Saint Albans can be explored through several distinct themes: the Roman town of Verulamium, medieval buildings and routes of varying lengths. When planning your stay, it helps to start by asking whether you mainly want to visit cultural sites or also set aside time for longer walking and cycling routes.
Roman history in Verulamium
The Roman Theatre of Verulamium dates from 140 AD and is the oldest working theatre in the United Kingdom. It is also the venue for the seasonal OVO Roman Theatre Open Air Festival; check the dates for your travel period. The Roman Wall of St Albans was built between 265 and 270 AD to defend the Roman town of Verulamium. Most of it can be traced along its two-mile course.
The Verulamium Museum stands on the site of one of the largest Roman towns in Britain. Verulamium Park is also home to the Hypocaust, an ancient Roman underfloor heating system. The theatre, town wall, museum and heating system thus offer different ways to explore Verulamium.
Medieval buildings and the cathedral
The Clock Tower of St Albans is the only surviving medieval town belfry in England and is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument. It was completed by 1405 as a symbol of the town’s resistance to the power of the Abbot of St Albans. The climb to the top involves 93 very narrow, steep steps. If you plan to visit the tower, check the current opening times in advance.
St Albans Cathedral houses two medieval shrines and has a history spanning 1,700 years. The Tower Tours climb 211 winding steps to the Norman Tower. Check the event dates if you want to include this tour in your travel plans.
Sopwell Nunnery also brings together several layers of history: the visible ruins are the remains of Sir Richard Lee’s Tudor mansion, built on the foundations of the nunnery. Sopwell Nunnery is also on two local walking routes in the Ver Valley. Group visits to the St Albans South signal box can be arranged by prior appointment. The signal box is a Grade II listed building and forms part of the city’s railway and architectural heritage; it stands on an active main line and is one of the small minority of surviving signal boxes on such lines.
Parks and routes around the city
Verulamium Park covers 175 acres of parkland and holds Green Flag and Green Heritage Site awards. The town walls and the outline of the London Gate of the Roman town of Verulamium are also visible there. Clarence Park offers a different setting: it is a 25-acre Victorian-style park in the heart of St Albans.
For a circular route around the city centre, the continuous St Albans Green Ring offers a different kind of route from the longer trails. It is about nine kilometres long and connects at least 13 green spaces and at least nine destinations for children. The signposted Abbey Way is nine miles long, designated for walkers and cyclists, and runs through the Colne Valley between Watford and St Albans. The similar scale of these figures should not obscure the different units and routes: the Green Ring goes around the city centre, while the Abbey Way runs through the valley between its endpoints.
Two other details are useful for longer walks: St Alban's Way is a 35-mile walking route divided into five stages. The 5.5-mile St Amphibalus Way follows the River Ver from Redbourn to St Albans. The Alban Way, meanwhile, serves as a green corridor for plants and animals as well as a transport route. The right route for you depends mainly on whether you want a circuit around the city centre, a connection between places or a multi-stage walk.
Market and getting there
St Albans Market offers produce, gifts, household goods and international street food on Wednesdays and Saturdays. On the second Sunday of each month, the focus is on local food and drink, as well as sustainable arts and crafts. As market details and programmes may change, check the latest information before your visit.
The train journey from London St Pancras International to St Albans takes 20 minutes; journey times may vary depending on the service. The Abbey Flyer line from Watford Junction serves St Albans Abbey station. If your plans depend on either of these connections, check the timetable for your travel day.
For a short stay, you can combine cultural sites with a walk around the Green Ring, or make the longer trails your main focus. Market dates and seasonal festival dates are useful reference points when choosing your travel days.
Discover more destinations: Welwyn Garden City, Markyate, Meriden, Hertingfordbury, Radlett, Watford, Buntingford, Ardeley.
For the broader travel overview: Hertfordshire.
