As a popular destination booked in Cabubble, we explore the historic city of St Albans in Hertfordshire.
The city, known in Roman times as Verulamium, was then the second largest town after Londinium in Roman Britain along the Roman road of Watling Street. The city takes its current name from St Alban, the first Christian martyr, believed to have been executed here by the Romans. Roman ruins visible around the city include the hypocaust and mosaic in Verulamium Park, and city walls. Along with the cathedral, these attractions make modern St Albans a popular tourist destination. It's also a popular commuter town for workers in London due to its close proximity to the capital.
St Albans has excellent transport connections with trains from St Albans City station running around the clock to London St Pancras station (20 minutes), London Gatwick Airport (1 hour 20 minutes) to the south and London Luton Airport (12 minutes) to the north. Services only pause for about four hours between 01:40 and 06:00 on Sunday mornings. Trains run from St Albans Abbey station to Watford Junction. The A1(M), M1 and M25 motorways are also within a few miles of the city centre.
There are excellent schools in St Albans including St Albans School, whose notable alumni include the lyricist Sir Tim Rice and theoretical physicist Professor Stephen Hawking. Near St Albans School is St Albans Cathedral, sitting at the top of Verulamium Park and close to the 15th Century Clock Tower. The cathedral's 84m nave is the longest of any cathedral in England.
Other notable people from St Albans include Sir Francis Bacon and Samuel Ryder, founder of the Ryder Cup golf tournament. St Albans and the surrounding area have fine golf courses, including Verulam Golf Club where Ryder was a member and captain.
With excellent transport links and schools, modern day St Albans is an affluent Hertfordshire commuter town with above average property prices. There are large areas of countryside nearby and a market with stalls trading on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Local residents also enjoy an array of shops in the compact city centre and in the Maltings shopping centre. If that isn't enough, Costco's main warehouse at Watford is just 5 miles away at junction 5 of the M1, catering for shoppers demanding high quality products at competitive prices.
As home to CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) St Albans has a wide range of pubs serving traditional English ales. Pubs include Ye Olde Fighting Cocks which, dating from the 8th Century, claims to be the oldest in England. Batchwood Hall has a nightclub catering for late-night revellers.
There are excellent restaurants in St Albans with Lussmanns, Thai Rack and the Waterend Barn offering good value.
With its compact city centre, St Albans is easily explored on foot. If the weather suddenly closes in and walking loses its appeal, Gold Line Taxis operates an excellent service in the city and local area. Gold Line and other licensed taxi operators can be booked on Cabubble, the UK's leading taxi and private hire booking system.
Posted by jason on 23 Apr 2016.
Tagged: hertfordshire, st-albans, transport, verulamium. Article: link.