Located in the scenic Hertfordshire countryside, the city of St Albans is the perfect place to go if you’re searching for alternative day trips from London when you’ve already visited cities like Oxford, Cambridge and Canterbury. Similar to these cities, St Albans possesses a charming blend of captivating architecture, rich history and quaint, cobbled streets. What’s more it takes only 30 minutes or less to reach from central London by train.
In the heart of the city stands St Albans Cathedral. This stunning cathedral boasts a mix of Norman and Gothic architecture and is, in my opinion, the most beautiful cathedral in the whole of the UK – I know, a very bold claim indeed! You will also find remains of a roman wall, which one protected Verulamium, Roman Britain’s third largest town.
If pubs are your thing, you’re in the right place. I’m not even a pub-goer but even I couldn’t help but admire all the old-fashioned timber pubs that dot the streets of St Albans. Head to Ye Olde Fighting Cocks (what a name!), said to be England’s oldest watering hole. If you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy a pub crawl, St Albans is the place to be, seriously.
How far? 25 miles
How to get there: Direct trains run from various London stations, including King’s Cross, taking as little as 25 mins to get there.
Want to stay overnight? ? Check hotels in St Albans