St Albans, ENG - Postcode - AL1 5DD

Description of St Albans, England

Located 20 miles (32 km) north-west of London, 8 miles (13 km) south-west of Welwyn Garden City, and 11 miles (18 km) south-east of Luton, St. Albans is a cathedral city in Hertfordshire, England. St. Albans, which later became the city of Verulamium, served as the northernmost significant stop on the ancient Roman road Watling Street. It is part of the Greater London Urban Area and the London Commuter Belt.

History of St Albans

St. Albans's abundance of historic inns dates back to its days as a thriving rural market town, a Christian pilgrimage center, and the first coaching stop on the route to and from London before the turn of the twentieth century. There wasn't much industry in modest Victorian St. Albans. Between 1801 and 1861, its population expanded by 8-9% per decade, which was slower than London's 31% growth per decade during the same time period. In 1858, the railroad was finally built. While the Earl of Verulam and many locals voiced opposition to expanding the city limits in 1869, the latter half of the century saw considerable growth and construction, leading to a 37% increase in the city's population between 1891 and 1901. 

After receiving numerous petitions, Queen Victoria finally awarded the borough city status in 1877 and elevated the former Abbey Church to the position of Cathedral in 1911. At the same time, a new diocese was formed from the large Diocese of Rochester.

Between the wars, it was a major hub for the development of electrical technology. Following WWII, it experienced tremendous growth as people were relocated there from Greater London. It has recently become a hotspot for vacationers.

There is a thriving arts scene in St. Albans, with performances by groups like the St. Albans Bach Choir, the St. Albans Cathedral Choir, the St. Albans Cathedral Girls' Choir, the St. Albans Symphony Orchestra, the St. Albans Chamber Choir, and the St. Peter's Church and St. Saviour's Church. Trestle Arts Base, St. Albans Abbey, The Horn, The Trestle Theatre Company, based in St. Albans, has been making professional physical storytelling theater since 1981. Though they are most recognized for their work with masks, Trestle currently works with artists from all over the world to create performances that seamlessly blend dance, music, and spoken word. The Sandpit Theatre, located on the campus of Sandringham School, offers plays and other performances by students and faculty during the academic year. Best Theatre Arts, a part-time theater school for kids aged 4 to 16, is also housed in the building. Many popular bands got their starts in St. Albans, including Enter Shikari, The Zombies, Trash Boat, Friendly Fires, and Your Demise.

After a lengthy restoration process, the London Road's Odyssey Cinema (originally the Odeon) reopened in 2014 as an independent art house theater. It was built on the site of Hertfordshire's first movie theater, the Alpha Picture House, which had opened in 1908 thanks to the efforts of cinema pioneer Arthur Melbourne-Cooper.

St. Albans Museums operates two museums: Verulamium Museum, which details life in Roman Britain through artifacts discovered during excavations of the significant Roman Town; and St. Albans Museum + Gallery, housed in the former St. Albans Town Hall, which chronicles the town's and Saint Alban's rich history.