Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
cost £3 for adults and £1.50 for children 5 to 15 (children 4 and under are free).
These include “The Ghost Walk” (£4 adults, £2 children), “The Wars of the Roses,”
“Monks, Mysteries & Mischief,” and “Crime and Punishment.”
Exploring the Area
Cathedral of St. Albans
CATHEDRAL This majestic cathedral is the oldest
site of continuous Christian worship in Britain. It contains the shrine of St. Alban,
the first British martyr, who was buried here after being executed by the Roman
authorities around a.d. 304. Construction of the cathedral began in 1077; it is one of
England's earliest Norman churches, but displays a variety of architectural styles from
Romanesque to Gothic. The bricks, especially visible in the tower, came from Veru-
lamium, the old Roman city located at the foot of the hill. The nave and west front
date from the 13th century.
The new chapter house, the first modern structure built beside a great medieval
cathedral in the country, was opened by the Queen in 1982. The building houses an
information desk, gift shop, and restaurant. There is also a video, detailing the history
of the cathedral, that you can view for free (donations appreciated). In addition to
church services, organ recitals are often open to the public. The church's choir can
sometimes be heard rehearsing, if it's not on tour.
Sumpter Yard, Holywell Hill (on the High St.).
&
01727/860780.
www.stalbanscathedral.org.uk. Free
admission. Daily 8:30am-5:45pm.
Museum of St. Albans
MUSEUM This museum chronicles the history of St.
Albans from the departure of the Romans to the present day; the life and subsequent
cult of St. Alban is explained, and there's an especially detailed section on Victorian St.
Albans. Look out for the startlingly well-preserved 15th-century leather shoe. Located
in the city center, the museum is a 5-minute walk from St. Albans City Station.
Hatfield Rd.
&
01727/819340.
www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk. Free admission. Mon-Sat 10am-5pm,
Sun 2-5pm. Closed Dec 25-Jan 2.
Roman Theatre
HISTORIC SITE Built around a.d. 140, this is the only example
of a Roman theatre in Britain, an evocative sight just a short distance from Verulamium
(see below). Not much remains, of course, but the stage and banked stone-seating are
clearly visible, and a stage column has been re-erected to give some sense of its former
grandeur. Southeast in nearby Leavesden, experience a different kind of magic come
2012, when Warner Bros. Studios open its “The Making of Harry Potter” film tour, see
p. 238.
Hemel Hempstead Rd., Bluehouse Hill
&
01727/835035.
www.romantheatre.co.uk. Admission £2.50
adults, £2 students and seniors, £1.50 children 5-16, free for children 4 and under. Daily 10am-5pm.
Located on the western outskirts of St. Albans, just off the A4147, in an area known as Bluehouse Hill.
Verulamium Museum
MUSEUM Roman Britain is brilliantly evoked at this
enlightening museum, located on the site of the ancient Roman city of the same name.
Here you'll view some of the finest Roman mosaics in Britain as well as recreated
Roman rooms, rare bronze statues, and Celtic coins. Part of the Roman town hall and
the outline of houses and shops are still visible in the park that surrounds the museum.
Check out also the new building housing the 1,800-year-old
Hypocaust
(under-
floor heating system) and ornate mosaic floor in the park. The site has been left
in
situ,
and is now protected by a modern shell. Opening times are April to September
Monday to Saturday 10am to 4:30pm and Sunday 2 to 4:30pm; October to March
the site closes at 3:45pm. Admission is free.
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