St Albans has a wide variety of independent and top name shops as well as the vibrant Wednesday and Saturday markets. There is also a farmers market held on the second Sunday of each month.
St Albans is rich in heritage and tradition, evidence of which can be found down every street and arcade where traders have plied their wares for many a century. Stop awhile and look up at medieval craftsmanship evident in windows, doorways and timber-framed buildings. Blending into the historic are shopping centres, The Maltings and Christopher Place, both served by car parks and offering a range of retail goods.
A visit to St Albans for shopping is a unique and varied experience, a contrast to indoor shopping malls. The city’s historic ambience provides a delightful setting in which to explore a wide range of top name and independent shops. The bustling city centre market on Wednesdays and Saturdays is one of the largest in the south east of England, with 160 stalls. Established over 1,000 years ago, the colourful street market extends through the heart of St Albans, offering an enormous variety of wares from foodstuffs, flowers, gifts, clothes and souvenirs to crafts and more unusual items. Don’t miss the Farmers’ Market on the second Sunday of the month and the regular continental markets, which offer goods and produce from various European countries.
The Cathedral Quarter, in the streets and lanes clustered around the Cathedral, offers an amazing variety of specialist shops housed in historic buildings along picturesque streets. In this area of the city you will find shops offering antiques, books, designer clothes, furniture, giftware, jewellery, interior design and much more! The main street, St Peter’s Street, is home to many well-known names, as are the City’s two traffic-free shopping centres. The Maltings is a tree-lined mall, housing over 50 shops as well as the forthcoming Maltings Cinema and Public Library, whilst Christopher Place is home to speciality shops located around a central courtyard.
The Shop St Albans website (external) has an A-Z list with information on the shops in the city.
St Albans Shopmobility
Shopmobility has been operating in St Albans for ten years and is funded by St Albans City and District Council and through donations. Visitors with walking difficulties can take advantage of the free Shopmobility scheme, providing manual wheelchairs and battery-powered scooters. Shopmobility is conveniently located behind BHS in the Drover’s Way car park.
Opening times: 0930 to 1600 hrs from Monday to Saturday.
Telephone 01727 819339 for further details.