• Home
  • About
    • Work with Me
  • Travel Planning & Itineraries
  • Destinations
    • England
    • France
    • Italy
    • Scotland
    • United States
    • Wales
  • Mental Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
Life Well Wandered

Life Well Wandered

11 June 2019 · 47 Comments

Day Trips From London: St. Albans

Destinations· England

Share this post:

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn Share on Email

If you love beautiful churches, Roman history, and/or cute buildings, then St. Albans will make the perfect day trip from London.

During my time in London, I made a day trip up to St. Albans twice. Once to see the Christmas markets and again just for fun because I liked it so much the first time. It’s such an easy day trip from London.

If you’re looking for other day trips from London, check out my posts on Stonehenge/Salisbury, Cardiff, and Cambridge.

Updated October 2020.

A brief history of St. Albans

ruins in st. albans

St. Albans was first settled during the Iron Age by the Celts and, in AD 43, adopted the name Verulamium after the Roman conquest of Britain. It then became one of the largest towns in Roman Britain.

Around AD 250, a citizen of Verulamium named Alban was martyred for his Christain faith. He became the first Christian saint in Britain. In 793, King Offa founded St. Albans Abbey and the town grew from it.

In 1455 and 1461, St. Albans was host to two battles during the War of the Roses. King Henry VIII dissolved the abbey in 1539.

In 1877, the Abbey Church was granted Cathedral status, and the town was given a city charter. Today, the city and its surroundings have 129,000 people. To read more about the town’s history, check out the information on St. Albans’ website.

Getting to St. Albans

Trains to St. Albans City Station leave from either Blackfriars or St. Pancras International on the Thameslink train service every 5-10 minutes or so for £9-25 return depending on when you travel. If you take the train that terminates in St. Albans, your trip will be about 45 minutes. If you take the train that terminates in Bedford, your trip will be around 36 minutes. Both trains will get you to St. Albans for the same cost.

The St. Albans train station is an easy walking distance from the center of town. Just follow the pedestrian signs.

What to do in St. Albans in one day

The Clock Tower

st albans clock tower england

The Clock Tower in St. Albans was built in 1412 and is the only surviving medieval town belfry in England. The townspeople used it to assert their freedom, power, and wealth in the face of the premier Benedictine Abbey of England (St. Albans Cathedral). You can climb to the top for views of the city.

See also  Language Differences I Encountered in England

St. Albans Cathedral

st albans cathedral england ceiling

St. Albans Cathedral was built in 1077 atop an earlier Benedictine abbey founded by King Offa in 793. It’s probably most famous for its shrine of St. Alban, Britain’s first Christian saint. St. Albans Cathedral is the oldest place of continuous Christian worship and pilgrimage in Britain. It’s definitely a must-visit stop on your day trip to St. Albans!

st albans cathedral rose window
st albans cathedral wood ceiling

The cathedral is truly a monstrosity, dominating the skyline of St. Albans. It also takes quite a bit of time to walk around! You know I love churches, so I wouldn’t recommend this one lightly.

st albans cathedral exterior image panoramic

Markets in St. Albans

st albans england saturday market

Every Wednesday and Saturday, a market runs the length of St. Peters Street in St. Albans. Dating back to the 9th century and officially chartered in 1553, the market is great to peruse as you wander around the centre of town.

st albans england christmas market

If you visit St. Albans during Christmas, you’ll find a fantastic 60+ stall Christmas market, without the crowds of the markets in London. It’s in the walled garden just next to the cathedral and is easily one of my favorite Christmas markets to visit.

Sopwell Nunnery

sopwell nunnery ruins in st albans england

About 3/4 miles from the St. Albans town center lie the ruins of Sopwell Nunnery. Sopwell Nunnery was a Tudor mansion built on top of a medieval nunnery dedicated to St. Mary that was established in 1141.

The nunnery prospered for 400 years and it was supposedly where Anne Boleyn stayed before she wed Henry VIII. Henry dissolved the nunnery in 1537 and gave the property to a military architect, who then demolished the nunnery to build a new house. He later decided to build a bigger house at the spot but died before it was completed, so what you see are actually those ruins from the incomplete house.

sopwell nunnery st albans england ruins

It might not look like much, but it’s great to visit if you fancy going on a walk in some nature. You’ll also get great views of St. Albans Cathedral from Sopwell Nunnery.

Parish Church of St. Peter

parish church st peter st albans england

The Parish Church of St. Peter has been on its site since the 12th century. During the 13th century, it was constructed into the form it retained until the 19th century. The church appears today as it was in the 19th century.

The interior is relatively simple but the stained glass was really pretty. Not much of the original glass remains so the majority of the windows date from between 1863 and 1872.

garden in the parish church of st peter in st albans england

The garden surrounding the church is also worth a visit on your day trip to St. Albans. It is a peaceful spot with several sculptures and lots of trees and plants.

See also  A Wonderful Weekend Away in Windsor Great Park

Verulamium Museum

The Verulamium Museum houses artifacts from the Roman city of Verulamium. It’s an everyday life museum, meaning you’ll find some recreated rooms depicting life from the Roman period.

Roman Theatre

Near the Verulamium Museum are the ruins of a Roman Theatre that could seat up to 2,000 people. It was built around 140AD and it’s the only example of its kind in Britain. Near to the theatre are the foundations of a Roman villa and some Roman shops.

The Hypocaust

Also near to the Verulamium Museum is the beautiful mosaic floor of a Roman townhouse.

Shopping in St. Albans

I’m not huge on shopping, but St. Albans has a ton of shops. Check out their cute arcade or one of the many shops around the center of town during your day trip to St. Albans from London.

shopping arcade in st albans england
jack wills in st albans england

Where to eat in St. Albans

The Boot

the boot pub st. albans england

I can truly attest to the quality of The Boot because I ate there both times I took a day trip to St. Albans. It’s delicious and has been around since the 1400s. In fact, the War of the Roses started just outside its doors. It’s located in the center of St. Albans, next to the clock tower.

Funnily enough, The Boot and Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, another landmark pub in St. Albans, pretended to shut their doors for good on April Fools Day in 2015 to protest rising rents.

Ye Olde Fighting Cocks

Believed to be the oldest pub in Britain, Ye Olde Fighting Cocks dates back to the 8th century. The present building dates to the 11th century. There are even tunnels leading from the pub to St. Albans Cathedral that monks supposedly used to travel discretely between the two. With fresh, locally sourced meals available every day, this makes a great lunch stop on your day trip to St. Albans.

Abigail’s Tea Rooms

abigails tearooms st albans england

This is a tea room near the Cathedral. We almost ate lunch here but were really craving some pub food. It did look good, though, and it has great reviews online!

The White Hart

the white hart st albans england

Dating to the 14th century, this pub is the place where England declared war on Spain. It’s also supposedly haunted by a lady who hit her head in their restaurant. If you’re keen on it, it also has 15 rooms you can stay in.

Looking to spend the night in St. Albans? View accommodations here.

Looking for more day trips from London? Consider Cardiff, Stonehenge & Salisbury, and Cambridge!

See also  Time for a [Visit to] Bath

Have you visited St. Albans before?

visit-st-albans
Just 30 minutes away from central London by train, St. Albans makes a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of the capital city. If you love history, ancient Rome, and a cute market town, then St. Albans is the place for you!

You may also like

Share this post:

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn Share on Email
Previous Post: « One Day in the Scottish Highlands: A Review of Rabbie’s Tours
Next Post: Coming to Terms With Depression: My Story »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. heidi says

    18 October 2016 at 13:04

    Great guide! The pics are beautiful, I love old churches. I’ve never been to England but it looks amazing and is on my list.

    Reply
    • almathews says

      18 October 2016 at 13:16

      Thank you! I hope you get to go soon! There are so many amazing places to see. I have so much left on my England bucket list :)

      Reply
  2. Erika Ravnsborg says

    18 October 2016 at 14:16

    What an amazing time. I am in your envy

    Reply
    • almathews says

      18 October 2016 at 16:57

      Thanks for your comment :)

      Reply
  3. Rose says

    18 October 2016 at 15:12

    Such a beautiful place. I would like to go over there for maybe a year. Still not enough time to see every thing but, I would see more then versus a month long vacation. Ruins from an incomplete house is interesting just because I always assume it was a house falling down not being put up. Interesting post. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
    • almathews says

      18 October 2016 at 16:50

      Agreed! I would love to spend a year or two just traveling around the UK. There is so much to see over there! Thanks for your comment :)

      Reply
  4. Talia B. says

    18 October 2016 at 15:24

    I have never been to London, but it is one of those bucket list places. These pictures are gorgeous.

    Reply
    • almathews says

      18 October 2016 at 16:48

      Thank you so much! I hope you get to visit one day!

      Reply
  5. Paige Strand says

    18 October 2016 at 15:31

    Wow adding this to my list :) I love when people include great photos!

    Reply
    • almathews says

      18 October 2016 at 16:47

      Glad to be able to add something to your list. Thank you for your kind comment! :)

      Reply
  6. Aisha says

    18 October 2016 at 15:54

    This is such a detailed guide with amazing photos! I love the history and quaint facades! I really hope I can make it to St. Albans the next time I visit the UK!

    Reply
    • almathews says

      18 October 2016 at 16:15

      Thank you so much! I hope you can make it to St. Albans too!

      Reply
  7. Roy Miller says

    18 October 2016 at 15:56

    We are going there next year. Thank you for the information. I liked your photos as well.

    Reply
    • almathews says

      18 October 2016 at 16:56

      Thank you! I hope you enjoy your travels there!

      Reply
  8. Nicole says

    18 October 2016 at 16:17

    Oh my gosh this is all so beautiful! I hope that one day my blog is able to take my family around the world to see other places! This is simply beautiful! I would love to go !! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • almathews says

      18 October 2016 at 16:55

      I hope so too! It really is a lovely place. Thank you for your kind comment :)

      Reply
  9. karyl says

    18 October 2016 at 17:16

    Wow, what stunning pictures! I especially love the stained glass at the Cathedral. I’ve never been to London, but it is on my bucket list for sure

    Reply
    • almathews says

      18 October 2016 at 17:48

      Thank you. Yeah, the stained glass is beautiful, right? I hope you can make it over to London one day!

      Reply
  10. Juliette | Snorkels to Snow says

    18 October 2016 at 17:50

    What a beautiful Cathedral! The design & stained glass windows are just incredible! What a fascinating place to visit.

    Reply
    • almathews says

      18 October 2016 at 18:04

      It’s a stunning place to visit! Thanks for your comment :)

      Reply
  11. Jennifer says

    18 October 2016 at 19:03

    What beautiful pictures!!

    Reply
    • almathews says

      18 October 2016 at 21:27

      Thank you so much! :)

      Reply
  12. Christine Tatum says

    18 October 2016 at 19:54

    I hope to visit England. The photos are fantastic. Thanks so much for sharing!!

    Reply
    • almathews says

      18 October 2016 at 20:02

      I hope you can visit soon! Thank you for your kind comment :)

      Reply
  13. Beth says

    18 October 2016 at 21:00

    SOOOO beautiful, now definitely on my bucket list!! Great to have this resource. Will be pinning!

    Reply
    • almathews says

      18 October 2016 at 21:09

      Thank you so much!! I hope you get to visit :)

      Reply
  14. Tina says

    18 October 2016 at 21:00

    Wow, I can’t believe that pub was built in the 1400s – mind blown! I’d never heard of St Albans before, but now that I have, I really want to see it! I love cute little towns with an extensive history.

    Reply
    • almathews says

      18 October 2016 at 21:11

      Yeah this town has such a long and interesting history, and there’s so much to do there! I found about it online in a list of Christmas markets in England and knew I had to visit! I hope you get to visit too :)

      Reply
  15. valerie says

    18 October 2016 at 22:28

    Wow these all look great places to visit, I would love to make it to Europe next year, never been! thanks for sharing!!

    Valerie
    Fashion and tRavel

    Reply
    • almathews says

      19 October 2016 at 09:01

      I hope you can make it to Europe! It’s the only place I’ve traveled to and there is SO much to do and see! Thank you for your comment :)

      Reply
  16. Shem says

    19 October 2016 at 02:17

    Great post! I can’t believe I’d never heard of St. Albans when I last visited London. I’m definitely going to save this for my next trip :)

    Reply
    • almathews says

      19 October 2016 at 08:59

      Thank you! I hope you get to visit, it’s a lovely place! :)

      Reply
  17. Nicole says

    19 October 2016 at 04:20

    My boyfriend lived there, and he didn’t know all of these facts! Thanks for sharing!
    xx nicole
    http://www.nicoleparise.com

    Reply
    • almathews says

      19 October 2016 at 09:02

      Ahh what a coincidence! Glad I was able to share some new facts :)

      Reply
  18. Valerie says

    19 October 2016 at 05:02

    Great guide for a day trip – I used to live in London, but I’ve actually never been to St. Albans. I especially loved learning about the nunnery and Anne Boleyn!

    Reply
    • almathews says

      19 October 2016 at 08:58

      Thank you! Yeah I love it because it’s not crawling with tourists and you actually feel like a local when walking around because of it! The nunnery is really cool as well. Thanks for your comment :)

      Reply
  19. Beth | Adventuring the Great Wide Somewhere says

    19 October 2016 at 07:55

    I love this! Smaller towns like this are the reason I want to move to Europe one day. They seem like a perfect day trip for any age, and a great place to retire when the time comes. I love visiting churches as well, and St. Alban’s Cathedral is calling to me. From the outside, it looks almost like a miniature castle. Thank you for sharing this cute little spot!

    Reply
    • almathews says

      19 October 2016 at 08:57

      Exactly! I want to move to Europe for the same reason! The Cathedral is amazing! I’ll be writing about a few more towns with great cathedrals soon, so be on the lookout! Thanks for your kind comment :)

      Reply
  20. Tanja (the Red phone box travels) says

    19 October 2016 at 08:15

    interesting town:) nice photos!

    Reply
    • almathews says

      19 October 2016 at 08:55

      Thank you!

      Reply
  21. Brittany says

    19 October 2016 at 08:49

    I just need to make it over to London, then we will be happy to take that lovely trip! ;)

    Reply
    • almathews says

      19 October 2016 at 08:55

      I hope you can! It’s worth a visit. Thanks for your comment :)

      Reply
  22. Mandi says

    19 October 2016 at 11:37

    This looks like a lovely trip!

    Reply
  23. LeeLee says

    19 October 2016 at 16:15

    Great insight and guide!

    Reply
    • almathews says

      19 October 2016 at 20:11

      Thank you so much! :)

      Reply
  24. Melissa says

    14 February 2019 at 18:53

    A great place to eat is The Waffle House on the other side of the park from the Catherdral. It is in an old water mill. The menu is great and they have tasty specials. We normally get one savoury and one sweet waffle and share! I have three sisters and if one of us is missing when we visit the others love teasing her with pictures of our meal!

    Reply
    • almathews says

      13 May 2019 at 18:30

      That sounds delicious! I will definitely go there next time I’m there.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to Life Well Wandered

alex life well wandered

Welcome to my corner of the internet! Life Well Wandered is a travel blog where you'll find a little bit of everything. I love sharing itineraries from past trips, secret spots I've discovered on my travels, histories of places I find fascinating, and stories about my mental health.

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
Life Well Wandered

Search

What’s New

  • A Guide to Stow-on-the-Wold in the Cotswolds
  • The Real-Life Inspiration for Moria? Exploring St. Edward’s Church in Stow-on-the-Wold
  • A Lord of the Rings Guide to the Cotswolds: Places That Inspired Tolkien’s World
  • Day Trips from London: Stonehenge & Salisbury
  • Visiting Upper Slaughter in the Cotswolds: A Guide
Follow
college tourist

Note: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Please check our disclosure page for more information.

lifewellwandered

My favorite stop in Bruges was City Hall. Built in My favorite stop in Bruges was City Hall. Built in 1376, it is one of the oldest in the Low Countries and has been used as the seat of the city government for over 600 years. 🤓
Inside City Hall is the beautiful gothic hall. It was remodeled in the 19th century and decorated with beautiful murals and woodwork from floor to ceiling. The ceiling dates from 1385. The murals were painted in the 19th century and depict different people from Belgian history, including Jan Van Eyck, Brueghel, Rubens, and more. 😍 #lifewellwandered
If you fancy climbing up about 400 steps in a spir If you fancy climbing up about 400 steps in a spiral staircase, then consider visiting the Belfry in Bruges. From the top, you'll see just how beautiful Bruges is, with its winding streets and orange rooftops. 😍
Dating back to the 13th century, the Belfry is the most important tower in Bruges. At over 83 meters (272 feet) tall, it was an important status symbol in the Middle Ages. It formerly housed the treasury and city archives, as well as a market for the town. 🏰
At the top of the tower, you'll find a carillon—47 bells playable by hand with a keyboard—with bells ranging in weight from two pounds to 11,000 pounds. Historically, the bells were used not only to mark the passage of time but also to alert residents of fires, work hours, or important events. Today, if you visit at the top of the hour, you'll get to experience the ringing of the bells. 🛎 #lifewellwandered
In March of 2015, I began my biggest trip around E In March of 2015, I began my biggest trip around Europe to date. We had about 5 weeks off (during which we were supposed to be revising for exams) so my friend and I took the opportunity to see as much of Europe as possible while also getting to know each stop as well as possible. A hard balance to strike, but we did the best we could! 🇪🇺
Our first stop was Bruges. We visited on the day of a solar eclipse, but it was already cloudy and foggy so the lack of sunlight wasn’t noticed. We spent our day in Bruges wandering around the streets and eating waffles - not a bad start to a trip around Europe that would be characterized by eating and wandering! 🍽 #lifewellwandered
The last stop on my series of day trips around Eng The last stop on my series of day trips around England was Windsor. I had been close to Windsor once before but had yet to visit Windsor Castle or the town. Windsor Castle was overwhelming. 🏰
It is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, founded by William the Conqueror and the home of 39 monarchs. We spent hours walking around the various wings and exhibits, trying to absorb everything we could. Have you visited Windsor Castle before? 👑 #lifewellwandered
Bath is most famous for, well, its Roman baths. As Bath is most famous for, well, its Roman baths. As a Roman history nerd, Bath was on my to-visit list for ages and I spent my entire visit to the baths geeking out over all of the artifacts and ruins. 🤓
For thousands of years, 240,000 gallons of 115ºF water has risen into this spring, known as the Sacred Spring, daily. In Roman times, this phenomenon was believed to be the work of the Gods, so Romans built a temple dedicated to the goddess Sulis Minerva, a deity with healing powers, around the spring. Water from it feeds the Roman baths. 🛁 #lifewellwandered
Three churches have occupied the site of Bath Abbe Three churches have occupied the site of Bath Abbey since 757AD. There was first an Anglo-Saxon monastery, then a massive Norman cathedral (the foundations of which can be seen underground in one part of the Abbey) and then the present abbey church from the 1600s. ⛪️
The first King of England, King Edgar, was crowned here in 973 - his coronation set the precedent for the current coronation ceremony of all kings and queens of England. 👑 #lifewellwandered
I visited Winchester on what felt like the first w I visited Winchester on what felt like the first warm, sunny day in months. When you live in a place without regular sun, you always take advantage of beautiful days. Winchester made the perfect destination for a beautiful day spent walking around and exploring. 🤗
Winchester’s High Street is built along the original Roman street that led through the town. Today, it has buildings dating from the 16th century. The clock was presented after a visit from Queen Anne in 1713. 🕑 #lifewellwandered
Chances are, you’ve heard of the Knights of the Chances are, you’ve heard of the Knights of the Round Table. Did you know that the Round Table of King Arthur can be found in the Great Hall in Winchester? ⚔️
While this table was created around 1290, well after the death of King Arthur and his knights, it’s still impressive to visit. Weighing over one ton, it is thought to portray King Arthur on his throne surrounded by 24 places for his knights. King Henry VIII added a Tudor Rose during his reign. Swipe for a closer look at the table! 🤓 #lifewellwandered
In another edition of always visit the cathedral i In another edition of always visit the cathedral in the town you visit, I bring you Winchester Cathedral. One of the reasons why I chose to visit Winchester of all places was its connection to Jane Austen. Jane Austen spent the last weeks of her life in a house in Winchester and was laid to rest in its cathedral in 1817. ⛪️
Have you ever traveled somewhere because of a favorite author? 🤓 #lifewellwandered
Load More... Follow on Instagram
  • Home
  • About
  • Travel Planning & Itineraries
  • Destinations
  • Mental Health
  • Lifestyle

Copyright © 2023 · beloved theme by Restored 316