Today I want to share my guide to things to do in St Albans, England with you. This city in Hertfordshire has a wealth of attractions, including a historic cathedral, Roman ruins, and a street market that’s been running since the 9th century. There’s plenty to do and see here, and beautiful streets besides. St Albans is even home to one of the oldest pubs in the United Kingdom. Read on for the highlights.
Things to Do in St Albans
Just north of the UK capital, St Albans was once the second largest town in Roman Britain. Today it’s a vibrant cathedral city with lots of exciting things to entertain visitors and locals alike.
St Albans is also one of the easiest day trips from London by train. It’s just 20 minutes from St Pancras station, making it a great day out if you want to stay close to the city.
It’s also one of the best cheap day trips from London. Its proximity to the capital means train tickets are inexpensive.
And once you’re here, there are a lot of fun things to do in St Albans. This is one of the best cities in England, and there’s loads to discover.
1. Shop at St Albans Markets
If you’re going to take a day trip to St Albans, it’s a good idea to go on a market day. There are a lot of markets in St Albans, and they bring the city to life with colors, flavors, and sounds.
The biggest and most famous of them is the St Albans Traditional Street Market. It takes over some of the city’s main streets and squares on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and it has everything from food to handicrafts and clothing for sale.
The market dates back to the 9th century, and it was granted a Royal Charter in 1553. It has over 150 stalls, and they fill St Peter’s Street and Market Place with their wares each week.
Other markets include the St Albans Farmers’ Market, which takes place on the second Sunday of every month, and the St Albans Antique and Vintage Market, which takes place monthly on a Sunday.
The former features delicious food, and the latter offers antiques, vintage goods, and architectural salvage pieces.
2. Visit St Albans Cathedral
St Albans is one of Britain’s best cathedral cities, and no trip would be complete without a visit to St Albans Cathedral. It’s one of the most popular things to do in St Albans.
Dominating the city center, this huge church dates back to Norman times and was partially constructed with ancient Roman bricks.
Later, medieval builders added Gothic arches and Victorians improved and added to the church. The whole building is a living architectural history lesson.
Between the early 13th century and the 16th century, artists created stunning medieval wall paintings in St Albans Cathedral. They’re now some of the most important of their kind in the United Kingdom.
St Albans Cathedral is also home to the largest and oldest cathedral tower in England. Completed in 1088, its round arches can be seen from all over the city.
St Albans Cathedral was once part of a larger abbey, too. It was England’s leading Benedictine monastery, and it had large estates in the area.
The abbey was dissolved during Henry VIII’s time, but the park outside the church retains some traces of the outbuildings from those days.
A walk through St Albans Cathedral will show you everything from stunning Norman and Gothic architecture to the shrine of St Alban and colorful stained-glass windows.
3. Go to the Pub in St Albans
One of the most fun things to do in St Albans is go to the pub. That’s not least because the city is home to one of the oldest inns in Britain.
The Ye Olde Fighting Cocks pub in St Albans is a landmark, and it’s steeped in history and legend.
The pub is reputed to have accommodated Oliver Cromwell for a night during the English Civil War, and the underground tunnels provided shelter for many people in turbulent times.
But the Ye Olde Fighting Cocks isn’t the only pub in St Albans that’s worth visiting. From The Six Bells to The Prae Wood Arms, there are lots of good watering holes here.
4. Walk in Verulamium Park
Another of the best things to do in St Albans is take a walk through Verulamium Park. This park is named after the city’s ancient Roman title, Verulamium.
And for good reason. Verulamium Park is home to some impressive Roman ruins.
There’s a section of Roman wall at St Germain’s Block that’s thought to have survived because it once formed part of the enclosure of the 12th-century St Germain’s Chapel.
The park is also home to the remains of one of four ancient Roman city gates in St Albans. It was called the London Gate, and it sat along the historic route from Dover to Chester via London.
In the middle of the park, there’s a building that houses a Roman mosaic and hypocaust (under-floor heading system). It was part of a suite in a sizeable townhouse that was built around 200 AD.
Beyond ruins, Verulamium Park offers beautiful views of St Albans Cathedral, wooded walking paths, and wide-open green spaces. There’s a lake to admire, and the River Ver runs along it as well. If you’re lucky, you can spot wildlife like kingfishers.
5. Visit the Saxon Churches in St Albans
One of the unusual things to do in St Albans is visit the three Saxon churches around the city. While St Albans Cathedral takes center stage, these important historic churches are worth seeing as well.
One of them is St Michael’s Church. It’s right next to Verulamium Park, and it dates back to pre-Norman times. It was partially constructed with Roman bricks, and traces of the original 10th-century arched windows can still be seen inside.
Because of its history, St Michael’s is considered the most significant surviving Anglo-Saxon building in Hertfordshire.
Elsewhere in St Albans, St Peter’s Church dates back to 948. It’s one of the city’s ancient gateway churches and it once welcomed pilgrims who were on their way to St Albans Abbey.
St Stephen’s is the third Saxon church in St Albans that’s worth visiting. It was founded in 948 by Ulsinus, the 6th abbot of St Albans Abbey. It still retains a window that’s believed to date back to 950.
6. Admire the St Albans Clock Tower
Another of the best things to do in St Albans is admire the St Albans Clock Tower. This Grade-I listed beauty was built in the early 15th century, and it’s said to be the last remaining medieval town belfry in England.
The St Albans Clock Tower was originally constructed as a protest against the power of the local abbot, and it still stands strong in the middle of the bustling markets today.
It’s fun to sit in the market beneath this designated Scheduled Ancient Monument and watch the world go by.
If you like views, there are sweeping panoramas across St Albans and the Hertfordshire countryside from the top of the clock tower, too.
7. Walk Through the St Albans Abbey Gateway
Another of the great things to do in St Albans is walk through the St Albans Abbey Gateway.
Built in 1365 by Abbot Thomas de la Mere, this impressive structure is all that’s left of the historic Benedictine Monastery in St Albans (besides the cathedral, of course).
The gateway has a storied past, too. It was besieged during the Peasants’ Revolt, a major uprising across large parts of England in 1381.
In 1479, it became home to the third printing press in England. It also served as a prison after the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century.
Today the St Albans Abbey Gateway is part of St Albans School, which Stephen Hawking and other notables attended. It’s in a public area, though, and visitors can walk up to it and pass under it as they walk through the city.
8. Go to the Roman Theater and Gorhambury
If you like the outdoors, going to see the Roman Theater while taking a walk through the Gorhambury Estate is one of the top things to do in St Albans.
The Roman Theater is an excavated site that was built around 140 AD in the ancient Roman walled city of Verulamium. It’s unique in that it’s thought to be the only Roman theater with a stage rather than an amphitheater-style layout.
The theater sits just inside the boundary of the Gorhambury Estate, which has walking and cycling paths visitors can enjoy. It’s a great escape from the bustle of the city.
9. Visit the Museums in St Albans
Another of the best things to do in St Albans is visit the museums. There are great museums in St Albans for all interests.
Between Verulamium Park and the Roman Theater lies the Verulamium Museum, which (you guessed it) is dedicated to the ancient Roman history of St Albans.
The Verulamium Museum showcases everyday life in Roman Britain and has everything from recreated rooms to large-scale mosaics and interactive displays. It’s also home to the Sandridge Hoard, which features 159 Roman gold coins.
Elsewhere in the city, visiting the St Albans Museum and Gallery is a fun thing to do. This center for arts and culture is free to visit and showcases over 2,000 years of cultural heritage alongside contemporary artworks.
10. Go Shopping in St Albans
Shopping is another of the best things to do in St Albans. The city is full of great shops, and the aforementioned markets are fun places to pick up unique finds and one-of-a-kind pieces.
George Street has sweet home interior shops with pretty flowers out front, and Christopher Place is packed with stores. That’s to say nothing of the streets around the markets, which have everything from high street names to independent retailers.
11. Explore the Streets of St Albans
Last on my list of things to do in St Albans is explore the streets. From the high streets to the side streets, this city is full of heritage buildings with beautiful details.
Some of my favorites include St Michael’s Street and Fishpool Street. The former is home to pretty pubs like The Six Bells. The latter is lined with some of the most elegant houses and hotels in St Albans.
And speaking of hotels, Holywell Hill is home to lots of historic buildings, including the White Hart Hotel, a 600-year-old coaching inn with a half-timbered facade.
Where St Peter’s Street meets St Peter’s Church, there’s a beautiful green space that bursts with pink blossoms in spring. It makes for great photos of both the street and the church.
Best Things to Do in St Albans
I hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to things to do in St Albans. The city is one of the best day trips from London for good reason, and I hope you get a chance to visit and discover the highlights yourself.
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