On Wednesday, Mr. Sunny and I ventured to the St Albans Market to enjoy sun and fun in this beautiful Hertfordshire town. To save money and to enjoy the pubs responsibly, we caught the 84 bus outside our flat and rode it to St Albans.
Aside from High Street shops and restaurants, like Sweaty Betty, Reiss and Bill’s, there’s the traditional St Albans Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, which is open from early morning until 4:30pm. It’s a great way to spend a sunny day!
With over 160 stalls, you can buy just about anything, including my favorite…. glorious, glorious, CHEESE!
In fact, Mr. Sunny introduced me to a new one that day. Have you ever had this?
I haven’t either. He purchased it, under the condition that he would keep it tightly wrapped on the bus ride home, so as not to bother or embarrass me. I still haven’t tried it. It’s quarantined in my in-laws refrigerator.
You can also purchase fish at the St Albans Market. Just as I snapped the above picture for you, the vendor asked the woman purchasing her fish if she wanted it “with the head on or off”. You would think this Florida girl could handle that. NOPE! I took off running! Luckily there was a luxurious spa just around the corner.
23 Market Pl, St Albans AL3 5DP
Once I had inhaled a proper dose of calming ingredients, I ventured back outside to meet Mr. Sunny. Since it was nearly 1pm, we decided to hit our first pub, The White Swan.
Don’t you just love their philosophy above the door? “Life is too important to be taken seriously.”
1 Upper Dagnall St, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL3 5EA
We ordered our standards, one beer and one red wine and enjoyed this traditional Irish pub.
Next, we ventured up the street and debated between these two pubs.
23 Market Pl, St Albans AL3 5DP
Since Mr Sunny is the beer connoisseur, he chose to strut his stuff in The Cock Inn, much to my chagrin.
I was pretty mortified about this experience, but I managed to cope by having another glass of red wine.
Next we spent a few minutes walking around the St Albans Cathedral, which had its beginnings around 1077. You can enter for free, but a small donation is suggested. They also offer guided tours.
Finally, we feasted at a highly recommended gastropub, the Peahen.
14 London Rd, St Albans, Herts AL1 1NG
We shared 3 starters.
Sticky Sausages (glazed in honey, mustard and rosemary, served with a mustard mayo dip), Homemade Scotch Egg with pork and herb brown sauce, Pate Kilner (chicken liver pate and clarified butter with tomato chutney and toast)
And, we enjoyed these entrees…
Salmon and Smoked Haddock Fishcake with parsley potatoes, wilted spinach and salsa verde
Sirloin Steak, 8oz sirloin steak with a grilled tomato, mushroom and fries
Mr. Sunny’s friend who lives in St. Albans also informed us that the Peahen does a fabulous brunch.
Visiting, the St. Albans Market is an excellent activity for a Sunny in London day. It started back in the 9th century and according to their website, 60%of the traders have been there for 20 years or more.
Also, in St. Albans, you can visit Butterfly World, the Verulamium Museum, and the Roman Theatre. I’d love to hear about them if you go. And, if you’re a fan of Sinking Bishop cheese, I have some you can pick up… FOR FREE! HA!
If you’re looking for other fun pubs to visit, we highly recommend The Good Pub Guide 2015
, which my husband and his father purchase each year.
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How fantastic, I had never heard of St Albans Market before, thanks for sharing! I would love to find a seafood market with fish with the heads on!! haha I won’t photograph the gory details for you!!! Looks like a great way to spend a Sunday! xx
Yes, Meg, the fish selection was nice, but I wasn’t about to stand around and see one “butchered.” The market was really great! My husband also got salami at the Olive Bar, which the vendor said is also located on Portobello Road. I sense a future post coming on that one… 😉 Both the cheese and salami were cheap, compared to standard London prices. Let me know if you venture to it.
I have never tried that type of cheese before. While I was in Bristol last weekend I tasted a ‘cider’ flavour of cheese. Was delish!
Sammy, a cider flavoured cheese sounds interesting. The bishop is not invited in my house, although I hear it’s actually quite good.
Oh my gosh, I DIE at some of the pub names around here!! And of course, the men always love them! That scotch egg looks delish.
That was hysterical, Jamie! Yes, we debated for about 5 minutes about which one to patron. I was mortified. Obviously, it’s named after a bird, but it was just the idea of walking in that made me crazy! Glad you appreciated my stress 🙂
Sounds like a wonderful way to spend a Saturday morning and afternoon! I envy you the opportunity to have sooooo much freshness around you. Now, as for the cheese, I think that across the pond is a good place for the Stinking Bishop! Glad to be able to see London and it’s surroundings through the eye of your camera.
Thank you, Patty! I had more pictures than I was able to reasonably include! St. Albans is beautiful. We’ll definitely go back to see the Roman Ruins and to tour the inside of the Cathedral. It was a very economic day trip and isn’t that far from where we live. Come visit!
Ive been to St Albans before but missed the markets, will have to go again…if only for the cheese! I love trying new cheeses though pungent gooey ones dont always strike my fancy.
How lovely! I haven’t been in St. Albans yet, but I’m desperate to go. A word of warning about the Stinking Bishop. Apart from having one of the best names for any cheese ever, when we tried it for the first time it felt like wasabi – it actually cleared out my sinuses after jetlag! Delicious but STRONG stuff, keep that sucker wrapped up tight. 😉
Oh man, I grew up in Harpenden – 5 minutes down the road from St.Albans and you have to go back and visit again because you missed The Waffle House! It’s like the best place ever! Not to be mistaken with the waffle houses you get in the UK. It’s situated at an old water mill and the food and milkshakes are amazing – you defo need to go! Plus Verulanium park is just opposite and a really pretty walk and the pub there is the oldest pub in Britain!
Thank you for reading and for the great suggestions. We’ll definitely be back, so knowing these places will be very helpful. At St Albans is truly a beautiful city!
Hi Sunny
I love it you came to Snorbens, my home town.
The Saturday market is much larger than the Wednesday one. If you like the Cock, then you’ll love The Fighting Cocks, which is a few minutes walk downhill from the Cathedral and is the oldest pub in England,
There’s quite a lot of ‘real ale’ pubs in St Albans, and we are the home of Camra (Campaign for Real Ale) that publishes the Good Pub Guide. Lots of history, Roman and pre-Roman ancient British ruins, a mediaeval city centre,
Unfortunately Butterfly World ceased trading.
But do come back.