St Albans, Hertfordshire’s only city, is a bustling commuter centre with easy access to London and the North by road and rail. It was first known as Verlamion but the Romans changed the name to Verulamium. By the early Middle Ages the city had become known as St Albans, after the first British Christian martyr, St Alban The magnificent Abbey Church dominates the city's skyline on approach from the South. Its architecture fuses many different periods, and its great tower includes Roman bricks salvaged from the ruins of Verulamium. The shrine to St Alban, still in the Cathedral today, attracted pilgrims from far and wide and contributed to the growth of the city. The Cathedral is open daily to the public. Built in 1365 and with only the Gateway still standing, the Abbey was used as a prison (Liberty Gaol) until 1868. It is now part of St Albans school. Other noteworthy museums include Verulamium, an award-winning museum of everyday life in Roman Britain (open all year), the Roman Theatre (one of the best preserved examples in Britain) and the Museum of St Albans, which tells the story of the City’s growth. The St Albans Organ Museum houses the late Charles Hart Collection of mechanical musical instruments, including a WurliTzer organ, a Mills Violano and lots more. Concert performances are regular. Verulamium park is a public area with a large lake, many water birds and the river Ver runs along it’s Northern edge. There are remains of Roman walls, a restored 1800-year-old hypocaust (the first form of central heating), and Ye Olde Fighting Cocks pub is possibly the oldest pub in Britain (Guinness Book of Records, 1997). The park is a venue for entertainment - Summer music festivals of all types, the Moscow State Circus and for the first time in 2007 an open air ice skating rink at Christmas. The City is a shopaholic’s dream, with both usual big high street names and unique, smaller shops, all with a backdrop of this historic main street presided over by the Clock Tower, the only medieval town belfry in England. There are market days on Wednesday and Saturday, along with farmers markets on the second Sunday of each month. There is also the Alban Arena, a centrally located theatre, which attracts many productions on tour out of London’s West End. The city is well provided with over 120 restaurants and cafés and a huge number of historic pubs and inns for that well-deserved refreshment break. Accommodation is also in abundance with plenty of choice from chain and independent luxury hotels (such as St Michael’s Manor and Sopwell House) to the Black Lion Inn and guesthouses for those on a budget.
Attraction
Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban
Clock Tower
De Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre
Gardens of the Rose (The)
Gorhambury
Kingsbury Watermill
Museum of St Albans
Redbourn Village Museum
Redbournbury Watermill
Roman Theatre of Verulamium
St Albans Organ Theatre
Verulamium Museum
Willows Farm Village
Budget
Comfort Hotel - St Albans *book online*
Innkeepers Lodge *book online*
Premier Inn Luton South (M1, J9) *book online*
Camping
Care Home
Fosse House
Jane Campbell House
Vesta Lodge
Charity
Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust
National Association for Colitis and Crohn's Disease
Church
Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban
St Michael
Classes
Dance - Alban School of Dance
Yoga - Kundalini & Meditation
Club
Adelaide Nightclub
Batchwood Hall Nightclub
Conference Centre
Council
St Albans City and District Council
Doctor
Dr Ferguson JW
Dr Skelton PE
Harvey Group Parctice
Parkbury House Surgery
The Maltings Surgery
Farmers Market
Golf Club
Abbey View
Batchwood Hall
Verulam Golf Club
Health and Fitness Club
Beauty First
Cannons Health Club
Champneys Town Spa
Fitness First St Albans
Healing Hands Medi-Spa
Healing Hands Prana Spa
Oaks Health & Leisure
Two Tone Fitness Ltd
Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre
Inn
Market
City Hospital Car Boot
St Albans Farmers Market
St Albans Market
Performing Arts
Abbey Gateway Orchestra
Abbey Theatre & Studio
Alban Arena
Maltings Arts Theatre
St Albans Choral Society
Top Hat Stage School
Pub and Bar
Blue AnchorCamp
Chestnut Tree
Cock Inn
Cross Keys
Duke Of Malborough
Fox and Hounds
Hare & Hounds
Hare and Hounds
Mermaid
Old Red Lion
Peacock
Rose & Crown
Six Bells
Sopwell House
White House
White Lion
Restaurant
Anatolia
Bella Italia
Blue Anchor
Darcy's
Kyriakos
La Cosa Nostra
Magnolia
Rose & Crown
Sopwell House
Waffle House
White Lion
School
Homewood Independent School
Saint Columba's College
St Albans High School for Girls
St Albans School
Top Hat Stage School
Solicitor
Anne Woodcock & Co
Claytons
Morcowitz Anthony
PR Employment Law Specialists
Taxi
airport connectionsArena Taxis
City Taxis
Gold Line Taxis
St Albans Mini Bus Hire
Theatre
Abbey Theatre & Studio
Alban Arena
Maltings Arts Theatre
Trestle Arts
Vet
Sports Clubs
Batchwood Golf & Tennis Centre (Tennis)
Frogmore CC (Cricket)
Greenwood Park CC (Cricket)
Old Albanians (Rugby Union)
South Herts CTC (Cycling)
St Albans RFC (Rugby Union)
St. Albans Hockey Club (Men's Hockey)
Stags TTC (Table Tennis)
Shops
The Book Place Ltd
Methvens Booksellers Ltd
Abundance Flowers
Boots
Early Learning Centre
Rymans
Aylett Nurseries
Burston Garden Centre
The Hertfordshire Garden Centre
Quadrant Pet Supplies
Petacare
Redbournbury Watermill
Whittard of Chelsea
Cotswold Outdoor
Falconers Chemist
The McKeown Hypnotherapy Clinic
M A Heylen
Sole
Footsteps
J D Sports
BodyShop
studio fabrica
Victoria Fine Art
Thomas Plunkett Fine
Beaumont Hall Studios
Grafic Plus Frames
Julia Walling Gallery
Majestic Wine
Robert Dyas
Wickes
Aroski and Outdoor
Redbournbury Water Mill
Ernest Jones
Dreams
Coleman Croft Saddlery
Homebase
Barratt Shoes
Specsavers
Leading Art and Frames
Outdoor Kit (Globetrekker)
JoJo Maman Bebe
Hallmark Cards
Miklos Bansaghi Fine Art Restoration
River Island
BHS
Office
Neals Yard Remedies
Antiques
Abbey Antiques
Collins Antiques
Dobson Antiques
James Of St Albans
J N Antiques
St Albans Antique Centre
Superdrug
Activities
Elswood Bowmen(Archery)
Broomhills Shooting Ground Ltd(Shooting)
Places to Stay near St Albans
White Hart Hotel (0.29 miles)
Located in the centre of old St. Albans The White Hart hotel is an historic 600 year old coaching inn. Opposite the world famous Abbey, we are close to the ... More
Comfort Hotel - St Albans (0.32 miles)
Retaining many Edwardian features but totally redesigned for the modern era, this hotel offers a good combination of value and quality in the heart of St. Albans. The hotel is located in ... More
Ardmore House Hotel (0.47 miles)
St Michael's Manor (0.69 miles)
St Michael's Manor is a four star, privately owned and run hotel close to the centre of the ancient Roman city of St Albans, and set in five acres of beautiful English country gardens, surrounding ... More | visit website
Sopwell House (1.26 miles)
Sopwell House is an elegant Georgian Country House set in 12 acres of countryside, yet just a 20 minute train journey to London, minutes off the M1 and M25 motorways, and close to ... More
Premier Inn St. Albans/Bricket Wood (3.26 miles)
A peaceful countryside location, yet within easy reach of both the M1 and M25. For shops and local amenities St. Albans city centre is only 4 miles away. Local attractions include the famous Roman ruins ... More | visit websiteBeales Hotel (4.04 miles)
Air conditioned throughout, with free unlimited wired internet access, Beales Hotel is a stunningly modern 4-star design hotel, where quality and service come first.
Be inspired by the unusual blend of natural ... More
Holiday Inn Hemel Hempstead M1 (4.05 miles)
The Hemel Hempstead M1 J8 hotel is perfectly located for business and leisure guests. You’ll find it easy to reach the hotel from the M1 and M25 and it’s just a mile away from The ... More | visit website
Travelodge Hatfield Central (4.06 miles)
There are loads of reasons our customers choose to stay at Travelodge. Our great value clean and comfortable rooms with en-suite provide everything needed for a good night's sleep and are close to where people ... More | visit website
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