Go Back
View of St Albans with its medieval clock tower: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stalbans-tower-20031011-001.jpgAuthor: Ghouston
St Albans is a city in Hertfordshire, England, about 35 km (22 mi) to the north of central London. It has a population of 70,000 people (2012 estimate). Due to its relative proximity to London, it is a dormitory town to London and enjoys one of the highest property prices in the country.
St Albans was named after the first British Christian martyr who was beheaded by Roman Emperor Maximian, on the orders of co-emperor Diocletian, who had denounced Christianity and ordered Christians to give up their faith. The city began as a Celtic settlement of the Catuvellauni tribe. Under Roman occupation, it was the second largest town in Roman Britain after Londonium itself. At that time, it was called Verulamium.
After the Romans withdrew, Verulamium became known as Verlamchester or Wæclingacaester. After St Alban was beheaded in AD 324, a Benedictine abbey was established on the spot of his martyrdom. It was the main abbey of England, and the site where the first draft of the Magna Carta was drawn. It was created by feudal barons to limit the powers of English kings and to protect themselves from abuses.
St Albans Cathedral: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_Albans_Cathedral_031.jpgAuthor: Matt Sims
St Albans received its city charter in 1877, when the St Albans Abbey Church was elevated to St Albans Cathedral. Due to its historical significance, it was a Christian pilgrimage site but not much more than a rural market town until the 20th century. Today it is a tourist destination with a number of buildings linked to its history.
Visiting St Albans
Take the M1 motorway out of London to Junction 6, then head north on A405 to St Albans.Places of Interest in St Albans
- Museum of St Albans: Museum presenting the history of St Albans from the time of the Romans until present day. Hatfield Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 3RR; Phone: 01727 819340; Open: Mon-Sat 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, Sun 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm; Admission: free
- St Albans Cathedral: Officially the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Albans, it is noted for having the longest true nave in Britain.
- St Albans clock Tower: Medieval clock tower dating back to the 15th century.
- Verulamium Museum: Museum on the ancient Roman city in St Albans, with displays of recovered artifacts. St Michael's Street, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL3 4SW; Phone: 01727 859919; Open: Mon-Sat 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, Sun 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm; Admission: free
St Albans is 
on the Map of cities in England
Latest updates on Penang Travel Tips
Map of Ceremonial Counties of England
Songs about Penang
About this website
Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.
Copyright © 2003-2024 Timothy Tye. All Rights Reserved.