Listen up, Londoners. I come bearing yet another scenic spot for you to add to your ever-lengthening list of day-trips from the capital city. And the twinkling gem that I’ve yanked out of the UK’s treasure trove of picture-perfect places today is so gorgeous; it’s just been named one of the best places to live in the entire country.
St Albans is an ancient city that dates back over 2000 years. Steeped in history, drenched in charm, and dripping in swankiness; St Albans is one of those places that’ll make you want to immediately pack up your belongings, dismantle your flat-pack furniture, and move there permanently. But with the average family home costing a rather eye-watering £895,411, a little bit of window shopping might be a tad more realistic for the majority of us. So, let’s all press our faces up against the figurative glass window and find out what makes this small-but-mighty city quite so desirable.
St Albans
The city’s roots trace all the way back to the Roman Settlement of Verulamium when St Albans was a bustling medieval market town and a vital hub for commerce. There’s plenty of remnants of the city’s Roman history scattered around, and charm and character oozes from each and every street. Whilst there are some gorgeous green spaces and a whole host of places to eat, drink, and shop; St Albans’s magic lies in its historical offerings.
Home to The Roman Wall of St Albans, the ruins of Old Gorhambury House, a historic cathedral (that boasts the longest nave in England and the shrine of Britian’s very first Saint), a 1000 year old market, and one of the oldest pubs in Britain; it truly is a haven for culture vultures.
Getting to St Albans from London
St Albans is approximately an hour’s drive from central London. Non-drivers can hop on a Thameslink train from St Pancras International and find themselves in the centre of St Albans just 18 minutes later. Not bad at all, hey?
St Albans was named the third best place to live in the UK in Garrington Property Finders’ 2026 list. You can peruse the full findings here.