St Albans
Discover St Albans
St Albans is an English cathedral city to the north of London, in the county of Hertfordshire. Its rich Roman and Medieval history means it is much more worth a visit than the typical commuter suburb. St Albans began in the Iron Age as the Catuvellauni settlement of Verlamio, renamed and developed by the Romans as Verulamium. Burned to the ground by the rebellious Iceni princess Boudicca during her rebellion, it was soon rebuilt. Ruins of portions of the Roman wall, the theatre and a hypocaust can be visited today. A resident of Verulamium named Alban became the first British martyr of Christianity, and thus St Albans became an important abbey and monastic centre in the Middle Ages. The cathedral, founded as the Abbey Church of the monastery on the site, was built partially of stones taken from the old Roman town. After the Reformation, St Albans faded from prominence, becoming a typical Home Counties market town. Yet its historical importance was recognised by the state in 1877, when Queen Victoria bestowed city status on the town and cathedral status on the Abbey Church. Today, St Albans is a well-off suburb, with many residents commuting into London.
What to Experience in St Albans
Taste of St Albans...
St Albans has a wide variety of restaurants and pubs serving food, though nothing of particular excellence. The Hot Cross Bun (the Alban Bun) originates from St Albans, where Brother Thomas Rocliffe, a 14th Century monk at St Albans Abbey, distributed the bun to the local poor on Good Friday, starting in 1361. The Alban bun is available from the Abbots Kitchen (St Albans Cathedral) during the run up to Easter. There are lots of places around St Albans suitable for a picnic when the weather is fine. A good alternative to bringing a picnic and carrying it round with you is buying a supermarket meal deal (Tesco/Boots in the town centre & Sainsburys/Waitrose to the south of Verulamium Park). As with most UK cities, there are plenty of curry houses: St Albans has the largest number of pubs in one square mile in England (and the UK). On Friday and Saturday nights, most bars and pubs are full, and may have bouncers on the door checking ID. Closing times vary between 11PM and 2AM, so ask when you're at the bar what time 'last orders' is. There are plenty of very nice country pubs near St Albans, although you'll need your own transport to get there. On sunny days, plenty of people drink in Verulamium Park. This is allowed in certain areas. There are signs where alcohol is prohibited. Tesco on St Peter's Street is generally cheaper than off-licences. St Albans has a large range of pubs and bars given its relative size, most of which offer a selection of food.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped St Albans into what it is today.
St Albans is packed with a rich history with something around nearly every corner. The Romans left their mark on St Albans (Verulamium as they knew it). There are Roman Remains that you can still see: Medieval times shaped the look of St Albans to the picturesque town you can see now. St Albans city centre was the site of two battles during the Wars of the Roses 1455 & 1461. It is worth taking time to explore and discover St Albans. St Albans has appeared as the backdrop in many films and TV shows. As you explore the city you may recognise some places. There is lots to do in St Albans whether its just for: a short few hours, day trip or longer holiday. The main shopping street in St Albans is St Peter’s Street which has a selection of usual high street stores. Market Place with its more oldie worldly feel is often used in pictures to depict St Albans with the Cathedral tower in the background. St Albans is home to three markets. The Charter/Traditional market which is the world’s longest running street market, the monthly farmers market for locally produced products, and the monthly antiques market: St Albans has a wide variety of restaurants and pubs serving food, though nothing of particular excellence. The Hot Cross Bun (the Alban Bun) originates from St Albans, where Brother Thomas Rocliffe, a 14th Century monk at St Albans Abbey, distributed the bun to the local poor on Good Friday, starting in 1361....
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThere are several major routes into the St Albans area: There are car parks throughout St Albans, which are signposted from major routes. The 51.753397-0.3354721 St Albans Civic Centre multi-storey, is close to Hatfield Road and St Peter's Street (for the shops). 51.75007-0.3384522 London Road car park is off London Road, direct from the and , close to The Maltings shopping centre. 51.7504-0.32743 St Albans City is just over 900m from St Peter's Street, the main shopping drag. It is served by Thameslink trains. There are direct connections from various destinations in London, including: There are also direct connections to St Albans from major destinations such as Luton, Bedford and Brighton, and direct rail links from London Luton and London Gatwick airports. Passengers from London and the airports can travel to and from St Albans by "touching in" and "touching out" with their Contactless cards, without the need for a paper ticket....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
St Albans has a fairly large city centre set on a hill, with large residential areas to the north, east and south. If you are walking from the railway station or visiting the ancient ruins in Verulamium Park, expect to walk at least two miles on your visit. Most buses stop in St Peter's Street, the main shopping area, with a short walk to some shops. The Civic Centre car park is around two minutes walk to the main road. There are signposts dotted throughout the city, pointing to key destinations. Most footpaths are well paved and wide. Market Place is pedestrianised on market days, and is not a through route for general traffic at other times, with plenty of space to walk. St Albans Cathedral and St Peter's Street is on top of a steep hill, with St Albans Abbey railway station, Westminster Lodge leisure centre and Verulamium Park at the bottom. Borrow a scooter or wheelchair from St Albans Shopmobility. The charity is based at Drovers Way Car Park, AL1 3JE (☏ +44 1727 819339).
Where to Stay
St Albans has a range of hotels and B&Bs, although no youth hostels. If visiting from London on a day trip, there is no need to stay in the city overnight, although there are some nice options if you want to stay out of London.
Money & Budget
The main shopping street in St Albans is St Peter’s Street which has a selection of usual high street stores. Market Place with its more oldie worldly feel is often used in pictures to depict St Albans with the Cathedral tower in the background. St Albans is home to three markets. The Charter/Traditional market which is the world’s longest running street market, the monthly farmers market for locally produced products, and the monthly antiques market: St Albans has a wide variety of restaurants and pubs serving food, though nothing of particular excellence. The Hot Cross Bun (the Alban Bun) originates from St Albans, where Brother Thomas Rocliffe, a 14th Century monk at St Albans Abbey, distributed the bun to the local poor on Good Friday, starting in 1361.
Safety Information
Glimpses of St Albans
an aerial view of a rural town with a church
Interior of St Albans Cathedral, featuring Gothic architecture with a vaulted ceiling, ornate stone arches, and rows of wooden pews.
tree beside house
Saluki in heather
Nutcracker Christmas Statue. Shot on film.
man standing in front of altar of St. Albans Cathedral
St. Albans open air chapel, Medicine Bow National Forest near Brooklyn lake
Different coloured striped beer barrels or kegs outside a pub in England. Shot on film.
No Golf Here
Museum of the Moon display in St Albans Cathedral, England.
an aerial view of a rural town with a church
Interior of St Albans Cathedral, featuring Gothic architecture with a vaulted ceiling, ornate stone arches, and rows of wooden pews.
tree beside house