St Albans Cathedral

Overview

St Albans Cathedral is a great place to visit for the whole family – whatever the weather! From the longest nave in England and an extensive collection of medieval wall paintings, to an exciting programme of activities and events and an interactive exhibition with artefacts, audio visuals and an exciting digital tour of the Cathedral.

The history of St Albans Cathedral is rich and, over the centuries, this magnificent building has undergone several transformations. Step inside and you’ll find awe inspiring reminders of the Cathedral’s past as well as the inspiring story at its heart. These include the Shrine of St Alban, a site of national pilgrimage which has been a focal point for visitors and pilgrims alike for over 1700 years. The Nave of St Albans Cathedral is the longest in the country which, at 85 metres long, displays a striking selection of medieval wall paintings, one of the most extensive collections surviving today. Not only is the inside of the Cathedral, with its vast expanses of space and secluded, intimate chapels, it is located in the middle of acres of tranquil parkland, meaning that the Cathedral and surroundings is an oasis of calm just a short walk from the bustling market town of St Albans and a short train ride away from the frantic pace of central London.

Price: no entry fee but a donation is suggested.

Daily Guided Tours

From 17 May

Discover 1,700 years of history on our free daily guided tours.

Weekdays | 11.30am, 1.05pm and 2.30pm

Saturdays | 11.30am, 1.05pm and 2pm

Sundays | 1.05pm and 2.30pm

Book our free ticket on St Albans Cathedral’s website.

Abbot’s Kitchen

The Abbot’s Kitchen café overlooking the nearby park, is the perfect place to enjoy tea after you visit the Cathedral, or enjoy lunch and refreshments throughout the day. Open for takeaway and ‘Alfresco’ dining.

Open daily | 10am – 4pm

Visit our website for the latest information and opening times.

The Cathedral Shop

The Cathedral Shop has a wide range of souvenirs and gifts to suit all ages and tastes. There are gifts for special occasions, birthdays, baptisms, weddings, plus a beautiful range of Cathedral and Saint Alban souvenirs for children and adults.

Open daily | 10am – 5pm

Events

There are many unique sights to take in when you visit the Cathedral, plus an exciting programme of events, tours and concerts.

Please visit the website www.stalbanscathedral.org to find out about all the events happening in the coming months.

The Alban Bun

The Hot Cross Bun is said to originate in St Albans, where Brother Thomas Rocliffe, a 14th-century monk at St Albans Abbey, developed an original recipe and distributed the bun to the local poor on Good Friday, starting in 1361. Find out more on St Albans Cathedral’s website.

The Alban Pilgrimage

The spectacular Pilgrimage Procession of giant puppets retells the story of Alban’s martyrdom, as pilgrims retrace the route from the place of Alban’s trial to the hill on which he was executed. It is not only a stunning spectacle; it is a profoundly moving experience. The procession starts at 1100 from St Peter’s Church and travels through the City Centre to the West End of the Cathedral. A Festival Eucharist follows at 1200 with a Festival Evensong at 1600.

The Alban Pilgrimage takes place annually on the Saturday nearest to 22 June – St Albans Day. The Alban Pilgrimage 2021 will take place on Sunday 27 June. Find out more here.