I visited 1 of the UK’s best cities but I wouldn’t return | UK | Travel

I love visiting new areas in England, so when I saw a city popping up on my social media feed, I decided I needed to visit. St Albans is a historic cathedral city in Hertfordshire, England, located about 20 miles north of London. 

Today, it is known as an attractive and affluent commuter city, but its history stretches back nearly 2,000 years. Blending Roman ruins and medieval streets with modern shops, St Albans has developed into one of the most historically rich cities in southeast England. The origins of St Albans lie in the Roman city of Verulamium, founded in the 1st century AD and becoming one of the largest towns in Roman Britain.

The city was an important centre for trade and government, complete with temples, baths and a theatre. Parts of the Roman walls and mosaics can still be seen today, particularly in and around Verulamium Park. The remains of this Roman settlement form a major part of the city’s identity and attract many visitors each year.

St Albans is named after St Alban, traditionally believed to be Britain’s first Christian martyr, who was executed for protecting a Christian priest. A shrine built in his honour later became St Albans Cathedral, which remains the city’s most famous landmark. 

Today, it is a popular and prosperous city known for its history, green spaces and strong transport links to London. 

I visited St Albans at the weekend and came away slightly underwhelmed. I had expected something a little more polished, given its reputation, but parts of the centre felt a bit tired.

Some of the streets looked worn, and the uneven pavements made it less pleasant to wander around than I’d hoped.

It was also incredibly busy, which added to the sense of chaos rather than charm, and finding parking proved more difficult than anticipated. This may have been because it was market day.

I started my day off at The Ivy for breakfast, a real treat and a restaurant which I used to love. But it wasn’t anything special, with slow service and below-average food.

That said, other food options were a real highlight. I ate at Japes and had some genuinely delicious pizza, as well as stopping by Knoops for an indulgent hot chocolate.

When it comes to places to eat, drink and shop, the town certainly delivers, as does it on the history front.

It’s also hard to completely dismiss a town that has shops like Anthropologie, Oliver Bonas and Space NK, with that combination alone usually signalling a decent shopping destination. But, despite that, I’m not sure I’d rush back anytime soon.