A HISTORIC cathedral just metres from ancient Roman ruins, cosy pubs with roaring fireplaces on seemingly every cobblestone path and a thriving high street reminiscent of the good old days. This is St Albans, a leafy city just 25-minutes from London by train. I grew up in and around the area – and at 31 years old, I have no plans to leave.
Why would I? It’s frequently named one of the best places to live in the UK, including in The Sunday Times in 2020 when it was crowned winner in the South East category. It has retained a village-like feel thanks to the plethora of green spaces and a compact centre, made up of protected buildings, dating as far back as the 12th century. And it’s got enough going on that you rarely need to venture further afield at the weekends.
That is, not unless you want to – the capital is only a short distance away, after all. Read more on UK cities Luckily, over the years I’ve uncovered some lesser known attractions and learned the best times to visit the more popular dining spots. Take the Waffle House, for example.
Mere metres from the city’s park and housed within a Grade II listed former watermill, this restaurant is jam-packed at the weekends – and for good reason. The menu consists solely of waffles piled with mountains of sweet or savoury toppings, including some more sophisticated flavours for the grown ups (how does hummus and avocado layered with olives, rocket and balsamic glaze sound?). But you can’t book, so if you’re hea.
