St Albans

:For other places named similarly, see St. Albans (disambiguation).

The locality

Housing is expensive relative to England in general, mainly due to fast commuting to London by train. Apart from its historic core, St Albans is highly suburban in character, with much of its housing stock built in the inter-war years and during post-war expansion. Now entirely surrounded by the Metropolitan Green Belt, it is seeing significant 'infill' development and pressure to relax the Green Belt restrictions.

Related Topics:
London - Suburban - Green Belt

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The council estimates that 20% of the working population travel to London to work, while local business provides 46,000 jobs of which around 46% are filled by inward commuters. The local economy is made up mainly of offices, small enterprises, retailing and tourism-based enterprises, 80% of which employ fewer than 10 staff. In the working population, 33% are employed in professional and managerial occupations. Self-employment in Hertfordshire runs at 15% of the workforce, compared with a UK average of 12%.

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There are two train stations in St Albans. The City Station is about 750 metres east of the city centre and is served by Thameslink, with trains to London, Luton, London Luton Airport, Bedford, London Gatwick Airport and Brighton. The Abbey Station is about one kilometre south of the city centre and is served by the Abbey Flyer, which is operated by Silverlink. A single train runs between St Albans and Watford Junction, starting a new round trip every 45 minutes during most of the day.

Related Topics:
Train - City Station - Thameslink - London - Luton - London Luton Airport - Bedford - London Gatwick Airport - Brighton - Abbey Station - Abbey Flyer - Silverlink - Watford Junction

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There is easy access to London Luton Airport by both rail and road. London Heathrow Airport is around a 30 minute road journey.

Related Topics:
London Luton Airport - London Heathrow Airport

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GCSE results for District schools show 63% of pupils achieving 5 A* - C grades, against a national average of around 46%.

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The centre of the city suffers significant road traffic congestion because it lacks a proper by-pass. The council estimates that 75% of traffic entering the city is through-traffic. During 2004 the problem was heavily exacerbated by a series of road works, prompting severe criticism of Hertfordshire County Council's Hertfordshire Highways agency.

Related Topics:
The council - 2004 - Hertfordshire - County Council

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A street market is held in Market Place and St Peters Street on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

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St Albans is one of several places that, by repute, has the most pubs per square mile in the country (Edinburgh, Nottingham, Otley and Rochdale are other claimants). It also claims to have the oldest pub in England, named Ye Olde Fighting Cocks (Nottingham again provide a counter-claimant in Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem).

Related Topics:
Pubs - Edinburgh - Nottingham - Otley - Rochdale - Ye Olde Fighting Cocks - Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem

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