Living nearby, St Albans in Hertfordshire has been a place for a full or part day visit. On a sunny Saturday in January, we wrapped up warm and decided to enjoy our latest trip. I have put together a quick guide of interesting places, along with a little bit of history. There are cafes, restaurants and pubs a plenty, so I have mentioned a few of of our favorites.
St Albans is named after Britain’s first saint, who lived in the city. It was previously called Verulamium and was the second largest Roman town in Britain after Londinium. Some traces of the Roman city remain including the remains of parts of the wall and a hypocaust under a mosaic floor.
Verulamium Park, St Albans
The beautiful Verulamium Park is a great place to start your visit to St Albans. There is a car park next to the Verulamium museum where you can explore Roman life and ancient treasures. Here you can purchase a joint ticket to also visit the Roman theatre of Verulamium which is across the road. From the car park walk through the the park, past the lake and up to the city via the Cathedral. The park also has a café, children’s playground and splash park.
Remaining parts of the city’s Roman wall, along with the hypocaust can be found in the park.
The Waffle House
We often enjoy starting our day in St Albans at the Waffle House. It is located in the 16th century Kingsbury water mill, on the Ver river and opposite is an entrance to the park. Also, it is a short walk from the Verulamium car park, as well as having its own large parking area.
It has a varied menu of sweet and savoury waffles, along with several specials. As we are there for breakfast, we usually opt for a savoury option; with favourites being the sausage, bean & cheese, big breakfast and smoked salmon and scrambled egg waffles. Sweet options to enjoy include the hot Dutch Apple waffles as well as the chocolate waffle
Ye Olde Fighting Cocks Pub
This pub is just outside the park towards the town and is in a pleasant location to grab a drink. It is one of several pubs claiming to be the oldest in the UK; reputed to have accommodated Oliver Cromwell for one night.
St Albans Abbey
St Albans Abbey stands proud at the top of the hill as you approach the city. Built in 1077 using bricks from the ruins of Verulamium, it was designated as a cathedral in 1877. At 85 metres it has the longest nave of any cathedral in England. The Cathedral has many events during the year. Details can be found here.
A visit inside the Abbey is a must. On entering the main Cathedral you immediately see an beautiful multi-coloured rose window. Fascinating medieval wall paintings are inside. Guided tours use unique light projections to show them in their original state. The cathedral also houses the shrine of St Alban. It also has a good café; The Abbots Kitchen.
When built, the cathedral was part of the Benedictine monastery founded by King Ofa. Situated near the cathedral is the great gateway of the monastery; it now forms part of St Albans school.
Heading Towards the Town Centre
As you head towards the town centre from the cathedral, there are a few things to take note of. The first is the Verdun tree which is on your right hand side. Verdun trees are planted from oak and chestnut trees, as war memorials in the UK. The chestnuts and Acorns were collected from the Verdon battlefield and distributed around the UK. The St Albans tree is from a conker collected from the last standing tree on this battlefield.
To your right you can see the picturesque Village Arcade. It houses a number of small independent shops as well as a café.
Next the historic clock tower; the only surviving medieval town belfry in England. A visit is possible on some weekends, to climb the 600m tower for views over St. Albans.
St. Albans market was granted a special royal charter in 1553, although it is well documented as far back as the 9th century. Today it is found along St. Peters street and Market Place. A street food market serving a variety of dishes, to enjoy, is at the end near to Market Place.
The Town Hall
The town hall houses the St. Albans museum and gallery. There is a permanent exhibition on the story of St. Albans. It also has temporary exhibitions and during our visit we were able to enjoy a Henry Moore Exhibition: Drawing in the Dark.
You can also find the old circular courtroom in the town hall. It is now part of the café. This is a good place for coffee or lunch, where you sit in the pews and chairs to enjoy your food and drink. Downstairs there are cells, where defendants were once held, with stairs leading directly up to the courtroom dock.
Coffee and Lunch in St Albans
St. Albans is full of cafes, pubs and restaurants, meaning there is plenty of choice. Although there are obviously plenty of restaurants for main meals, I will review them in a future post. The usual coffee chains are dotted around the city; below I have listed a few local ideas, for a drink or snack in addition to those mentioned previously in this post.
The Street Café on Catherine Street is a beautifully decorated bustling café. It has a varied menu and is open for you to enjoy breakfast and lunch. The staff are helpful and friendly.
The Pudding Stop on Verulam Road is a great place for a drink and something sweet this is a delicious place to visit. Choose from a variety of cakes including a range of delicious brownies. We particularly enjoy both the triple chocolate brownie and butterscotch blondie! They also have a takeaway option.
If you fancy a quick pint or a glass of wine then one of our favourite pubs to visit in the centre of town is the Snug. During winter it feels particularly cosy!
On a nice day a good option to to visit one of the bakery’s or deli’s in the town and then head back to the park to enjoy your food. Simmons in French Row, near Market Place has a good variety of pasties and filled rolls. Artoplasia on London Road is a Greek bakery with a variety of savoury and sweet options. A more pricey, upmarket choice is the Deli on Verulam which serves, amongst other things, delicious sandwiches and bagels with more unusual fillings.
St Albans has many places to eat and a few more favourites are listed below.
The Saint and Sinner is a vibrant pub with a good atmosphere, serving a choice of cocktails and a varied food menu including pizza.
The Craft and Clever is great for lovers of meat and fans of craft beer.
For a great restaurant with a Mediterranean style menu try Megans.
With its cosy atmosphere and convenient location Marmalade on Holywell Hill is another great place for a coffee or brunch
With its stunning park, historical centre along with its places to visit and eat, St. Albans is the perfect place to wander and enjoy at the weekend,
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