To go to St Albans for a birthday trip?

[stripycats]

So it's my birthday in a couple of days and I like to do a day out with my two dc (teens) just to see somewhere new, have something nice to eat, maybe a bit of a walk by a river or gardens etc (have NT membership). Trouble is I am quite old now and have been to most places but never St Albans and I feel I'd like to, but does it have on offer what I have mentioned?

I would also like to see the sea and I think it's an hour from St Albans to somewhere nice, which is ok. I'm in the north midlands so thinking two hour drive to SA - lunch, shops, etc, then hour drive to the sea - walk, fish and chips, walk again - 3 hour drive home. Does that sound ok or will it be a waste? I really don't know the area at all. Any specific recommendations for the day welcome, or total alternatives, but I always go North!

YANBU. It's a nice town, although expensive.

If you like roman history you can easily spend the day in St Albans. A day in SA and the seaside is very optimistic. Choose one or the other.

It will take you much more than an hour to get to the coast from St Albans, maybe two or more!

The Abbey, the museum and the Roman mosaics will take a lot of time to get round.

St Albans is lovely particularly if you like Roman or church buildings.
It is nowhere near the sea however.

Just about as far as possible to be from the sea in England!

Don't do the seaside as well it is too far away. Lots to do in SA as mentioned above plus maybe eat at the waffle house for lunch and find a nice chip shop for dinner before your journey home.

You're nearer the sea in the north midlands. How about Chester and Parkgate, or the North Wales coast?

Yes St Alban's is lovely but the closest coast is Southend at the end of the A127 and not especially nice. St A has a lovely park to walk round with a big lake and aforementioned Waffle House is out the gate at the far end.

God, there's no time to go to both! Do one! Plus, parking is tricky in SA so that will take some time...

Go to the Roman remains, the Roman museum, Verulanium park, walk, shopping, the cathedral, and have a nice lunch. Lovely day!

Oh dear - I obviously didn't look properly when I googled seaside near SA. Oh well, I'll scrap that idea then...

Yes, that park looks lovely - thanks all!

St Albans is alright. Nice for a day out. Fairly typical high street but looks pretty. Lovely Roman history to find out about. Don't do the sea...(way too far anyway), but go to St. A for the day, it's nice

Yeah don't come here expecting to get to the sea! For teens...hmm, well there's no Primark here (to DD's despair) but there's a big Waterstone's if they like books, no end of places to eat and drink (DD recommends Tikka Nation and the bubble tea places), and a crystally/woowoo shop right near the Abbey which my niece enjoyed plus other interesting independents for them to poke around in. I don't love the new museum as much as I did before when it was a dusty ramshackley place where no-one went except me, but it is an amazing space and there's a Ladybird books exhibition on currently.
I think I've convinced myself that it's a great place!

Wear trainers; lots of hilly cobbly streets.
There’s Anthropologie!

St.Albans is very nice :) not near the coast but that's already been covered!

What sort of things do you like to do? Depending on what you like there is..

Odyssey cinema (sofas available/armchairs round tables, bar with alcohol etc),

Alban arena (theatre, have a look what shows are on),

Verulanium museum which is near verulanium lakes/parks, has Roman baths and ruins, and you can go to ye olde fighting cocks by verulanium lakes (one of the oldest pubs in England) there's also some lovely Tudor houses to see and the Roman baths.

Roman theatre of verulanium

Sandridge in St.Albans has beautiful bluebell woods in heartwood forest

There's the Abbey Cathedral in St.Albans which is fairly near verulanium (walk down the hill after)

St Albans market is pretty decent (Wednesdays and Saturdays) on the high street

And most people will visit the Waffle House... not a fan myself but to each their own!!

Per Tutti is good for lunch, best to book as very popular and it’s half term

Thank you for all the local tips! Sounds like I'll like it there despite distance of the sea...

I like St Albans, lots of nice shops and restaurants and the history is great.

Can only repeat, its not near the sea!

Do Bury St Edmunds and then a run over to the coast at Felixstowe or, if time, Aldeburgh.

Parts of Verulamium park are closed atm because of flooding just fyi. I mean gosh, I don't know if I'd drive 2 hours with teens just for a day out in St Albans.

If you are in the Midlands, willing to drive 2 hours and looking for the seaside, how about heading east cross-country to somewhere like Hunstanton?

More to do if it rains in St Albans. Have a lovely day.