Welcome to St Albans

St Albans

Hamptons offers you a warm welcome to St Albans

Congratulations, if you are house hunting in St Albans, you have already won. A home in this great area with all it offers, automatically makes you the envy of many. Now in order to make your transition as smooth and hassle free as possible Hamptons have put together this great guide which will help you choose the best schools, learn a little about planning and building control, read tips on where to shop, eat and lot’s more, all packed into one little guide with clickable links. Perhaps most importantly we have researched some of the leading local professionals and experts who can help you add value and personalise your soon to be new home. A big WELCOME and enjoy.

A little bit of history

St Albans began life as an Iron Age Celtic settlement called Verulamium before falling under the control of the Romans during their conquest of Britain, which began in AD 43. Over the next few centuries it became one of the three largest Roman towns in the country; the other two were Londinium (now London) and Colchester. It got its current name from Alban, Britain’s first saint, who was executed by the Romans after refusing to renounce Christianity.

St Albans offers a wonderful blend of homes ranging from 16th Century cottages to detached family homes with everything in between. The character of the city can be seen in microcosm in Fishpool Street, described in Pevsner’s Hertfordshire as being ‘as delightful a street to walk along as one could hope to find’.

Why move to St Albans?

The high street in St. Albans features a range of larger chains and national brands, as well as smaller boutique shops owned by local traders. You’ll find lots of great shops in St. Albans - again there really is something for everyone, whether you’re looking to pick up some new clothes, or you’re shopping for gifts for your family.

St. Albans boasts fantastic transport links to nearby London - two train stations serve the area. You’ll struggle to find a city that’s in a better location than St. Albans when it comes to lying close to London. It’s a popular place to reside for commuters - the short train journey into the city is a key selling point of this wonderful city.

St. Albans has a good mix of shops, cafes and restaurants both independent and national chains. From essentials such as opticians, pharmacists (Boots), post office and supermarkets (Waitrose, Marks and Spencer and Sainsburys).

Residents are also spoilt for choice with a good selection of independent clothing and gift shops.

The pretty Hertfordshire city of St Albans dates back over 2,000 years, and direct trains from St Pancras mean the scattered clues to its 20 centuries of history are just 20 minutes by rail from Central London. It makes for an easy and captivating day trip for anyone interested in the past, with Roman ruins, Tudor buildings and magnificent Medieval pubs among the numerous historical treasures waiting to be discovered.

St Albans began life as an Iron Age Celtic settlement called Verulamium before falling under the control of the Romans during their conquest of Britain, which began in AD 43. Over the next few centuries it became one of the three largest Roman towns in the country; the other two were Londinium (now London) and Colchester. It got its current name from Alban, Britain’s first saint, who was executed by the Romans in the third or fourth century after refusing to renounce Christianity, at the time a relatively new religion.

The city can be broadly explored chronologically, so once you’ve hopped off the train at St Albans City station, make a beeline for Verulamium Park, about a mile to the west. This is where the original settlement lay, and the area is packed with fascinating Roman ruins. Start with a look around the Verulamium Museum, which gives a superb overview of the period and has some incredibly well-preserved mosaics on display, along with other Roman artefacts, including gold coins and pottery.

You might be feeling a bit peckish by now, so you could head further west into Gorhambury Estate, which borders Verulamium Park, to have a picnic among the crumbling, atmospheric ruins of Gorhambury House, which was once a grand Tudor mansion. Alternatively, you could grab a pint and a gourmet burger in nearby Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, the oldest pub in Britain.

www.theculturetrip.com

FAMOUS RESIDENTS

St Albans and the surrounding area has been a home to rockstars, celebrities, athletes, academics, artists and common or garden members of the upper-crust for generations. Here are a few notable names you may or may not know..

Tim Rice, Lyricist Stanley Kubrick, Film Director

Stephen Hawking, Theoretical physicist & cosmologist Samuel Ryder, Seed merchant and founder of the Ryder Cup Robert Runcie, Archbishop of Canterbury Rod Argent, Musician and Songwriter George Gilbert Scott, Architect John Sessions, Actor and Comedian Gilberto Silva, Brazilian footballer, played for Arsenal FC Clive Sinclair, Author Alan Smith, Bishop of St Albans since 2009 Rupert Parkes, Record producer and DJ Allan Prior, TV scriptwriter Chris Read, England cricketer Ben Richard, Actor, Singer Luke Roberts, Actor Jim Rodford, Musician James Runcie, Author, and film maker Adam Lallana, Footballer Donovan, Songwriter and Folk singer Stacey Dooley, Television Presenter David Essex, Singer