St Albans, Hertfordshire
The attractive cathedral city of St Albans has been welcoming visitors for more than 2,000 years. Set against a backdrop of historic buildings, the city centre is compact and easy to explore on foot.
The magnificent Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban dominate the skyline of the city and can be seen from some distance.
Extending south west from the cathedral is the verdant expanse of Verulamium, comprising 100 acres of beautiful parkland close to the heart of the city.
Image Gallery of St Albans
The Verulamium Museum and the Museum of St Albans both house collections of objects reflecting the lives of the past and present inhabitants of the city and district of St Albans.
Artefacts, remains and re-creations of the Roman history of the City can be seen at; the Verulamium Museum, the Hypocaust, the Roman Theatre and the Roman Walls. St Albans Museum tells the story of the city from the departure of the Romans to the present day.
There are many other interesting visitor attractions including the Clock Tower, Gardens of the Rose and Sopwell Nunnery on the outskirts of the City.
An ideal way to explore the city at your own pace is the St Albans City Trail. This is a circular walk of around 3 miles which takes in the key attractions of St Albans. Allow approximately 1.5 to 2 hours for the walk plus time to spend in the museums, cathedral and other attractions. There are numerous opportunities for refreshments and shopping en route!
Shopping in St Albans
St Albans Market
The historic city centre of St Albans with its atmospheric streets and fascinating buildings provides a wonderful setting for an excellent range of stores; from exclusive boutiques and specialist shops to independent retailers and well known high street names. Whether shopping for exclusive gifts, that new outfit, something for the home or more everyday items, a trip to St Albans is always rewarding.
Complementing the two shopping centres and many other stores in St Albans, the bustling street market on Wednesdays and Saturdays add a further dimension to the St Albans Shopping experience. With over 170 stallholders per week, the market has something for everyone. From fresh food stalls where you can purchase the best of local produce, fish, bakery products and meat, to flower and plant stalls, clothing, haberdashery, household goods, electronics, toiletries and toys.
In addition, St Albans holds a number of regular speciality markets; The Farmers Market in Market Place, held on the 2nd Sunday of the month between 10am and 4pm. Offering a range of local specialities, mouth watering cheeses, seasonal fruit and vegetables, fresh herbs, top quality meat and game, dairy produce, freshly baked cakes & bread and hand crafted goods plus entertainment and refreshments. There are also regular continental markets.
Eat and Drink in St Albans
While shopping or sightseeing in the city why not take time to enjoy your surroundings from one of the many pavement cafes, bars and restaurants? With such a wide range of eating establishments on offer St Albans is also an ideal place for an evening out.
You may wish to make a night of it and include a visit to St Albans well known entertainment venue, the Alban Arena. The theatre has a busy programme of touring theatre shows, musical concerts, comedy, films, a popular Christmas pantomime and often hosts large exhibitions.
