Perhaps one of the most currently sought-after locations to relocate to in the UK, St Albans might just have ‘it all’. It is an incredibly charming historic market town with a palpable and rich history, bountiful green spaces, highly-ranked schools, a wonderfully eclectic eating and drinking scene, and a warm and welcoming community spirit, among many other things. Moreover, for those relocating within the UK or repatriating to the country, you might be surprised to find this city (yes city) in the charming Hertfordshire countryside is a mere 20 minutes from Kings Cross, cementing it as one of Hertfordshire’s many commuter belt gems. With commuters and residents being able to whip down to London in a flash combined with the assortment of excellent family amenities, many young professionals, families, and city workers alike have opted to escape foggy London town in search of a more laid-back life where they can get more bang for their buck in terms of property.
At Whereshome, we understand the enormity and complexity of deciding where amongst the many standout places in the UK to set up shop. With A Guide to Living in St. Albans, we hope to give you a real in-depth account of what it is like to live in St Albans, written by a local.
Sites of Interest
Being so close to London, entertaining a family throughout the summer and winter months will never become too difficult, especially when St Albans and the neighbouring towns offer so much in the form of culture and family entertainment. Greenspace is something St Albans has in excess. Moments away from the town centre, past the grand, ancient cathedral, you will find the enormous Verulamium Park, notable for having the only completely excavated Roman Amphitheatre in Britain.
Aside from its historical significance, it has a charming lake, towering oak trees, acres of playfields, a newly renovated playground and volleyball courts. For destination experiences, Willows Activity Farm and Warner Bros Studios are both excellent choices for a grand day out, both easily accessible from St Albans. Head down the road to feed some farm animals and enjoy the rides, or see how the magical world of Harry Potter was created with the acclaimed studio tour.
St Albans and Hertfordshire truly blossom in the summer months with a multitude of festivals and events embracing the wealth of green space. Notable annual events for the calendar include Tom Kerridge’s Pub in the Park, The Great British Food Festival, and St Albans Film Festival.
Lifestyle
For a relatively small city and modest high-street, St Albans has a plentiful supply of unique restaurants, dazzling independent shops, and pubs upon pubs upon pubs, one of which is the oldest in England in fact (Ye Olde Fighting Cocks).
St Albans is in the conversation for the most pubs per capita and per square mile in the UK, so whether you’re a pub lover or not, there is a pub for you. From ancient pubs still standing since the mid-century to contemporary beer gardens and microbreweries, there truly is a different pub for every season and perhaps every day of the week. While excellent pub cuisine of all calibers is very present, there are also a flurry of independent restaurants serving up an impressively diverse range of foods, from contemporary fine dining at Lussmans, to delicious brunch spots such as Hatch, and a whole array of multicultural dining options.
Being a traditional market town, it would be remiss not to mention the bustling Charter Street Market that happens on Wednesdays and Saturdays with tons of street food options, crafts, fresh produce, plants, and clothes. This traditional market literally brings the town to life and is a staple of residents’ lives and a fascinating historical attraction for tourists.
Schooling
In Hertfordshire, schooling is well above the national average, with 25 establishments being in the top 500 secondary schools in this year’s Sunday Times Schools Guide and eight in the top 250 state private schools. St Albans upholds this standard and even surpasses it with a wide range of excellent schools, including state, independent, private, multi-faith, and colleges, the majority of which are rated as outstanding.
The city’s leading private schools include St Albans School (boys) and St Albans Girls School, offering excellent academic records and extracurricular activities. Beaumont School, Bernards Heath Junior School, and Fleetbville Infant and Nursery School are all public, co-educational schools and academies that boast impressive student achievement statistics and excellent facilities.
Transport
As we’ve already established, St Albans’s transport links are most definitely something to shout about.
Regular trains run to Kings Cross Station in central London, taking just 20 minutes. Trains from this station will also take you to Luton Airport in a shorter timeframe and directly to Gatwick airport taking just over an hour.
The city is also ideally situated to take advantage of the UK’s motorway network, being about 15 minutes from the M25 and M1, enabling a drive to Heathrow in half an hour and Stanstead in about 45 minutes while opening up seamless road trip opportunities around the country.
Property
