Why Live In St. Albans

St. Albans City has been named the best place to live in the south-east by The Sunday Times, which is no surprise, considering how much it has to offer. Let’s take a look at the five top reasons why to live in St. Albans, starting with its history.

History

St Albans City has a rich history dating back to the Iron Age, around 20BC. When the Romans invaded Britain in 43AD, they took over the Celtic settlement and named it Verulamium. It became the second largest town in Roman Britain, after Londinium. During Medieval times, St Albans Abbey was founded, after the Christian martyr St Alban. It became the principal abbey in England, which the village of St. Albans was built around.

In modern times, the city has retained its historical past. Many Georgian, Victorian and Tudor streets, as well as some of the remaining medieval structures, have been conserved. As a result, St. Albans is one of the most beautiful and picturesque places to live in the country.

Culture & Entertainment

From St. Albans market, which runs twice a week, to the thriving independent stores on George Street and Catherine Street, the city has much to offer in terms of retail and food. Additionally, St. Albans claims to have the most pubs per person in the country, as well as the oldest pub – Ye Olde Fighting Cock. Furthermore, the Alban Arena offers entertainment such as comedy acts, and the Odyssey Cinema shows blockbusters in style. The city has many opportunities for sports, with multiple fitness centres and even a climbing wall at Westminster Lodge.

Scenery

The scenery is another reason why to live in St. Albans. Verulamium Park is a brilliant feature of the city, with 100 acres of green space, a Roman museum and a lake that homes a variety of bird species. Not only this, the city has a network of walking and cycling routes through woods, farmland and the surrounding local villages. Moreover, St. Albans is also the nearest city to Heartwood forest, a planned woodland area of 347 hectares, with marked walking paths and trails for cyclists and horse riders. Only a short walk away from the city centre is the Gorhambury Estate, which is home to the Roman Theatre of Verulamium.

Transport

St. Albans is one of the leading commuter cities in the country, situated only 20 miles north of central London. The commute by train takes only 21 minutes to London St Pancras and 14 minutes to West Hampstead on the Thameslink rail service. There is also a direct Thameslink service to both Luton and Gatwick airports. Furthermore, St. Albans is located on both the M1 and M25, allowing easy access to other parts of the country. The extremely convenient location for both national and international travel makes St. Albans a great place to live.

Schools

St. Albans is ranked in the top 10 towns for education in the UK and is named the most popular city in the country to raise a family. Many of St. Albans’ state schools are rated higher than the majority of the country’s private schools. According to Ofsted, there are 12 outstanding schools for children between the ages of 3-11, and another 20 good primary schools. For secondary schools, The Sunday Times’ Parent Power Guide has named Beaumont School, Sandringham School and St. Albans Girls School in the 200 best state schools.

Now you know the reasons to live in St. Albans, why not consider buying a property here?

If you are interested in buying a home in St. Albans, make sure to check out our properties for sale.

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