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Hertfordshire
Features
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Hertfordshire
Guides & Maps
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 St
Albans
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St Albans is
the oldest town in Hertfordshire, with quite a few tourist
attractions based on the history of St Albans.
The first settlement on the site,
known as Verlamion, developed in the Iron Age. This
Celtic name meant 'the settlement above the Marsh'.
The inhabitants of Verlamion traded with the Roman empire
for many years before the Roman conquest of 43 AD.
Renamed Verulamium, the settlement
grew to become the third largest town in Roman Britain.
Verulamium was ransacked, along with London and Colchester,
in the Boudica's uprisng of 60/61 AD. However, the town
was rebuilt with many fine buildings including temples, a
theatre, public baths and large privately-owned town houses,
and in 275 AD the town was encircled by gated walls. Following
the departure of the Roman forces in 410 AD the town fell
into decline.
The Roman town now lies beneath
Verulamium Park and the city seen today grew up on a new site
around an abbey established by Abbot Ulsinus in 900 AD.
The new town took its name from
Saint Alban, Britain's first Christian martyr. A citizen
of Verulamium, Alban was executed for his beliefs in 209 AD
and the monastery was built close to the site of his martyrdom.
The ruined Roman buildings were used as building material
for the monastic buildings and new settlement. Salvaged
Roman bricks can still be seen in the Norman Abbey Tower.
During the Middle Ages the monastery
became the country's premier abbey and the town thrived catering
for the needs of travellers and pilgrims who flocked to the
shrine of Saint Alban. Visitors can still see many of
the inns built in the 15th century to accomodate these pilgrims
down by the Abbey.
Following the Dissolution of
the Monasteries, the Abbey was sold to the town in 1539 and
St Albans continued to prosper with the development of the
stage coach service from London.
St Albans remained an important
market town in the 18th and 19th centuries but in the 1840s
the coaching trade declined. This loss of business was
eventually offset by the coming of the railways, and in particular
the main line from London in 1868. A Royal Charter of
1877 granted city status to the borough and cathedral status
to the former abbey church.
The development of the city has
always been closely linked to the close proximity of London
and in the 20th century St Albans became a bustling commuter
town.
Many of the city's historical
buildings have survived and now provide valuable tourism revenue
for the city. Some of these buildings date back to the
15th century, including the Clock Tower and the St Albans
Street Market (still held every Wednesday and Saturday).
The Cathedral, of course, remains
the most important tourist attraction. Built on a mound,
the magnificent building continues to dominate the city's
skyline at every approach. Modern St Albans is
thriving, with new retail and commercial areas opening up
in the centre and on the outskirts of the city.
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| Location
Map of St Albans |
What
To See -
St Albans Tourist Attractions
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 Clock
Tower, free-standing
stone building, erected between 1403 - 1412, is the only medieval
town belfry in the country. The bell, striking on the
hour, is even older than the tower itself. Climb the 93
narrow steps to the top of the Clock Tower for views of the
Cathedral, the historic city of St Albans and Roman Verulamium.
Open Sat, Sun and Bank Holidays from Easter to October. Tel: 01727
751826 
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Hypocaust,
Verulamium Park, St Michael's Street,
St Albans, set in the south-west
corner of the city, the park marks the site of Verulamium, the
third largest town in Roman Britain.Restored bath suite, once
part of a large Roman villa, contains a Roman mosaic, and underfloor
heating system. Open daily Mon-Sat 10:00-17:00, Sun 14:00 -17:30
Closed 25 - 28 Dec, 1 Jan. Tel: 01727 751810.
(Note:
the Hypocaust Building is currently closed. Expected to
reopen in autumn 2004 )
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| Verulamium
Museum and Roman Town, St
Michael's Street, St Albans, this
award-winning museum stands on the site of Verulamium, Britain's
third most important Roman town. The displays show everyday
life in Roman Britain and include recreated Roman rooms and
some fine mosaics and wall plasters. Discovery Areas. Open:
Mon-Sat 10:00-17:30, Sun 14:00-17:.30. Last admission
17:00. Closed 25 - 28 Dec, 1 Jan. |
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| Verulamium
Park, St Michael's
Street, St Albans, 100 acres
of parkland, marks the site of Verulamium, the third most important
town in Roman Britain. Amenities include a lake with wildlife,
children's play ground, crazy golf and tennis. |
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| Kingsbury
Watermill Museum, St
Michael's Street, St Albans. set
on the banks of the River Ver, close to Verulamium Park, this
16th century water mill was once the Abbot's malt mill.
The Elizabethan mill has been restored and today visitors can
climb stairs to view the working waterwheel and milling machine
at different levels. Open: Mon-Sat 10:00-18:00, Sun and
Bank Holidays 11:00-18:00. Closes at 17:00 pm Nov-Easter.
Tel: 01727 853502 |
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| Museum
of St Albans, Hatfield
Road, St Albans, this museum
illustrates the history of the catherdral city from the departure
of the Romans to the present day. Houses the Salaman Collection
of trade and craft tools dating from 1700 to 1950. Smalll
wildlife garden with children's trail. Open: Mon-Sat 10:00-17:00,
Sun 14:00-17:00 Closed 24-27 Dec. Tel: 01727 819340 |
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| Roman
Theatre of Verulamium, Gorhambury
Drive, off Bluehouse Hill, A4147, this
impressive Roman theatre stood in Verulamium, the third largest
town in Roman Britain. with seating for 2000 people. Used for
religious rites, ceremonies and entertainments, such as bear-baiting
and cockfighting. The theatre is the only one for the period
in Britain to be open to the public. Open: daily Mar-Oct
10:00-17:00 , Nov-Feb 10:00-16:00 pm. Closed 25/26 Dec.
January by appointment. Tel: 01727 835035
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| St
Albans Organ Museum, 320
Camp Road. a facinating collection
of rare mechanical dance organs, other mechanical instruments
and theatre pipe organs. Exhibits include player pianos,
and a Wurlitzer. Open: Sun 14:00-16:30. Other times
by appointment. Theatre organ concerts given monthly on Saturdays.
Tel: 01727 851557 for details.
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| de
Havilland Aircraft Centre, Salisbury
Hall, London Colney, In 1939
designers from de Havilland Aircraft Company secretly developed
the Mosquito bomber at the moated Salisbury Hall. After
de Havilland's left in 1947 the Hall was rescued by Walter Goldsmith
who restored the Hall. A Prototype Mosequito became the basis
of the Mosquito Aircraft Museum, it now houses a collection
of 20 different de Havilland aircraft. Open: first Sunday of
March-last Sunday of October, Tues, Thurs and Sat 14:00-17:30;
Sun and Bank Holidays 10:30-17:30. Tel: 01727 822051
(Salisbury Hall itself is no longer open to the public).
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| Redbournbury
Water Mill, Redbourn
Road, 2 miles north of St Albans in the hamlet of Redbournbury.
18th century watermill on
the River Ver, the fully-restored mill now produces a range
of stoneground organic flour. Milling demonstrations and exhibits
such as a Crossley Oil Engine. The Ver Valley Walk, a footpath
from the river's source to its confluence with the Colne runs
past the mill. Open: Sun from Easter-September, and Bank
Holiday weekends. Tel: 01582 792874
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Where
To Stay in St Albans
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Watford Road St Albans AL2 3DS MAP
Set in its own grounds The Thistle St. Albans has been tastefully transformed in to a luxury country house style hotel. The in house fitness gym complements the corporate membership to a local health and fitness club. The hotel offers a choice of cuisine.
More... |
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Cottonmill Lane Sopwell St Albans AL1 2HQ MAP
Sopwell House Hotel, is set within 12 acres of picturesque grounds, just a short drive from the M25 and the centre of St. Albans (with its fast Thameslink train service to London). This luxurious 4-star hotel was once the home of Lord Mountbatten.
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Price Guide shown for a room for 2 people per night is based on the lowest price per person per night available in the future
Price Guide: from £70 per room
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London Road Markyate, St Albans AL3 8HH MAP
The ideal stopover, located in the countryside north of St.Albans and just 1 mile from J9 of the M1. This impressive hotel is close to many of Hertfordshire's main attractions including Whipsnade Zoo, Woburn Abbey, St.Albans and the historic ...
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M1 Jct. 9, London Road Markyate St Albans AL3 8HH MAP
This beautiful hotel, surrounded by beautiful Hertfordshire countryside has recently been refurbished to a contemporary and modern-day décor. Set in a truly prime location and conveniently located for Luton Airport.
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232 - 236 London Road St Albans AL1 1JQ MAP
The Quality Hotel St. Albans Ideally located for easy access to London, M25, M1, A1(M) We are a convenient, comfortable and popular local Hotel in the bustling ancient roman City of St.Albans.
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Ryder House Holywell Hill St Albans AL1 1HG MAP
The Hotel is centrally located in the vibrant city of St.Albans. Convenient for both leisure and business pursuits. St.Albans is ideal for all the family, with its historic Roman quarter and cathedral and its bustling bar and restaurant scene.
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Guest
Houses, Bed & Breakfasts, Inns and Other Hotels
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Around
The St Albans Area
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Tourist Information on Nearby Towns To Visit - straight line distance:
Harpenden (4.47 miles) Hatfield (4.95 miles) Hemel Hempstead (5.73 miles) Welwyn Garden City (6.60 miles) Watford (7.03 miles) Borehamwood (7.08 miles) Potters Bar (7.38 miles) Bushey (7.45 miles) Luton (9.38 miles) Berkhamsted (9.54 miles) Rickmansworth (9.69 miles) |
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Area
Telephone Code
01727 |
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Information
Centre
Town Hall,
Market Place
St Albans
Tel:
0870
225 4870 |
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Our
Hotel Booking Line
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Call
0870 4786316
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