Verulamium Park
Verulamium Park
4.5
About
Verulamium Park is a public park in the City of St Albans, Hertfordshire. Along with being a wide open area for recreational purposes, the park includes all that is left of a Roman settlement from which the park takes it's name. The large amount of history on view in the park has resulted in a museum dedicated to the Historic Roman heritage upon which St Albans has been built. The park also includes a long list of facilities including; Tennis courts, sand courts, football and cricket pitches, An athletics track and field facility, a golf course, childrens play area, outdoor childrens Splash Park, a large leisure facility called westminster lodge Leisure Centre which contains a gym and indoor swimming pool, a cafe, a large lake fed by the River Ver, plenty of provision for picnics and family activities and what is thought to be the oldest and one of the most famous public houses in England called The Fighting Cocks. Overlooking the entire area is the St Albans Abbey, a large cathedral dating back to 1077AD. The park is an epicentre of greenery and wildlife and it is a hub of social and recreational activity that the people of St Albans can be extremely proud of.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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See what travelers are saying
- nnmercmanCamberley, United Kingdom14,625 contributionsVast green spaceWe visit the park annually in July as a family group to commemorate the favourite place of a deceased family member who was brought up in the area. This year we actually managed a picnic as for a number of years the weather’s not been good enough when we’ve put a date in the diary. The higher level near the Roman ruins and overlooking the cricket ground is our preferred spot as it has good views and more importantly the geese and ducks drop their muck on the lower levels. There’s a great children’s playground further along and plenty of space to spread out. The only downside is the area/path adjacent the toilet block at the end of the lake nearest the cathedral which easily floods during periods of rain and is a real detriment - not sure why better drainage can’t be installed?Visited July 2024Traveled with familyWritten July 23, 2024
- PonnerDublin, Ireland194 contributionsA really nice park with Roman ruins inside.We took a stroll through here while visiting the nearby cathedral to take a look at the Roman ruins which are in the grounds of the park. The park contains a lake which are full of fish although you can't fish there. There is a small river that flows along the side of the park also. There was a small bit of flood water on the path surrounding the lake when we visited which I can imagine can be a hazard and prevent using the pathway on the winter months. The Roman wall ruins are nice to see and overall the park is a great place for families with a play area and a water play area towards the back end.Visited August 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten September 18, 2024
- marymary27Scarborough, United Kingdom946 contributionsRoman wallThe park is next to the museum. I wanted to see the Roman remains in the park, but signage was not helpful. I did spot a piece of Roman wall across a stretch of grass and walked to it over the grass, could not see a direct footpath. There is a small cafe, with seats inside and outside, which would be improved by updatingVisited October 2024Traveled with friendsWritten October 28, 2024
- Gloria Valerio7 contributionsAvoid the food stallsThe actual firework display was great and we all enjoyed it very much. HOWEVER, my daughter and her friend wanted pizza. I was absolutely shocked when they came back (II was queuing for different food) not only were they charged £14 for a pretty small pizza which is probably expected BUT they got two of the very small mixer cans of coke zero which are 55p in the shops and they were charged £4 EACH. What a complete rip off.Visited November 2024Traveled with familyWritten November 3, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,033 reviews
Excellent
608
Very good
356
Average
51
Poor
11
Terrible
7
Barry S
St. Albans, UK849 contributions
Feb 2020
The park and lake are always good value and the recent arrival of a couple of more than friendly kingfishers has enhanced the experience. When our shortsighted councillors going to do something about cleaning the bottom of the lake up. Vast amounts spent on consultations and precious little on environmental hygiene!
Written February 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Edie
2 contributions
Jul 2022
Verulamium Park is an absolute gem. Due to the Roman ruines hidden under the park it is protected from development, which makes this huge city centre park a rarity. There’s plenty of green space for picnics and walks, there are well maintained paths, a lake and the Ver river. Parts of the park are now left as meadows attracting wild life, there are small stretches of woods and for families, there is a huge brand new playground and a water park. Even if you are not local, make sure you take a stroll through the park when visiting.
Written July 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carlyne M
1 contribution
Nov 2022 • Couples
Pleasant park with lake and wild birds. Easily reached through Cathedral grounds. Cafe and children’s playground also a ‘wildlife’ garden and very interesting Roman museum of artefacts found in St Albans and surrounding area.
Written December 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
S B
Greater London, UK24 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
Toddler splash park completely mismanaged. We’ve been coming here all summer with no signs that this is a paid facility, only to be denied entry at our most recent by a staff member who has never been present before - apparently you need to pre-book.
Meanwhile the staff member vanishes every few minutes and people are just wandering in anyway, but because we’ve made ourselves known by asking a question, we aren’t allowed in.
Don’t mind booking but needs to be clear to the public and entry applied consistently and fairly.
Meanwhile the staff member vanishes every few minutes and people are just wandering in anyway, but because we’ve made ourselves known by asking a question, we aren’t allowed in.
Don’t mind booking but needs to be clear to the public and entry applied consistently and fairly.
Written August 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Total L
London, UK15 contributions
Jun 2024 • Solo
Sadly, I couldn't visit the site because the parking machine wasn't working. People lined up trying, others tried calling, and after 20 minutes of watching and waiting, I gave up.
Also, the toilets were an utter disgrace. No toilet paper in any of the stalls, no soap, the bins may not have been empty that entire weekend and spilled its contents in the stalls (yes, THAT bin), the floor was filthy. The lights worked! If it wasn't for that I would have assumed the toilet had been abandoned.
Also, the toilets were an utter disgrace. No toilet paper in any of the stalls, no soap, the bins may not have been empty that entire weekend and spilled its contents in the stalls (yes, THAT bin), the floor was filthy. The lights worked! If it wasn't for that I would have assumed the toilet had been abandoned.
Written June 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lincolnhatter
Lincoln, UK805 contributions
May 2022
Now as you have gathered Mrs C is an old Snorbans girl, and maybe she is looking back with rose tinted glasses to her childhood in the sixties and seventies, now positives the kids play is very good, there is a splash park, roman ruins, mature trees, there is the museum and toilets at the St Michaels end and the cafe, on a downside the lake and Ver are looking manky, the lake was a very funny colour and appeared to be silty, the islands look very unkempt, and if you approach from the Fighting Cocks the first thing you see is the manky disused toilet block, either repair/refurbish or pull them down. The ver has an awful lot of overhanging trees and I'm sur all the leaves falling are not doing it any good.
So do the positives outweigh the negatives probably and we are probably been harsh by saying average, when it's good but again TA you haven't got a "good button", so do visit the Park it's a lovely open space just a short walk from the City centre
So do the positives outweigh the negatives probably and we are probably been harsh by saying average, when it's good but again TA you haven't got a "good button", so do visit the Park it's a lovely open space just a short walk from the City centre
Written July 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tantosik67
St. Albans, UK32 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
I've lived in St Albans for all of my 52 years and we frequently were taken to the lake at the weekends. Then when l had my children we would visit at the weekends. Now my daughter takes the children that she Nannys for and they all enjoy it just as l did when l was a girl. Theres space to run and play and you can watch the world go by when you sit on one of the many benches situated around. The Cathedral is spectactula to visit.
Written March 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kevin B
Solihull22 contributions
Oct 2019
I grew up in StAlbans in the '50s, '60s and '70s and Verulamium Park was always one of the great assets of this lovely city, whether for walking, sailing boats or fishing for tiddlers. It still is a nice place though sadly a combination of water abstraction (the River Ver isn't what it used to be) and poor maintenance are showing these days. There have been numerous cases of disease killing off the wildfowl and the lakes have silted up and can cause a foul smell. This is a wealthy city and the council really does need to give Verulamium a much higher priority.
Written March 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cambridge Guru
Cambridge, UK857 contributions
May 2020
I went here for quick social distanced meet up during lockdown and was amazed at the beauty of this park.
The car park is very easy to locate and is free for the first two hours but you still have to get a ticket to prove your arrival time.
There are some good Roman ruins and some great views of the cathedral.
The car park is very easy to locate and is free for the first two hours but you still have to get a ticket to prove your arrival time.
There are some good Roman ruins and some great views of the cathedral.
Written May 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travelwell_always123
England, UK156 contributions
May 2020
We visited this beautiful park with the children for some exercise. There is plenty of space for cycling and walking and there is a lovely lake with swan and ducks. It is very scenic and pretty much anywhere on the grassy areas is fine for a picnic if the weather suits.
This park would be suitable for all and children especially will have lots of space to enjoy themselves. There are lots of photo opportunities and there are some old ruins of the city walls in the middle of the park, which makes for a great history lesson if you fancy it.
The lake is however in need of some cleaning as there is a lot of rubbish and debris build up around the edges near the banks, but otherwise, a good day out overall.
This park would be suitable for all and children especially will have lots of space to enjoy themselves. There are lots of photo opportunities and there are some old ruins of the city walls in the middle of the park, which makes for a great history lesson if you fancy it.
The lake is however in need of some cleaning as there is a lot of rubbish and debris build up around the edges near the banks, but otherwise, a good day out overall.
Written June 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Do they have New Year Fireworks here
Written November 5, 2023
Does anyone know if there are toilets at the park, and whether they are open at the moment due to lockdown (June 2020)? Thinking of meeting grandparents here for a socially distanced picnic. Thanks
Written June 23, 2020
There are public toilets open at the fighting cocks pub end of the lakes !!
Written June 23, 2020
What is the best car park to park in and postcode of it?
Written February 19, 2020
The car parks by the swimming pool are free for the first few hours ! and it’s a lovely walk from there !!
Written February 21, 2020
There’s no signs saying don’t barbecue as far as I am aware.
Keep it away from other people, try not to burn the grass too much, clean up your mess afterwards and you’ll probably not have any issues.
Written May 4, 2019
christina1976cc
Luton, United Kingdom
Hi I'm getting off train at at Alban's city train station, is it far to walk? Or can I get a bus from the train station? Or taxi?
Written July 22, 2018
No a very easy walk of about 15 minutes.
Written July 23, 2018
Can you do bbq in this park I cannot find any information about this
Written July 15, 2018
How much is the P&D car park?
Written August 13, 2017
The pay and display near the Inn on the PArk / Museum is £1.60 for 3 hours. If you park by the Abbey Theatre / Leisure Centre, it is free for 2 hours
Written August 14, 2017
how to get from barnet to park by bus
Written July 24, 2016
Catch the 84 bus to St Peter's Street, St. Albans, and it is a short wlk from there.
Written May 7, 2018
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