Discover Saint Albans

Saint Albans combines a Roman past, medieval buildings, lively markets and varied routes through green spaces. This is particularly appealing when planning a trip that combines cultural experiences with walks, cycle rides and relaxing days in the park. The choice of a holiday apartment or holiday home can be guided by your preferred pace: should historical sights be the main focus, would you like to take longer routes, or do you want to combine different interests during your trip?

Roman heritage and medieval landmarks

The Roman Theatre of Verulamium dates from AD 140 and is the oldest still-producing theatre in the United Kingdom. The theatre is also the venue for the OVO Roman Theatre Open Air Festival. Further prominent traces of Roman history can be followed in the surrounding area. The Roman Wall of St Albans was built between AD 265 and 270 to defend the Roman city of Verulamium. Most of its two-mile length can still be traced.

The Verulamium Museum stands on the site of one of Britain’s largest Roman cities. The town walls and the outline of London Gate are also visible in Verulamium Park; an ancient Roman underfloor heating system, the hypocaust, is another notable remnant. Regular gallery talks at the museum on weekends focus on the Roman city of Verulamium and provide an additional way to engage with this historical theme.

St Albans Cathedral houses two medieval shrines and has a 1,700-year history. During the Tower Tours, 211 winding steps lead to the Norman Tower. The Clock Tower is also a landmark in its own right: it is the only surviving medieval town belfry in England, is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument and was completed by 1405 as a symbol of the town’s resistance to the power of the Abbot of St Albans. The climb involves 93 very narrow and steep steps.

Markets, parks and special discoveries

St Albans Market adds a more everyday aspect of the town to its historical attractions. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, it features produce, gifts, household goods and international street food. On the second Sunday of each month, the focus is on local food and drink, as well as sustainable arts and crafts. These different market days can be easily incorporated into a travel itinerary in which not every day is devoted exclusively to sightseeing.

For quieter hours, Verulamium Park offers 175 acres of parkland and holds Green Flag and Green Heritage Site awards. Clarence Park is a 25-acre Victorian-style park in the heart of Saint Albans. Those interested in lesser-known sides of the town can also explore the visible ruins of Sopwell Nunnery. These are the remains of Sir Richard Lee’s Tudor mansion, built on the foundations of the nunnery. Sopwell Nunnery lies along two local walking routes in the Ver Valley.

The town’s railway heritage is also part of its character. St Albans South signal box is designated as a Grade II listed building. Groups can arrange visits by prior appointment. This provides a travel group with another possible focus alongside Roman history, religious architecture and the landscape.

Routes for walks and cycle rides

Saint Albans can be experienced not only through individual sights but also through various types of routes. The Abbey Way is a nine-mile, signposted route for walkers and cyclists that runs through the Colne Valley between Watford and St Albans. The St Albans Green Ring is a continuous walking and cycling route of around nine kilometres around the town centre. It connects at least 13 green spaces and at least nine destinations aimed at children. For families, this can provide a useful basis when different interests need to come together in a shared outing.

For longer tours, St Alban’s Way is available as a 35-mile walking route divided into five stages. In addition to serving as a transport route, the Alban Way functions as a green corridor for plants and animals. Shorter is the 5.5-mile St Amphibalus Way, which follows the River Ver from Redbourn to St Albans. These differences in length and character help you choose between a single walk, a cycle ride and a multi-stage hike.

Saint Albans as a base for your trip

Saint Albans is also easy to reach from the direction of London: by train, the town is 20 minutes from London St Pancras International station. The Abbey Flyer line from Watford Junction serves St Albans Abbey station. When looking for accommodation, you can therefore first consider which days should shape your stay. Anyone primarily interested in Roman heritage and the Cathedral will plan differently from someone who wants to prioritise the Abbey Way, the Green Ring or a longer section of St Alban’s Way. A holiday apartment in Saint Albans is therefore particularly well suited to your travel plans if you want to combine culture, market visits and routes according to your own daily rhythm.

Other destination pages

You can find more destination pages here: Potters Bar, Elstree, Watford, Wadesmill, Hoddesdon, Boxmoor, Bayford and Broxbourne.

For the higher-level travel overview: Hertfordshire.