being a glam influencer and loves to parade naked.

However, it looks like some of the mums of Hitchin aren’t fond of Carla – as she claims that parents have banned their kids from attending her sprog’s birthday parties.

She says that she faces prejudice from local mums, even at toddler groups.

But, Carla isn’t the only big name to boast the Hitchin postcode. Love Islander and mega influencer Molly-Mae Hague is a Hitchin native.

While Molly, who is now a millionaire, moved up to Cheshire, she grew up in the Hertfordshire town and admittedly ‘loved’ living in her comfortable suburbia home with her former police officer parents – who are now separated.

But, middle-class Molly got stuck in some of her own criticism after a stint on Diary of a CEO podcast when she infamously commented that we “all have the same 24 hours in a day.”

Before she shot to fame on the ITV dating show and received relentless backlash for her comments, Molly was a lifeguard at a local pool and worked as a cashier in Hitchin’s Boots.

Hitchin seems to breed influencers, but also attracts them in their droves – as many flock from all corners of the UK to see the sunflower and lavender fields each summer.

Young woman stabbed in eye socket

While Hitchin has a relatively low crime rate and is loved by many, it’s not exempt from brutish attacks.

Horror ensued after a woman returning from pre-Christmas night out was brutally stabbed in the eye – and all when she was trying to be a good Samaritan.

After enjoying a fun night out in Hitchin, lined with quaint pubs and trendy bars, the 21-year-old started to make her way home when she noticed a lad who appeared to be behaving erratically.

She decided to approach him in the St Mary’s Car Park in Hitchin to see if he needed help. It was then when 19-year-old Kai Ridgewell would viciously attack the woman – stabbing her in the eye.

The victim, who did not know Ridgewell, was quickly rushed to hospital in the early hours of December 18 back in 2021. She’s now been left with permanent damage and is registered blind in that eye.

At the time, Detective Constable Nathalia Smith said: “This was an entirely unprovoked and horrific attack on a young woman who was simply walking home from a night out and had approached Ridgewell to offer help.

“She has now been left with life changing injuries, and sadly will never be able to see out of her eye again.

“Everyone should be able to enjoy a night out and get home safely. Ridgewell’s behaviour was completely deplorable, and violence like this will absolutely not be tolerated in Hertfordshire.”

According to the Watford Observer, Ridgewell was hastily arrested at the scene of the attack in Hitchin and then pleaded guilty at St Albans Crown Court on February 14 2022.

Ridgwell, from Stevenage, then appeared at Huntingdon Crown Court on March 25 2022 and was served a hefty 11 years in prison.