St Albans combines a rich countryside with a friendly community. Many people will tell you St Albans is the best place in Hertfordshire.
From wonderful parks to stroll through, deep history running through the streets, England’s oldest pub, fascinating buildings, the excavated Roman amphitheater, vibrant places to shop, yearly festivals, St Albans has it all.
Key Travel Distances In St Alban’s
Fastest Train to London: 21 mins
Nearest Major Airport: 20 mins by car (Luton)
Nearest Park: Verulamium Park (in the city centre)
A Bit of History in St Alban’s
With the town’s origins dating back over 1,700 years St Albans is steeped in captivating history that makes it a unique place to live.
The city traces its roots back to the 200 AD when St Alban (a Roman soldier) was executed on a hillside where St Alban’s Cathedral now stands in the heart of the city. The cathedral started as a medieval monastery that grew into one of England’s most prominent and wealthy abbeys. The building is a truly beautiful site.
Beyond its early history, St Albans was also strategically important in later periods. Its location made it the site of two critical battles during the English Civil Wars in the 1600s.
Later on the city prospered into modern times as the 1800s railway boom turned it into a commuter hub for London workers.
This fascinating layered history makes St Albans a dynamic place to live. You’ll find everything from Georgian buildings to medieval architecture intermixed with more modern developments, offering homebuyers a range of housing options steeped in English heritage.
Top Sites in St Albans.
St Alban’s Cathedral
The Cathedral of Abbey church of St Albans is the longest in the country. It is truly magnificent and welcomes visitors and members. The church design interior itsel is
The Verulamium Park
The Verulamium park is vast 100 acres of big green space right in the heart of the City. Located near the city center, the park’s lake and ornamental gardens provide a relaxing oasis. Remnants of walls, foundations, and a hypocaust hint at the Roman city that once stood here!
Whether it’s getting healthy exercise, enjoying some peaceful recreation or getting inspiration by the lake the park is a fantastic addition to the city.
Picturesque Countryside
The countryside is only a stone’s throw away from St Albans City. This creates a perfect balance between access to major UK cities like London and healthier green spaces.
Top areas of interest are Ashridge, Whipsnade and Chilterns. Another great perk of the countryside – these English villages also sell great craft beer!
Top Neighbourhoods In St Alban’s
Fleetville
Nestled just north of St Albans city centre, Fleetville offers the ambiance of a village with the convenience of quick connections into London. Known for its strong sense of community and vibrancy, it's a sought-after spot for commuters and families.
Stroll down Fleetville's leafy lanes and you'll find independent boutiques, cozy cafés, and gastropubs radiating local charm.
Verulamium
Just south of St Albans city center, Verulamium's suburban neighborhood offers a sought-after quality of life for professionals and growing families.
Verulamium is known for excellent local schools, from primary to secondary.
There's quick access to the train station, city center and links to London - which helps with any hybrid working jobs.
Housing in this area is a mixture of period houses and new planned developments, so there are sizes for a range of budgets.
Sopwell
Escape into the peaceful leafy suburb of Sopwell. Stroll its roads to uncover Tudor buildings like Sopwell House, remnants of the 12th century Sopwell Nunnery, and cottages from medieval travelers. The area's heritage shines through in striking architecture lined with modern cafes and shops.
Nature is always near in Sopwell Woods, the green nunnery grounds, and along the River Ver trail.
Golfers can also rejoice at the nine hole Sopwell Golf Club just on the doorstep.
The Culture and Festivals in St Alban's
St Albans has a deep cultural history and isn’t afraid to show it.
Music Nights
If you are a music lover you’ll find a wide variety of music choices along the city. Late music nights are organized at The Horn.
For an Irish pub feel head over to the White Swan that shows live sports and holds a late licence.
If you are cinema goer looking for vintage films of the time, try The Odyssey (it even has a balcony level).
Beer and Cider Festival
When you're a St Alban's resident get ready for the annual extravaganza of brews - the St Albans Beer and Cider Festival.
Beer lovers can join 5 days of pure hoppy happiness as they celebrate over 300 ales, ciders, and perries. From bitters to sweet sensations, your taste buds will be tingling with delight!
You can also enjoy live music acts performing rock, pop, and folk to liven up the festival atmosphere.
The Charter Market
On Wednesday and Saturday, the St Albans charter market still runs with street food stalls filling the air with enticing smells. The market is known to attract both locals and tourists with special delicacies of fish, meat and cheese.
There's a bounty of artisanal food to sample too, from hot sausages and baked goods to jams and chutneys.
Beyond food, the market stalls are abound with crafts, clothing, accessories and unique gift ideas. Everything from handmade jewelry, pottery, scarves and leather goods can be found in the market.
The streets around the clock tower are filled with shops, pubs, and artisan buildings that have been in existence since Tudor times. The market is said to have originated during the era the special Royal charter was slightly granted later in 1553. It can be traced far back to the 9th century and has been a central hub twice a week.
St Alban's Community Spirit
You don't have to live in St Albans for long to notice that the people living in St Albans have a great Community Spirit. From the wealth of charities always taking the initiative to take action for the homeless, independent shops on Catherine Street and George Street to multiple cleanups there is a strong sense of community spirit to help each other out.
The Living Room charity operates in St Alban's and helps the community's most vulnerable residents to overcome tough circumstances. They offer one-on-one counselling and group therapy programs to help people struggling with issues like depression, anxiety, addiction, and trauma.
St Alban's Film Festival
This much-loved event transforms St Albans into a hub of movie mania for 10 days every October.
Experience over 150 brilliant films shown across iconic venues throughout the city. From independent flicks and documentaries to major blockbusters and classics, there's something for all tastes and ages.
Sometimes you can also catch talks and Q&As from directors, writers, and critics that they put on.
Travelling Around St Alban's
Car Travel
In St Albans you can access the rest of the United Kingdom through fast connections across the M1 and M25. These provide convenient travel routes to destinations North and South of the city.
A car trip to Central London can be done in an hour.
St Alban's Trains to London
St Albans is located in the North of London and is not very far from it. In about 20 minutes of speedy train travel you can reach London St Pancras. You can also get to West Hampstead in 15 minutes if you decide to travel by train Thameslink.
There are two railway stations in the city:
- St Albans Abbey
- St Albans City (Main)
The St Albans City station has a direct line to London and also stops at Farringdon and Blackfriars.
Other destinations from a St Albans station include Bedford and Harpenden. For other locations you can take a 15 minutes train from St Albans Abbey station to Watford and connect to a different route.
Healthcare In St Alban's
The Healthcare in St Albans and adjacent town is organized by West Hertfordshire NHS Trust organizers. There is also the St Albans City hospital and they have a emergency injuries unit. The St Albans City Hospital is a local general hospital, located at Waverly road, and among their services include planned surgery.
Downsides of Living in St Alban's
There are some downsides of living in St Albans to be aware of.
St Alban's House Prices
St Albans is quite expensive than other areas to live in. But it continues to be cheaper than living London, which allows people to get more space for their money. For those looking to have a garden with their home, St Albans will make this more affordable.
It’s true that house prices in the region have increased sharply. But as the city is within a 20 minute trin ride to London, it is perhaps not so surprising. Many locations within commuting distance to London have seen a surge in interest since the lockdowns from the pandemic.
Congestion
As St Albans is an old city, the ring road design can become a problem for traffic during periods of rush hour. But with new hybrid models of working (and fewer people needing to commute around), it is possible that traffic could be reduced over time.