A historic gem in the UK’s treasure trove of incredibly impressive establishments comes in the form of St Albans Cathedral. The Grade I listed building is perched proudly in the heart of (you guessed it, folks) St Albans; a medieval market town just outside of London. And it is filled to the brim with fascinating history and a whole lot of gorgeous things to gawp at.
St Albans Cathedral
Dating back around 1700 years, St Albans Cathedral certainly has its fair share of stories to tell, and it’s played a pretty pivotal role in British Christianity over the years. It’s home to an 85 metre long Nave (the central part of a church), which just so happens to be the longest in England. And that Nave is adorned with one of the most extensive surviving collections of medieval wall paintings.
Over the centuries, the cathedral has undergone several transformations, but a lot of the architecture dates back to the Norman times, and plenty remains as a nod to the building’s lengthy past. St Albans Cathedral houses not one, but two medieval shrines, and is the only cathedral in England to do so. There’s the shrine of St Alban (England’s very first Saint) and the shrine of St Amphibalus (which is one of Britain’s 13 medieval pedestal shrines). Both shrines are beautifully preserved and attract visitors from far and wide to this very day.
St Albans Cathedral is also home to an 11th century crossing tower (the only one of its kinds still standing), constructed from bricks and tiles that were saved from the ruins of Roman Verulamium. Visitors can ascend the 211 winding steps to the top of the Norman tower, marvel at the bricks and get up close and personal with the bells of the Bell Ringing Chamber. St Albans Cathedral offers a variety of guided tours, most of which are completely free to attend – and there’s plenty of things to do, see, eat, and drink in the surrounding area. So, it’s certainly worth a day-trip, if you ask us.
Getting to St Albans Cathedral from London
St Albans Cathedral is approximately an hour drive from London. Non-drivers can hop on a direct Thameslink train from St Pancras International, and arrive in St Albans just 18 minutes later. The Cathedral is then just a short walk from the station. Not bad, hey?
Find out more and plan your visit here.