ST ALBANS SPECIAL EVENTS & OUT OF TOWN WALKS

• Redbourn
  With so much to see, Redbourn has been split into two seperate walks. REDBOURN WEST features St Mary's Church, the buildings around the Common, the old almshouses and the former railway know as the 'Nicky Lane'. REDBOURN EAST centres on the High Street, once part of the Roman road we call Watling Street, where many of the buildings are over 300 years old and all have a fascinating history. Both walks start from the car park on the Common (by the Cricket Pavilion) at 2.30pm. There will be an East - West combined walk on Saturday 8th September at 11.00am for Heritage Weekend,also starting at the car park.

• Harpenden
  Historic Harpenden is now also split into two walks - on May 27th the focus is on the historic original village centre and on July 22nd takes in the fascinating features and buildings around the northern end of the common. Both walks start outside Park Hall, Leyton Road at 2.30pm
  
  Haunted Harpenden
  Another atmospheric walk in search of spectres, spooks and suchlike supernatural beings! Come and be scared! Meet at the War Memorial on the Green.

• Wheathampstead
  This is a traditional site of the Catuvellauni, the local Iron Age tribe; it later became part of the monastic Estate of Westminster. Join us and learn more of this ancient and fascinating place. A visit to St. Helen’s Church is planned. Meet at 3pm in the public car park at the rear of The Bull. The walks take place on Bank Holiday Monday, May 28th and Sunday August 12th.

ST ALBANS CITY WALKS

City Walks start outside the Old Town Hall in Market Place and take from an hour to an hour and a half. Tickets should preferably be obtained in advance from the Tourist Information Centre inside the Old Town Hall, but may also be purchased from the Guide on duty. No specific advanced booking is required for individual walks EXCEPT the Halloween Ghost Walks which are by prebooked ticket only. Otherwise, tickets purchased can apply to any walk.

• Historic Walk
  Covering 1200 years in about 90 minutes, this excellent walk gives an overview of the most important people, buildings and events in St.Albans from the Monastic to the modern.

• Pubs & Chapels
  St.Albans was a centre for the brewing of ale and beer, having a truly remarkable number of inns and alehouses catering for the medieval visitor and trader. Following the Reformation the town became a centre for religious dissent. This walk combines the sacred and the profane in a tour of both existing and former sites.

• The War of the Roses
  Although two battles were fought in St.Albans in this dynastic struggle between the houses of Lancaster and York, this walk concentrates on the first one,which took place in and around the market place. Hear about the reasons why, the personalities involved and the outcome. There's even a Shakespearean connection! Come and join the battle - no armour needed!

• The Ancient Market Place
  This delightful walk is suitable for absolutely everyone as it is in a small level area that is packed with history and interest. What more can we say? It's a little gem.

• From Fishpool Street to St. Michael’s
  A one thousand year old route that follows George Street, Romeland and Fishpool Street to picturesque St. Michael’s Village, with its elegant houses, Saxon Church and the superb Verulamium Roman Museum. It is quite a challenge to guess the ages of the houses in fascinating Fishpool Street – join the guide and see for yourselves!

• Monks, Mysteries & Mischief
  Monks were an incredibly diversified and talented band of brothers - theris was a powerful, self sufficient community on whom many others depended but occasionally human failings and weakness would creep in. To find out more, join us on a visit to their world.

• Coaching Inns
  As a convenient stopping place to and from London, St.Albans became a major centre during the coaching era with about 330 beds for humans and over 700 for horses! We take in the sites of many of the inns, concentrating on Holywell Hill, Chequer Street and French Row.There are stories sad, saucy or sporting to be told. End the walk in an inn (optional).

• The Street War Memorials
  The ten street war memorials within the Abbey Parish are unique in the U.K. and are the focus of a profoundly moving walk. Hear the stories behind a few of the 110 names of those who died, from the poor to the priveledged, but all from one small area. This walk is always on the nearest Sunday to November 11th and is always free of charge. One every local person should do.

• Ghostly Goings-On
  An extremely popular and atmospheric walk that introduces some of the ghosts of St.Albans and relates their sad stories. We can’t guarantee whom you might see – only where you might find them, for they do exist! This walk is not suitable for very young children.

• Victorian St.Albans
  A walk that takes us from the medieval to the age of steam, the railway, factories and even the pioneering days of cinema (hear about the first ever film advertisement!). This was the age of massive expansion for the town, including a new prison, whose front entrance will be recognisable to all fans of “Porridge”.

• Aristocrats, Paupers and Philanthropists
  This enjoyable stroll round the St.Peter's area features the great and the (sometimes!) good of St.Albans and the various buildings and charitable institutions they generously gave to the city. Their stories are all quite fascinating - but then some WEREamong the most powerful people in the Kingdom!

• Town, Crown and Cloister
  St.Albans Abbey was founded by one king and destroyed by another nearly 750 years later,and many monarchs have meddled in the middle! The sometimes uneasy relationship between the crown,the town and the abbey features on this special one-off free walk for Residents First Weekend,and is a unique joint venture between the City and Abbey Guides to link the inside and the outside of the Abbey Church with the town.

GUIDED WALKS IN ROMAN VERULAMIUM

• Talks on Roman Britain
  We give short illustrated talks on topics concerned with Verulamium and the Roman world in the Lecture Room at Verulamium Museum at 3.00pm on either Saturdays or Sundays. See local press or enquire at the Tourist Information Centre or the Museum for details on 01727 751810. An entrance fee is payable at the Museum for visitors from outside the St. Albans District Council area. Our talks are free.

• The Roman Theatre
  This is one of the finest examples of a Roman theatre in Britain. Also within the site are the remains of a 3rd century townhouse with an underground shrine as well as a parade of shops facing on to Watling Street. Guides are present from March 31st to October 28th on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays between 3pm-5pm, and additionally between 11am – 1pm on Sundays between July 1st and August 26th and for the August Bank Holiday on August 27th. An entrance fee is payable at the Roman Theatre – the guided tours are free.

• Verulamium in a Nutshell
  This is the one and only opportunity to enjoy a free walk that combines the Roman Theatre with Verulamium Park and it's hidden Roman town. Free? Yes - it's Heritage Weekend! The walk on 14th July incurs (group rate) entry charge to the Roman Theatre. All three walks meet outside Verulamium Museum.

• Verulamium to St Albans (an archeological amble)
  A very successful walk specially created for National Archaeology Week in 2006 will be repeated this year,and again it is free of charge! Starting outside Verulamium Museum it progresses down St.Michaels Street to the medieval barns and then goes gently up Fishpool Street, talking of the things discovered during such activities as building houses and extensions, laying car parks or specific archeological investigative work. It's real "buried treasure"! (15th July at 2pm)

Arrangements for Parties

Our group booking service operates throughout the year. You can choose any of our walks or a combination, or separate talks/slide presentations. A group can be any size and we allocate guides on the basis of one per twenty visitors. Our fees vary with the number of guides and there are discounts for students and school parties. We can also supply guides for coach tours.

For further information & party bookings, contact: Tourist Information Centre, The Old Town Hall, Market Place, St.Albans, Herts AL3 5DS Tel: 01727 864511 e-mail: tic@stalbans.gov.uk

City of St Albans Tour Guides