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We visited St Albans for a second time over the weekend, and came to the conclusion that it really is the most worthwhile place to visit in Hertfordshire, hands down. It has around 2000 years of history, as it was first settled by an ancient British tribe called the Catuvellauni until the Romans came and set up shop. They built Verulamium, which became the second largest Roman settlement in Britain (the first being Londinium, of course). The city was ransacked for building material when St Albans was founded, so not much is left, but some outer walls of the city are still partially intact, as is the theatre. (Unfortunately none of the photos I took of the theatre came out, so I linked to this nice one I found on Flickr.) We had a great time visiting the Verulamium Museum and saw some fascinating artifacts - the most impressive being the gorgeous and stunningly well preserved mosaics.

We also had a pub lunch at Ye Olde Fighting Cocks - apparently the oldest pub in England - or so a former manager claims he found proof that a pub stood in the same spot in 795 AD. (I wonder how many pubs claim the “oldest pub” title.) Regardless it sure was delicious! Our last stop was at one of the local pubs for a pint, called The Lower Red Lion. It was filled with friendly locals and a cozy fire, and it was the perfect ending to a perfect day.

One of the best things about St Albans is that it’s only a short 30 minute drive away, and you can see everything in just a couple hours or less. So you can fill your day with other plans and still step into St Albans for some lovely sights. It’s also perfect if all you want is a low-key and relaxing day. I’m definitely taking everyone who comes visit us to St Albans.