This city has been crowned ‘best’ commuter spot – but there’s a catch
Hop on a Thameslink service at St Pancras and ride just 26 miles north of Central London and you’ll find the small city of St Albans.
Its 16th-century cottages, Georgian mansions and Edwardian villas line the quaint, neatly paved city centre streets, and every Monday to Friday it floods with the hordes of commuters looking to make their way into The Big Smoke.
In fact, St Albans has recently been crowned as the best commuter town of 2024 by OnTheMarket, which cited its transport links, nearby schools, and proximity to the capital.
On paper it does sound very alluring. But as someone born and raised there, and who commuted the 20 minutes into London from St Albans City Station every day in her early twenties – I’ll never go back.
Do I love my hometown? Yes (even if 63% of its commuter train services are delayed. Oh, and the fact that it’ll cost you more than £4,300 per year for a season ticket if you’re in the office four days or more).
But there’s a dark reality to moving to the Hertfordshire city that is often overlooked: house prices.
Named as the most expensive city for first-time buyers outside of London, the overall average asking price of a property in St Albans is £635,680.
The most bought houses in the area last year were actually small terraced homes, which sold for an average of £556,293.
For first-time buyers looking to secure themselves a flat in the area, it will still set you back £391,964. The typical monthly mortgage payment will sit at about £1,454 for a 35-year term.
When I moved out of my family home and rented an apartment at the top of the city centre, it was during Covid times and I paid £1,100 per month for a two bed. Upon moving out of that flat, my landlord upped the rent by hundreds.
My point is; if you’re looking to buy somewhere cheaper outside of London, St Albans is not for you.
There are even roads like Marshal’s Drive, where the average home sells for £2million. Or, cementing just how pricey it can be, was its appearance on Netflix series Buying London, where the cast visited a property in the neighbouring town of Radlett with an asking price of £15million.
Yes, the average house price in this commuter hub is down by 1% this year – but it doesn’t make much difference when they were astronomical to start with.
It’s for this reason that, on an average salary, I won’t really ever be able to afford to move back to my home city I love so much. It may be idyllic, but it’s a pipe dream.
That said, if you’re fortunate enough to have the funds (good for you), here’s why the area is so popular.
Schools in St Albans
For families with children the schools are excellent. I attended Bernard’s Heath Junior School (rated Good by Ofsted) before going to St Albans Girls School (rated Outstanding by Ofsted) – one of the many single sex schools in the area.
The private St Albans High School and the state Loreto College are both girls schools, while St Albans Boys School and St Columba’s College are the boys schools in the area.
If you prefer your child to be in mixed education then there’s Sandringham, which received an Outstanding accreditation from Ofsted, or there’s Townsend Church of England School which was rated Good.
History of St Albans
If we look to the city centre, there’s an abundance of things to keep you entertained, young or old.
Starting with the rich history, you’ll find the St Albans Cathedral perched at the top of the expansive Verulamium park. With Norman architecture, it’s a shrine to Britain’s first saint and is the oldest site of continuous Christian worship in Britain.
You’ve also got the Verulamium Museum to which I did many school trips, exploring the rich Roman history of the city. It’s a Tripadvisor Traveller’s Choice winner for 2024.
About a 10 minute walk from here, you’ll find the roman ruins of the Amphitheatre which you can explore, or you can venture deeper into the park and find The Hypocaust – an ancient Roman underfloor heating system which has been housed and preserved.
We can’t forget the Clock Tower either, which is the only surviving medieval town belfry in England, built in 1405 with the same bell today which rang out in the first Battle of St Albans in the Wars of the Roses.
Debby K on TripAdvisor agrees, writing: ‘Roman remains, Verulamium park, the Verulamium museum, wonderful mosaics, a Roman theatre, a lovely cathedral, and more. I’ve been to London many times and did not realise until this last trip, when looking for outings on the Thameslink, that one can make such a fantastic day trip from London.’
Others on the platform brand St Albans as a ‘magical city in more ways than one’, ‘beautiful’ and ‘well worth a visit’.
Shopping in St Albans
If you’re more of a shopper, you won’t be disappointed but be warned the offerings are on the pricier side. You’ve got an Anthropologie, Reiss (which is housed in the old corn exchange), Whistles and The White Company.
George Street boasts gorgeous independent boutiques, while The Maltings has some more affordable options like New Look and Sports Direct, along with an Oliver Bonas and a Schuh.
For those who like hand-crafted goods, market days are Wednesday and Saturday. It also boasts great street food and even has dog treat stands for the mass invasion of pet cockapoos.
When it comes to groceries, there’s of course a Waitrose and a large M&S, while Sainsbury’s and Aldi sit down at the bottom of Hollywell Hill.
If you want even more options then you can make the quick 20 minute drive to the Atria shopping centre in Watford which has more than 140 shops, restaurants and leisure activities.
Where to eat and drink in St Albans
With more pubs per square mile than anywhere else in the UK, you’ll be pleased with the beer gardens and food on offer here.
The best pubs for a pint are The Six Bells, The Boot and The Blacksmiths Arms, all of which have a great atmosphere – especially in the summer.
You can even amble alongside the lake peppered with swans and grab a light bite at the oldest pub in Britian: Ye Olde Fighting Cocks.
In Christopher Place you’ll find Hatch, which will serve you the best breakfast you’ve ever eaten. The Beech House, meanwhile, has a mind-blowing (and affordable) dinner menu and has hosted the likes of Zendaya and Tom Holland.
There’s also the delicious curry house Veer Dhara which is a favourite of Tom Cruise. I would religiously order Tom’s Murg Tikka Lababdar which was delicious.
If you’re willing to take a drive for a bite to eat, The Prae Wood Arms on the prestigious Prae Wood estate is also a great spot.
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