Activities in St Albans

The oldest site of Christian worship in the UK, St Albans Cathedral is named after Alban, Britain’s first saint. The stunning 1,000-year old cathedral is one of the best attended in the country, with several highly active choirs, an education centre and the longest nave in England, which is decorated with 13th- and 14th-century wall paintings. The church is open year round for visitors, with free guided tours running daily at 1pm, as well as an onsite café, gift shop and library.

Not only does Willows Activity Farm include all the farm-based fun you’d expect, but the huge, action-packed farm park is also home to funfair rides, sit-on tractors, carousels, indoor and outdoor play areas, and a Peter Rabbit Adventure Playground. A few miles south of St Albans and just off Junction 22 of the M25, the farm is a short drive from our St Albans/Bricket Wood hotel, with plenty to occupy children. Plus, if you get hungry, you can take your pick from the onsite cafés and restaurants covering fresh doughnuts, a sweet shop, BBQs, picnic benches and hot and cold meals.

As the country’s oldest aviation museum, de Havilland Aircraft Museum is dedicated solely to de Havilland aircraft including the world’s first ever jet airliner, The Comet and the Tiger Moth, which was made famous during WWII. Spread over several hangers and runways, the museum is a fascinating step back in time when air travel was a luxury – or a war-time strategy – and is very hands-on, meaning you can sit in several cockpits while you’ll also likely see restoration and repair work taking place by the dedicated team of volunteers. The museum is currently closed until February 2019 but is set to re-open six days a week afterwards.

Recently opened in the summer of 2018, St Albans Museum is a three-floor museum and gallery space that covers over 2,000 years of local heritage, art and culture. Housed in the Georgian Grade-II listed Town Hall, courtroom and cells, the museum explores the city’s Roman roots, its famous inhabitants – including Boudicca and Stephen Hawking – and some amazing historical and contemporary artworks, while there’s also a café and gift shop on site.

A truly ancient monument, and the only surviving Medieval belfry in England, The Clock Tower in St Albans dates back to 1403 and is a wonderful city centre structure originally built as a protest to the local abbey. Those with a head for heights should clamber up the 93 steps to the viewing platform, which offers 360-degree views across St Albans and Hertfordshire. The tower is open weekends from Easter until the end of September, with entry costing just £1.

Take a step back in time to the Roman era at the Verulamium Museum. Built on the site of one of Britain’s largest Roman cities, the museum is a treasure trove of artefacts and exhibits, including 159 Roman gold coins and some incredible mosaics. There are plenty of interactive exhibits for children, including dressing up and activity sheets, while the nearby Verulamium Park is well worth a visit too. It features more ruins and history, as well as a toddler splash pad, several play areas and a café.