East of England - Hertfordshire

St Albans began life as a metropolis in Roman times, and these 2,000 years of history can still be seen all around the city today. The ancient remains of the old city wall signpost the stomping ground for Queen Boudicca herself, and the city centre is jam-packed with Tudor houses as well as exquisite Georgian architecture.

You can visit the oldest working medieval clock tower in the country, the UK’s oldest pub and even Europe’s oldest public school, where Professor Stephen Hawking studied.

The first place to visit on a tour of the city is its 11th-century Cathedral dominates the city’s skyline and is an historic and architectural force to be reckoned with, playing a vital role in British history through the ages.

It is built on the site of the martyrdom of Britain’s First Saint, Alban, and stands as witness to more than 1,700 years of British history. So significant was its influence that the first meeting to discuss the Magna Carta was held at the Cathedral in 1213.

Groups visiting the Cathedral can enjoy a tour with the on-site team of expert guides, who will take groups to visit the Shrine of Alban as well as talk about the history of the astonishing range of architectural styles and the best collection of medieval wall paintings in the country. Groups can also climb the 11th-century Norman bell tower, and enjoy the wonderful parklands that surround the Cathedral.

Tours can be tailored to take into account your group’s particular interests. Special-interest tours include music, tower tours, architecture, textiles, flowers and pilgrimage.

Located at the Cathedral, the Abbot’s Kitchen is a group-friendly café serving hot lunches, snacks, refreshments and drinks throughout the day.

The Romans really left their mark on St Albans and the best place to get to grips with the city’s Roman history is with a visit to Verulamium Museum located in Verulamium Park, a beautiful 100-acre Verulamium park, once the third largest Roman town in Britain.

The park itself is home to the remnants of original Roman Wall, and the original entrance to the old City as well as building that houses an original mosaic floor from a Roman mansion.

The museum offers a great insight into what everyday life was like in Roman Britain. There are recreated Roman rooms with household objects, legionaries’ armour, statuary, jewellery, glass-ware and grave goods. The highlight is the Mosaic Room, which has five mosaic floors uncovered between 1930 and 1955.

Just a short walk from the Verulamium museum are the remains of the Roman Theatre of Verulamium. Built in about 140AD, it was a theatre with a stage rather than an amphitheatre, and is the only example of its kind in Britain.

Another must-see sight in the city is the Clock Tower. Built between 1403 and 1412, the Clock Tower is the only medieval town belfry in England, and is open at weekends from Easter to the end of September. Climb the 93 steps to the top for some stunning views, and read about the history of the tower on your way up, which was initially used as a lookout and a curfew, raising the alarm if the town was under fire.

The city’s Charter Market is equally as historic. Dating back to the 9th century, the market is one of Britain’s oldest street markets and was granted a special Royal Charter in 1553.

Today, the Charter Market takes place every Wednesday and Saturday, and with up to 190 stalls, it lays claim to being the biggest in the southeast.

The city also hosts a European-style Christmas Market from the end of November to the last weekend before Christmas. It is the perfect festive experience for anybody looking for a boutique alternative to the larger markets. Located in the walled Vintry Garden in the cathedral quarter, the market takes place over three weeks and features more than 60 chalets selling a wide range of items including personalised gifts and homeware, along with the traditional festive offering of bratwurst and gluhwein.

Other key heritage attractions include the St Albans South Signal Box and the St Albans Organ Theatre. Built in 1892, the Signal Box is the largest preserved Midland Railway signal box and one of the few preserved boxes that's open to the public and on a mainline railway.

Music lovers may like to visit the St Albans Organ Theatre, which houses a collection of rare mechanical musical instruments, dance organs, player pianos and theatre pipe organs

On the outskirts of the city is the Gardens of the Rose, offering stunning displays of tens of thousands of roses. The Gardens are the flagship attraction for the Royal National Rose Society. Open from 10 June 2017 until 6 August 2017 daily, the gardens’ key attractions include the 72-arch pergola in the centre of the gardens, ornamental fish ponds, heritage beds displaying the history of some of the now modern-day varieties and a selection of roses from some of the UK’s premier growers. After exploring the gardens, head to the attraction’s tearoom for some well-deserved R&R.

And if you have an extra hour or two...
There are a number of other attractions nearby that are well equipped to cater for groups. These include: Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour, Knebworth House, Hatfield House, Woburn Abbey, De Havilland Museum and Shaw’s Corner.

For more information on all the above, see www.enjoystalbans.com.