Verulamium Park - the Gateway to London

Verulamium Park is named after the Roman city of Verulamium on which it stands, and the outline of the main London Gate and City walls can still be seen. You can also see the 1800-year old hypocaust and its mosaic floor – open to the public to view. Just for history reference, a hypocaust was an ancient Roman system of underfloor heating, used to heat buildings and hot baths (thermae), with hot air.

There have been so many Roman archaeological finds in Verulamium Park, that a museum has been built on the outskirts, where hundreds of the objects are on display. In more recent times (although we’re talking 8th Century, and achieving an entry in the Guiness Book of Records as being the oldest such establishment in England), is Ye Olde Fighting Cocks pub. Although Ye Olde Fighting Cocks dates back to the 8th Century, the pub you can see in the park today was built in the 11th Century. There are tunnels from the beer cellar to St. Albans Cathedral across the road, and it is said this was used by the monks in secret! The pub is open to the public, with highly rated food and drink, special evenings such as ‘open mic night’, and even recently featured in a new sketch show being produced by Only Fools and Horses’ Trigger!

The park itself is set over 100 acres, and is beautifully kept. One of its main features is an ornamental lake, which is home to a huge variety of birds, such as Swans, Coots, Herons, Mallards, and more. So if you’re thinking of using St. Albans Car and Van Hire and are putting together an itinerary of where in the area you’d like to visit, Verulamium Park makes for a great day out.