Our top things to do when visiting St Albans
We at Heliodoor Apartments specifically picked the historic city of St Albans as a location for our stunning apartments because of its uniqueness in what it has to offer. Not only is St Albans a short train journey into the heart of London (18 minutes to Kings Cross St Pancras International station) this Roman city has plenty more to offer; the beautiful Cathedral, museums, parks, river walks, fun days out for the family, shopping in boutique & chain stores and of course fine wining & dining!
Whether your reason for being in town is work or leisure, why not make the most of it whilst you are here.
In no particular order, these are our top favourite things to see and do in St Albans:
St Albans Cathedral
This is a great place to visit for history enthusiasts. It is the oldest building of continuous worship in Britain and there is lots to see indoors with the outside providing beautiful photo opportunities.
Verulamium Park and Verulamium Museum
This is a place we visit time and time again as it is an idyllic place for a leisurely stroll, picnic, educational visit or fun with the kids. It has 100 acres of land with a beautiful lake, cafe and pubs nearby. It also has a fantastic playground and splash park for children with tennis, volleyball and outdoor gym space for adults. The lake is home to lots of wildlife and many birds and the park has remains of the Roman Wall which was built to defend the Roman city of Verulamium.
The park is also next to the Cathedral so both can be visited on the same day.
The museum which is also located within the park shows artifacts from everyday life in Roman Britain and has recreated rooms, mosaics, interactive displays and a gift shop.
Willows Farm
Animals, birds, soft play, outdoor play and Peter Rabbit – this is a really lovely full day out for kids of all ages.
Various Markets
There is a Farmers Market every second Sunday which we just love to mooch around at and pick up some Vintage treats or Artisan baked goods. There is also a traditional market throughout the week and a fantastic Christmas Market that takes place around the Cathedral during the festive season.
St Albans Museum and Gallery
This museum has over 2,000 years of Roman heritage and displays contemporary artworks. There are also various exhibitions that take place at different times and it is worth a visit if you are in the town centre as it is right in the middle of everything.
Christopher Place and The Maltings Shopping
We couldn’t not mention the shopping! There are many boutique shops as well as the usual high street stores and market but we love having a coffee (or a cocktail) in one of the cute coffee shops or bars along the cobbled streets.
Clock Tower
The Clock Tower located in the centre is a Grade I listed belfry and the tower with its 600 year old bell still stands. You can also take a trip inside and up to the top where it provides amazing views across St Albans and the countryside.
Roman Theatre of Verulamium
This theatre is unique as it was once a theatre with a stage rather than an amphitheatre. It is located close to the Verulamium Museum so you can combine a day of history without travelling around too far.
So those are our main highlights of St Albans but there is much more to see and do. For example, there are many themed events and festivals running throughout the year so it is always worth checking these out for when you stay as you could also be in for a one off treat…
We could talk about the City all day so if you want to discover more reasons to visit St Albans, please get in touch with us and we will be delighted to help.
**The above are based on our personal recommendations and we would strongly advise researching each attraction’s website to review opening times and any changes that may have occurred as a result of the pandemic.
