Town Profile: St Albans

Town Profile: St Albans

The small Hertfordshire city of St Albans is one of the most beautiful cities in England. Much of its beauty comes from its enormous cultural history and the fact that it is still pervaded by a huge variety of prominent historical buildings, including some world-renowned examples of ornate medieval architecture.

Because of its location just 19 miles North of Central London, St Albans is a very popular destination for commuters. It is one of the most attractive, picturesque sites in the commuter belt around London and its numerous parks, as well as the rolling green countryside surrounding the small cathedral city, make it an excellent rural contrast to the urban bustle.

If you work in the city and are looking for a well-connected, attractive escape outside, look no further than St Albans. There is a selection of estate agents in the area, and you could, for instance, look at a Linden Homes property for sale in St Albans.

St Albans has excellent transport connections, boasting two railway stations connecting it directly to a huge variety of destinations around the UK. It is also just a short distance from the M1 and M25 motorways. The small cathedral city also has a remarkable variety of facilities and attractions itself, however. It offers a variety of large high street chain stores as well as a myriad of local independent shops, cafes, restaurants and bars. St Albans’ regular farmers markets and food and drink festivals are also major local attractions.

Apart from its transport links and beauty, St Albans’ major draw is its history and culture. Before being renamed St Albans in the Christian era, St Albans was the major Roman city of Verulamium. It was the first town along the famous Roman Watling Street and one of the largest Roman settlements in Britain.

The large Verulamium Museum now stands as a fascinating testament to the city’s Roman heritage. St Albans was renamed for the first Christian martyr in Britain, St Alban, who was beheaded after the Emperor Diocletian renounced the Roman Empire’s Christian faith and ordered anyone who would not give up their faith executed.

The medieval town grew up through the power and wealth of the Benedictine order of monks who founded an abbey in the area. The city is still suffused with medieval architecture and today, as well as its two famous museums, St Albans is home to a great many theatres and arts centres to keep even the most demanding of culture vultures satisfied.