I live in London, and visiting this city and this cathedral was one of the most beautiful experiences I had over the weekend. It was truly enjoyable. St Albans Cathedral is absolutely stunning — it feels like every wall and door has a story to tell, as if they’ve witnessed countless events over the centuries. The atmosphere is peaceful yet powerful, and walking through the cathedral felt like stepping into history. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves architecture, history, or simply beautiful places.

A magnificent architectural with loads of history and story. We visited in a weekday thus not crowded at all. You will be embraced by a deep sense of peace and afford to slow down to appreciate the view around you. Worth a visit together with the town.

The sheer scale of St Albans Cathedral, a structure of profound history and weight, provided the perfect canvas for the Poppy Fields light installation by Luxmuralis last night. It was more than an event; it was a deeply moving, sensory experience designed for quiet contemplation and remembrance. The massive, soaring architecture of the Nave, usually bathed in the soft glow of natural light or high electric lamps, was utterly transformed by darkness and vibrant digital projection.

This an absolutely stunning building dating originally from the Norman period but with additions over the centuries. The place was a pilgrimage site long before the Norman's arrived and the tomb of St Alban is still a pilgrimage site today. The cathedral possesses the longest nave of any cathedral in Britain and there are a number of medieval frescoes still visible; fascinating even if somewhat faded.

Being there you imagine that the place is nearly 1000!!!!! Years old. Some buildings were built from the Romans bricks. It is the oldest and one of the most significant church in England. This church saw everything. Besides that, town is beautiful, going there you should have enough time. It is hard to find the parking lot.

Absolutely enjoyed my visit. A stunning place that showcases its long history through a mix of architectural styles. I just loved every single detail, from the floor and columns to the ceiling.

Enjoyed our visit there. They have a free guided tour of the cathedral which runs for about an hour; I strongly recommend it. The entry is free too!

On a random stroll to Verulamium on a hot Saturday afternoon, we popped in for drinks. The place was buzzing, wonderful to see so many people enjoying themselves here. Despite being so busy, the plentiful bar staff were quick to serve - I was asked about four times if I had been served yet! Fantastic customer service. The drinks were perfect and reasonably priced. Excellent!

Nice enough pub, v busy at the weekend, tends to be popular with overseas tourists as it claims to be the 'oldest pub in the world'. It's not but it's v old. Decent selection of drinks, food is good, staff are generally helpful. Worth a visit and pretty much an authentic old English pub if that's something you want to visit.

Immersive and magical environment! Despite the typical British weather (rain and cold), pub was cozy! Buffalo Chicken wings are a must on anyone’s try list! We had other food and drinks, can’t default ! Polite and friendly staff and welcoming fellow customers. Few car park space, max parking for 2 hours and £5.10 as of 19/10/2025! Nearby views at Verulamium Park is also amazing! Will definitely visit again!

As the title suggests, an olde worlde pub set just behind the cathedral in St Albans with a cracking atmosphere. We were a party of seven eating in the afternoon and the staff couldn't have been more helpful. Plenty of choice on the food and drink front and we all left absolutely stuffed so good portions. The pub claims to have housed Oliver Cromwell in it's illustrious past so you can touch a bit of history whilst filling your face. What's not to like 😀

Grabbed a beer and a few things to share. The food was good- service was a bit slow but it was a Saturday afternoon. Would recommend to those in the area!

My parents came to visit me from abroad, and I decided to take them to this pub — known as the oldest in Britain — for what I hoped would be a memorable Sunday afternoon (visit on 6/07/2025 around 1:30pm). Unfortunately, the experience turned out to be quite the opposite. Many tables appeared reserved, but we were given one — with a 40-minute limit. Just 10 minutes after ordering drinks, a waitress (a lady with a notebook, seemingly in charge) asked us to vacate the table as they "needed it." We hadn’t even finished half our drinks. I politely explained the situation, and she gave us an extra 10 minutes, which we appreciated — but the damage was done. It was quite an unpleasant and embarrassing experience, especially with guests from abroad. The rushed treatment ruined our afternoon. This place may be a great pub otherwise, but even one staff member's poor handling can spoil a visit. I wouldn’t recommend it if you're planning to bring guests or hoping for a relaxed atmosphere.

Good food. Had to hunt down utensils, condiments and part of dinner, side order. But it was a bustling Saturday night so understandable. Servers were very busy but super nice.

There are many local stores here along side popular franchised chains, smaller express shopping outlets and coffee shops ideal to go to during the day. Great time visiting with family and nearby parking available. The traffic can get quite busy especially when there are road works taking place. Good to visit during Christmas time. The Saturday market is nice also. Recommend

The whole of historic St Alban's is lovely not just the one shopping centre where I parked.

A decent selection.of independent, and boutique shops that offer something extra than typucal high shops.

Really lovely part of St Albans. Good selection of places to eat and shop

Very busy, couldn't get into a restaurant but managed an excellent icecream

It was exciting to walk through the market in St Albans Hertfordshire.All kinds of things from vegetables,fruit,clothes,food etc.Definately a place to visit.Museum to see and area to sit down and have a meal or coffee. Had a good time.Worth visiting

Lovely place to shop in this historical town which is attractive for those who love history. Nice to walk around. Have some boutique shops for nice clothing. A lot of eating n drinking places around.

Good location Stage was big with ok lighting, too much blue made it hard to see the act. Sound was good but the in house soundmen should have had more brass. Once again the bar couldn't cope with the amount of people attending the gig. Security ushered people out very quickly after the show. Would attend again but unfortunately would expect the same next time

Very accessible with the adjacent car park being just a minute walk. Bar staff were friendly and efficient. The view appears to be good from all parts of the theatre. The seats and general amenities are starting to look a little tired but overall I had a good experience.

Wizard of Oz, Brilliant arts - What a great show this team literally out do there self's every year. This is my all time favourite show and I felt like I was 6 again when I first watched it. Cast was amazing and loved the costumes a great retake on a very popular show. Well done everyone you all deserved those standing ovations 👏

Another great night at the Alban Arena. Comfy seating. We were on off to one side so got a slight neck ache from looking slightly sideways for two hours. Decent bar for interval drinks and snacks.

Me and Mrs went to watch Ricky Gervais. The show was brilliant and the facilities were excellent too.

Comfy seats with plenty of room. Clean toilets and, like every other theatre and cinema, opportunities to buy expensive snacks. Reasonably priced tickets though.

Great night, 'It's not unusual.' Thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. A few months later, also enjoyed 'How Sweet It Is' and 'Frankie's Guys' we're truly superb! Just enjoyed The Illegal Eagles, one of those nights!

Open roof shopping centre in St. Alban's. Parking is tight but convenient. Several large shop including TK Maxx, new look, H&M, Sports direct and many smaller boutiques. Few good coffee shops as well. Very clean and pleasant shopping experience.

This is the main shopping mall in St Albans which include the car park and Library.

Car park is a joke. As some other visitors mentioned the parking spaces are unbelievably small. I have a small SUV. Not even a big one and you can’t literally open the door if you park in just one bay. No wonder so many people have double parked. It’s an absolute shame. Went there only once. Never again. I wonder if the CEO of this shopping mall can park his/ her car in those tiny bays and get off. And no child parent parking. My toddler had to jump out of the car on her own as I couldn’t open the door wide enough to get her out. We will never ever go to this shopping centre again because of this ridiculous car park

Only went in there for parking, which difficult to find any disabled parking on ground floor. Didn't actually find any. Someone parked nr to side of me & found it difficult getting in and out of the car. Layout and names of levels were quite confusing too.

The Maltings shopping center is great. The cost of parking is reasonable. However, the car park is horrendous. There are pillars about every 3 spaces. If it's busy, and you have a large car, and depending if you want to drive in a space or reverse, you may have to decamp your passengers before doing so; if you don't, you could very well damage your car on the post, or, if the neighboring cars driver/passengers could very well damage yours. If I cannot find a decent space, I exit the car park without any charge, then try the car park on Drovers Way.

Parked here to take a wander around the town. Some small independent stores coupled with a couple of big names. Some lovely cafes along with some chain pubs and restaurants. Was ok to spend a couple of hours.

Maltings is a small town centre of St Albans. However there are other high street shops around. The Wednesday market provides some good market experience including cooked food.

This plant nursery boasts one of the most beautiful collections of indoor and outdoor plants I have ever seen. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by a vibrant display of greenery that instantly lifted my spirits. The variety of plants available is truly impressive. For indoor gardening enthusiasts, there are countless options, from lush ferns to striking succulents, all thriving in splendid condition. I found it hard to resist taking home a few new additions for my indoor space! The outdoor plant selection is equally stunning. They have a wide range of flowering plants, shrubs, and trees, perfect for enhancing any garden. The staff was knowledgeable and passionate, providing valuable insights on how to care for each plant. I appreciated their recommendations based on my gardening preferences and the specific conditions of my outdoor space. The atmosphere of the nursery was serene and inviting, making it a joy to stroll through the aisles and soak in the beauty of nature. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, Aylett Nursery is a must-visit destination. I left feeling inspired and excited about my gardening journey. Highly recommended!

Walked through their stunning dahlia garden today and had a coffee in The coffee shop. Great experience all round!

This is a large very well stocked garden centre, and unlike a lot these days very focused on plants. It is certainly a one stop shop as they have most gardening related things all under one roof. The staff always appear to be happy and approachable and the ones we spoke to went out of there way to help. We visited to see the celebration garden at the side of the nursery it's open all year round but August is the time to visit whilst it's all in bloom. They have a restaurant it looked good but we chose to take coffee and cake near the celebration garden. The celebration garden raises money for charity It's a great shame that few people appear to donate. Toilets were clean and tidy. Dogs are permitted as long as well behaved and kept on leads. There is masses of easy access parking on site.

Lovely garden centre, was our first visit, the Dhalia field was so colourful. Will be visiting again soon

I frequently visit Ayletts with a friend (most weeks!). The staff are always so pleasant and welcoming. We love the restaurant and always receive great service especially from Sharon and Lucy. One of us has food intolerances and the chef always takes great care to ensure there are no ‘hidden’ ingredients that would cause a problem. This gives us great reassurance as to how well-managed the cafe and kitchen are. Thank you for all you do for your customers.

Lovely garden centre. Nicely organized and signed and good knowledgeable staff helping on any questions. Great plants and gardening product selection. Cafe shop with table service can get busy with queue to be seated and served but our experience on busy Sunday was quite pleasant. Revisit: Great pre Xmas displays. Nice chill coffee at the roots coffee bar. Few plants and presents sorted. A+

So many beautiful plants in a lovely setting. Huge so layout a bit confusing first time but staff friendly. There's even a Xmas tree and decoration section - already (or perhaps always) September... Beautiful Dahlia display

Popped in here today after a recommendation and absolutely loved it! Food was creative and innovative, very tasty and warm! The ceasar salad was 10/10 highlight and the buffalo chicken burger was lush. Staff were the perfect level of attentive and helpful, very impressed. Only 4 stars for atmosphere as it was a little too loud in there for a conversation, but was a big building so as expected and the loos smelt a bit like pee pee! Can’t wait to return (for the food, not the pee pee loos) 😂✌🏼

I visited Thursday with a friend and sat outside in the lovely sunshine. The server, Jess, was also lovely and attentive. She had a radiant smile which mirrored the sun! I had a flat white and a tasty butter croissant which Jess suggested to warm up and enhanced the taste. I really enjoyed it. A delightful visit.

Lovely brunch spot! The cafe was extremely busy and fantastically managed, We were seated and served quickly. The food was brilliant also, eggs were runny, high quality ingredients and everything is priced reasonably. A slight mix up with our order but the staff were very helpful and got the correct dish to us within a couple of minutes. Even gave us a couple of brownies for free because of the mix up, which we are very appreciative of. Overall a great lunch spot and I’d highly recommend visiting:)

A buzzing, busy place, with a bit of a wait on the Saturday we went, but the staff were very helpful and fair with the tables. Four of us had a lovely table outside. I had an English breakfast and a mocha, both good. Really helpful and kind people.

Lovely brunch place! Lots of options on the menu and food was delicious. Service was prompt and the atmosphere was also really nice and relaxed.

Great food, perfect spot, amazing service. Buffalo benedict is a must try (pictured) as are the loaded hash browns (pictured). Came on a sunny day and the outside area was really nice, plenty of space inside too. Really friendly and helpful staff, decent price for what you get.

Wow is all I can say. Came today with my son and the food was outstanding. Its the best thing I have been served anywhere for a very long time. Service is great, staff could not help more. Definitely will be back. Highley recommend

The atmosphere and service we received were top-notch. 👍🌟🥂 The ginger ale mocktail was absolutely divine; I really enjoyed the spiciness level. 😋🔥🥂 When it came to the food, the duck salad tasted good, but the chicken Milanese let the whole experience down. 😞👎😩 I have had this dish before at the Liverpool Street Ivy and loved it, so I was really looking forward to eating it again, but I didn't enjoy this one as the chicken was dry. 🐔🙁😓 However, the apple fine tart rescued the overall experience. 🍎😋👍 So overall, it was good. 👍😊🌟

I have dined at a few of The Ivy restaurants, mainly in central London and always have a very pleasant experience with delicious food. The St Albans branch did not disappoint with its excellent customer service, stunning decor throughout and varied menu choices which catered for vegetarians. We didn’t have to wait too long for our meal to be served which was great as we dined with our children, ages 7 and 9. The cocktails are varied and deserts always an exciting end to your meal as you can see from the photos.

The food was lovely, great atmosphere and our waiter Niki was lovely and very attentive. I came with my brother and his wife that are both in wheelchairs, and the staff were very accommodating. A very nice treat will be coming back!

I’ve been to the Ivy St Albans twice now and it gets better every time. The service is second to none, plus the food and decor are amazing. I regret not coming here sooner. I wish I knew the name of our host, he’s so friendly and polite. Will be back again, highly recommend.

We were served by the sweetest young girl called faith, she was so patient as we were indecisive and we were never waiting for anything we needed. Really lovely service. We ordered friends after our food arrives and she brought it out almost immediately after

We went for Mothering Sunday 2025 and had the most delicious meal at a value three course special. The highlight was the chocolate bombe see the video. But every course was exceptionally well designed and tasty.

A big thanks to Miguel for looking after us, he was professional and sorted any issue we had quickly and with professionalism. Food was to a good standard, in a clean and comfortable environment.

My husband and I came for our first wedding anniversary, we had a wonderful time. We were served by Leanne who is very friendly, attentive and helpful. We definitely recommend!!!!

Lovely venue and staff. Emma was very friendly, helpful and looked after us very well. Very reasonable price for afternoon tea and very tasty.

Nathan did our bottomless brunch on Friday the 13th and I must say he was very attentive and energetic we loved the laughs we had and we definitely be coming back for him with the bottomless brunch experience

We recently visited Slug & Lettuce St Albans for bottomless brunch and had such a fantastic experience! The atmosphere was lively and fun, perfect for a weekend catch-up with friends. The food was delicious and the drinks kept flowing just as promised - we never had to wait long for a top-up. A special mention has to go to Abby, who truly made the afternoon memorable. She was attentive, friendly, and went above and beyond to make sure our table had everything we needed. Her energy and customer service were outstanding, and she really added to the overall experience. If you’re thinking about booking a bottomless brunch in St Albans, I’d highly recommend Slug & Lettuce – and hopefully you’ll be lucky enough to be looked after by Abby too!

A quiet afternoon tea with friends. Emma was the perfect waitress- table prepared for us, she was on hand, friendly but not pushy. Food very tasty, ordered & arrived promptly. Menu explained clearly all accompanied by 2 glasses of Prosecco (or cocktails if you prefer). Good value for money. 👍

Lovely customer service, friendly staff, lovely environment. Quick take service. Emma our waitress was incredible. Made us feel really good. Very friendly. Made the brunch worth while. Caring and funny would defo go again!!!

Waiters were spread thin but made an effort to attend to you. When I went it was early so started off slow but got better as the night progressed. The staff were great for what they had and would come again.

Had a wonderful dining experience at Lussmanns! We were drawn in by their strong sustainability ethos, and they definitely delivered — both in values and in flavour. We ordered fish dishes, which were cooked to perfection and absolutely delicious. The atmosphere was relaxed yet refined, and we especially want to mention Ema, who was warm, attentive, and made us feel very welcome. A great place to enjoy responsibly sourced food without compromising on quality or service. Highly recommended!

Lussmans Hitchin was fantastic! I attended with a large party of 8 for a celebration; from the reservations team (via email) to the waitresses and waiters, I could not fault the excellent service. They were particularly attentive which was especially impressive given we were a large party, also notably friendly and welcoming. The food was lovely - not overly fancy, just real, hearty, good food. So tasty and a great variety of options! 10/10 experience for both food and service!

Lussmanns is an hidden gem. I really enjoyed my starter, and the main course was good. The place itself was perfect cozy yet modern, with a welcoming atmosphere. A wonderful dining experience overall.

Really pleasantly surprised by this restaurant! Chicken schnitzel was really juicy - all the plates were good. It is like going back in time in terms of decor and service, in a good way! The only criticism is that it was super quiet which does affect the ambience but otherwise will be happy to go back.

We booked dinner, returning after leaving St Albans some six years ago. The food was excellent, fresh, well presented with warm plates. A few issues with service however. The white wine ordered was not to temperature, cool rather than chilled. No sooner had the first course been cleared, and we were presented with the main course (there was no break).We ordered two ports which arrived a good ten minutes after cheese was served. The waitress was polite but flighty, and seemed to be preoccupied with polishing glasses rather than being attentive. Overall, a somewhat disappointing dining experience with no inter action with the 'manager' in a rather dull restaurant, which was very quiet for a Friday night. We paid the service charge reluctantly, but under the old tipping system I would have refused. The bill came to £200 plus , which did not represent good value for money. Sorry Andrei, but I hope the feedback helps.

A lovely Restaurant occupying very nice premises bright & airy with quality furniture and modern fit out enjoying an open plan kitchen with Chefs on display. Friendly greeting and an ongoing prompt and pleasurable service. The menu is very interesting not over crowded with choice. We went for the hake and trout ala-cart, both beautifully presented with tasty flavours and perfect texture. The food was top level dinning out. Again a lovely restaurant reasonably priced and is my high recommendation.

Very smart and stylish restaurant. Excellent quality food and well presented. The staff were attentive and checked on allergies and dietary needs. Bright and smart surroundings.

Food was delicious, we had 3 sweet waffles which we thoroughly enjoyed. One member of our party cannot eat gluten so it was great to see that gluten free waffles were available. Service was good and I absolutely love the fact that the building itself is an old water mill. You can still see the inner workings of the water mill inside in a little museum area. My only complaint is the booking system and the queue. I tried to come in the day several times on weekends, could not get parked and found there was a massive queue. There was no option to pre-book a table which seemed absolutely nuts to me, especially when some people are elderly or disabled and cannot stand or walk for long periods of time. Not at all inclusive from this point of view! I did enquire whether it would be possible to pre-book and was told no. I can therefore only assume that for some reason the owners like the massive queue as it could very easily be resolved by introducing either an online or telephone booking system. In the end to avoid the queue I came at 11am on a weekday. However, the difficulty in getting a table without queuing will make it practically difficult for me to come back again in the near future given I work full time Monday-Friday. I'd love to recommend to friends and relatives but don't feel I can on account of the queuing and lack of booking system.

It’s been many years of visiting The Waffle House in St Albans and only this weekend I arrived early enough to catch their breakfast menu, and how amazing was it! The food was fresh and flavourful as always. There tends to be a wait to sit on weekends but I particularly believe they are worth the wait. We went for waffles, coffees and juices.

Great location with a stream literally going through the middle of the outdoor seating area...get on the stream side not the car park! Tasty quick service, although not sure I am the biggest fan of a waffle Vs simple toast but is good for the sweet and savoury options. Good selection of smoothies. No bookings just turn up and roll with it. Good post parkrun brunch venue for

We visited this place first in 2016 and loved it to bits. We revisited in 2025 and were still as impressed as we were the first time round. Whilst all offerings we've tried so far have been excellent, their signature garlic butter waffle is a lesson in simplicity. Full marks.

Went on Sunday 2nd Nov. Food arrived within 10 minutes and was lovely. A massive plateful and was really good. The waitress was lovely and had been there since 8.30am. She looked tired but was efficient and pleasant with a lovely smile. Will definitely be going again.

Lovely spot on the river for a spot of breakfast or lunch. Bit of an institution in St Albans and very busy as a result. Be sure to check out specials ahead of time (especially if you’re vegetarian) as although the basic menu has a decent range of options—it is pretty basic. The whipped goats cheese and heritage beetroot (special) was honestly next level though.. I could go there every week just for that.

What a beautiful place with great views. They cater really well to intolerances and I was able to have vegan waffles and milkshake which was amazing. The staff were really accommodating and friendly.

A delightful park for walks. However, I gave it four stars because some footpaths are underwater so we can't use them. Overall, it is one of my favourite parks in St Albans. Pictures are from the summer and winter times.

Verulamium Park in St Albans is a delightful 100‑acre haven that effortlessly blends rich Roman heritage with modern leisure— from walking alongside ancient city walls and a hypocaust mosaic to watching swans glide across the ornamental lake . The park offers something for everyone: a thoughtfully themed modern playground, seasonal splash park, crazy golf, and outdoor gym for active fun . With well-maintained paths, picnic spots, and wildlife aplenty, it’s a serene escape or a vibrant family day out. While parking can be tight at peak times, the charm, history, and space on offer make it a top spot in the city—truly the perfect blend of nature, culture, and community. Highly recommended for all ages!

Calm, tranquil park in Saint Albans. Nice getaway. Museum on one end. Roman wall along one path. Playground. Lots of large green spaces and a small lake.

Huge park. Lots of space to explore and decent water feature. Enjoyed visiting. Seemed quite popular and busy with tourists.

Verulamium Park in St Albans is a lovely mix of open green spaces, rich Roman history, and fun activities for all ages. You can stroll by the peaceful lake, explore ancient ruins like the Roman wall and mosaic floor, or enjoy the children’s playground and splash park. It is a great spot for families, picnics, and relaxed afternoons surrounded by nature and heritage.

Verulamium Park is great relaxing by water, we went there and unfortunately no more water fountains. At one end the water is filthy and smelly. Great spaces for picnic and a pint at ye olde fighting cocks one of the oldest pubs at the far corner of the park.

A really beautiful and spacious park with plenty of greenery. The place is full of birds, and fish in the lake, making it a peaceful spot to relax. There’s a children’s playground near a café, but it isn’t free. According to Google, there’s also a free playground somewhere in the park, but I didn’t get a chance to explore the whole area to find it.

A fascinating collection of Roman artefacts from the ancient city of Verulamium the ruins of which are located beneath modern Saint Albans. Also worth visiting is the preserved hypocaust ("hot air central heating channels") from a Roman Villa located across the park a short distance from the museum and also visit the amazing Roman theatre across the road from the nearby church.

Well maintained and a huge park with a play area, garden, golf course and cycling trails. The walking trails near the pond has to be looked in to as they were messed by duck poop. It has ample car parking but they do charge for it. It’s a great place for a family picnic or to hang around with family and friends.

Having been to Rome, Pompeii, and Pergamum among other places from Roman history this little museum is one of the best to be found. Spectacular mosaics and wall paintings. And more to visit outside in the surrounding park.

Verulamium Museum – St Albans I absolutely loved my visit to Verulamium Museum—an enchanting window into Roman Britain nestled right beside Verulamium Park. The museum is compact yet rich in treasures, offering a wonderfully immersive experience without ever feeling overwhelming . 🔍 Highlights Spectacular mosaics: The museum displays some of the finest Roman mosaics outside the Mediterranean—each intricate design beautifully preserved . Fascinating artefacts: From the glittering Sandridge Hoard of gold coins to the eerie lead coffin of "Postumus," every exhibit tells a compelling historical story . Recreated Roman rooms: Stepping into these reconstructed spaces, complete with authentic frescoes and domestic scenes, felt like travelling back in time . Interactive & family-friendly: Artefact handling, explorer trails, touchscreen elements, dress-up and children’s activities make it engaging for all ages . 👍 What stood out Exceptional presentation: Thoughtful layout with clear audio-visual aids that bring history to life . Stellar reputation: A Tripadvisor Traveller's Choice award winner and recipient of a top education award—credible recognition of its quality . Perfect-sized visit: You can enjoy a rich experience in just 1–2 hours, ideal for relaxed or family-friendly visits . 🌳 Plus More to Explore Right outside, Verulamium Park beckons with its Roman hypocaust, theatre, city walls and green trails—a great extension to your museum trip . --- Overall: A thoroughly delightful and informative experience—compact, captivating, and accessible. Highly recommended for history lovers, families, or anyone curious about everyday life in ancient Roman Britain. 👍 Rating: 5/5 — A hidden gem in St Albans that I’d happily revisit!

Aug25- History on Your Doorstep talk on Roman Verulanium, women and Boudicca. Fascinating lecture /visual screening work by a history/archeology graduand, Niamh. The Sr colleague too was so knowledgeable. Thoroughly enjoyed and got to walk round the museum after. Loses a star for the lack of parking necessitating several drives round waiting it hoping someone was leaving.

An excellent little museum with loads to offer. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and learned a lot about this historically significant partner the world. A rich variety of archaeology is on display, with lots of supporting information. Entry prices are reasonable, with a discount if you live locally. The museum is wheelchair accessible and has accessible toilet facilities. Staff are friendly and helpful.

Lovely day out! My son came here on a school trip and suggested it for a family day out at the weekend! Was very interesting, so many cool things to discover. For a smaller museum there was a lot to see and learn! Everything is on one level so it’s wheelchair and pram accessible! Other than the toilets which are downstairs but there is a lift! One of the members was staff were particularly sweet and considerate of our situation! Thank you C.

We paid £17.50 for two very average puddings. I think the Pudding Stop has seen better days. It used to be operated by it's enthusiastic owner and there was a large selection of puddings, but now it's basically down to two - a cookie with ice cream or sticky toffee. The restaurant is looking a bit tired and so is the concept. It used to be a great alternative to pudding at the restaurant but now I don't think I'll bother as we ended up being surrounded by school kids who I assume we're kicked out of a nearby milkshake bar. A bit of a come down from The Ivy or Cote.

Great brownies and doughnuts. Everything I tried was fresh and well made. Staff were friendly

The Pudding Shop is a lovely little shop for stopping for a dessert and drink, friendly staff and nice range of delicious looking cakes. We had a range of dessert and all were lovely. I found the chairs a little small for comfort but fine for a short visit.

Amazing cakes which not only looked good but also tasted devine. I would take a trip here again 😃

I went in on Saturday at lunch and it was a great experience! The people there were lovely, especially the person who served me at the till and then gave me my food! She was kind and efficient gave me great recommendations. Someone so positive and knowledgeable and I found out she’s only 17! Great experience and food and I’ll definitely be coming again.

I wanted to say thank you to the manager for giving my friend and I some freebies when the baked cookie dough we ordered was out of stock. Such a lovely and kind gesture, really made our evening. Thank you again!

I love the desserts here. Delicious coffee and hot chocolate Sometimes you may have to wait to find a seat. but believe me It's worth ordering warm desserts to eat in.

Flavour description not matching what I could taste? I recently ordered what was the 'Bounty' ice cream. A single scoop costing £4.25 which is fine as I've been plenty of times before and paid similar prices at other premium ice cream shops/ gelato vendors. However, what first struck me is that I wasn't offered a taste, it being an experimental flavour n all. I guess it's my fault. Should I have asked? I suspect my urge for Ice Cream was strong so wasn't thinking particularly straight! My single scoop of ice cream was provided to me in a standard cone as requested and provided to me with a tissue and I of course went on my way. This was when the disappointment struck. All I could taste was chocolate, all it looked like was chocolate. No sign of coconut or even a coconut flavour as should be with an ice cream flavour titled 'Bounty' (unless I misread the description and it wasn't the famous chocolate they were referring to?) anyways, I was there eating this ice cream very disappointed that all I could taste was chocolate and nothing else making my £4.25 scoop of ice cream seem like a waste, expecting it to taste like a Bounty chocolate bar. So this is ultimately why I am giving three stars. Of course I ate the ice cream and cone in no time, and it was great chocolate ice cream, but did it match the flavour advertised? Absolutely not in my opinion. So yeah - my advice to anyone going here, before picking ask for as many tasters as you can get so you're not disappointed as I was.

If you want a good quality ice cream then this is the place. The pistachios and rose flavours is my favourite.

We have ordered mango, strawberry and coconut&raspberry. They were both incredibly delicious. We loved the place and the original ice cream 🍦

Nice ice cream, quite a number of interesting flavours. There was a queue but wait wasn’t long at all. Friendly staff, would recommend. Only down side is card only

I kept on seeing a queue out the door for this ice cream shop, so one day when it was nice and quiet I thought I'd give it a go. I'm unsure as to why there's so much love for it. The ice cream was expensive and mediocre. But more than that the staff are simply terrible. Rude and condescending. One ginger-haired young lady in particular is just awful.

Would’ve loved to give a rating for the ice cream itself but we never got a chance to try since the service was SO slow here. Went on a Sunday afternoon, wasn’t too crowded and we were next in line. However, the lady behind the counter was perhaps the slowest server I’ve ever witnessed, who took her own sweet time with customers in front of us. Disappointed, we just walked out without placing our order. Waiting in queue for over 10 mins on a not-so-busy Sunday doesn’t make sense at all

Amazing ice cream, great choice of interesting flavours, creamy and slightly sticky texture but not overly sweet. Very attentive and friendly service. I was honestly really impressed that our server managed to remember all 8 flavours that we ordered!

We stopped in on our way past, having never visited before. The staff were welcoming, we arrived 5 minutes before the kitchen was about to close and they made sure to get our food order into them before they closed. Excellent service, the atmosphere is lovely and the food was delicious and very high quality. We had a really pleasant experience here, I’d definitely recommend. We ordered two of the Steakish sandwiches off of the Lunch menu, they were accommodating of removing an ingredient off of one of them, and there was a generous amount of steak in the lovely, fluffy rolls. Thank you Six Bells!

Just had an exceptional meal at The Six Bells. We go there often as it used to be our most local pub but we try and visit as much as possible. Always friendly staff and the food is so great. Excellent chicken wings and the best pie in St Albans by far. All home made - we had chicken and leek - was delicious! Finished off with a crunchie cheesecake which was equally excellent! Thought we’d give it a review as we never do and it honestly deserves it. A true local gem.

The food here is a cut above! I’m not exaggerating but this pub does the best chips and are worth a visit in their own right. Guinness was also on point.

We went for the Sunday roast and it was so good. I went for the trio of meats roast and my partner went for the roast beef. I would recommend booking but we didn’t have a problem booking in the morning. The specials board/normal menu also looks like it has some great options, so it would be great to try some different dishes.

Always a warm welcome! Great choice of Ales with extensive food Menu. Recommended...

Understand Sundays are busy for pubs but we were so rushed through our 2 hour booking, which was a short space of time for a group booking anyway, that from 40 minutes before the table was due back we were told by multiple members of staff repeatedly that we had to leave the table and we couldn’t order anything else - not even a portion of chips. Not a warm or hospitable environment for a family catch up !

What an excellent roast dinner we had in there on a very busy Mother’s Day. The staff are very attentive and friendly and the food was amazing. The mars bar cheesecake is to die for. But family also had the sticky toffee pudding. And the chocolate brownie. All very highly recommended

My wife booked us in to this restaurant a couple of Fridays ago for my birthday. Everybody had told us how good it was and we must go, so we had big expectations. Firstly, the food was good, but you would expect it to be at £119 for a 5 course tasting menu. Cocktails you were looking at £17-20, London prices if not higher than some places. The restaurant itself is quite dated and almost like going into a cosy pub environment, which again there is nothing wrong with that but it didn’t really fit with the premium experience we were expecting. I ordered a whiskey sour to start at £17 and what arrived after nearly 25 minutes did not resemble a whiskey sour at all. I politely took it back to the bar to say it wasn’t a proper whiskey sour as detailed on the menu with the aim of just getting it removed from the bill (I had only had a couple of sips). The waiter snatched the drink out of my hand and threw it in the sink aggressively saying ‘I’ll make you another one shall I?’. There was no conversation or apology just aggression. I removed myself from the situation and went to sit back down with my wife because I didn’t want to ruin the evening. The other staff were reasonable but proceeded to bring the issue up, not apologising but just offering us free items which was not the point and there was no apology from the member of staff who had been rude which would have been welcomed. Said member of staff proceeded to stare me out for the rest of the evening and made the experience quite uncomfortable and we did not feel welcome after that point. Whatever the staff members view on the quality of the drink, the way to deal with it was not to snatch it and launch it into the sink. All round, the bill came to the region of £350. They then get the bill wrong and we ended up paying circa £20 more than we should have which my wife had to battle with them to get back. When you are paying this kind of price for a meal, we would expect better. Nearby Hazel’s smashes it out of the water. The service is much better and in our personal opinion the food was better. Disappointing experience overall and we won’t be heading back, which is a shame because it had the potential to be really good. (Pictures: Whiskey sour I was served vs a quick google of what one should look like).

On Saturday we enjoyed an amazing tasting menu lunch at Thompson’s in St Albans. The food from chef Phil Thompson and his team was fabulous and we were well looked after by our superb waitress Nicole. It had been a few years since our last visit but this more than made up for it. The restaurant is located at the top of Hatfield Road at the end of the high street. We arrived to a friendly welcome from Nicole before she escorted us to our table. We ordered a drink while we looked at the menu. Here you had the choice of A la Carte or a selection of tasting menu’s (ie the 5 , 7 or 9 course with an addition of a special dish from the chef. We opted for the seven course plus the chef’s choice dish. The afternoon started with a couple of delicious snacks that came along with the sourdough bread and butter. We then moved onto our first course of Heirloom Tomatoes which brought a delightful freshness to your palate. This was followed by the Maitake Mushroom , the Birds Liver Parfait and the chef’s choice which was a heavenly Squid ink Tortellini. We followed this with the Roast Noisette of Cod before moving onto our first to the main course where you had an option of either the Lamb or the Tamworth Pork so we ordered one of each and the were both fantastic. Our palate was the cleansed with a Pineapple Sorbet before finishing with a delicious White Chocolate Parfait dessert. While enjoying a coffee and petit fours we had a nice chat with Phil where we could personally thank him and his team for a fabulous afternoon. We also payed credit to Nicole who was a delight all afternoon and a credit to the industry. We then thanked the team as we headed back home to Essex and hope we would see them all again soon.

This was our first time visiting this amazing restaurant in St Alburns! We were served by Nick and he gave us the best service ever, even put my jacket around my shoulders for me! Personal touch and massive attention to detail! The food was exquisite!! Huge commitment to the chefs the gnocchi I had - was the BEST I have ever had - and I used to be a chef myself. We can’t wait to come back here and experience the tasting menu! We had cheese board as pudding and it was off the dial. We LOVED everything about our first visit here ! Well done all.

The food we had was exceptional and so was the wine. Works of art with excellent attention to detail. Ingredients top quality. Great attentive service but not rushed. So glad we have this gem of a place on our doorstep. Highly recommend.

Firstly the not so good points, I took a friend for a birthday meal, we sat at the bar and we still had to pick from the menu even for the 9 course tasting menu. We were presented with a menu each which had prices for the meals, a little embarrassing. The lighting in the main room was bright and harsh, the waitress did try to dim them and for a bit it was a better atmosphere but they started to flicker so back to bright. And the pasta on the tortellini was thick an a bit gloopy but the taste was fantastic. Now for the positives. Every other course of the 11 courses we had, the 9 courses plus the chefs choice and cheese were just delightful, my favourites being the mushrooms and the birds liver pate. The staff...attentive, polite, knowledgeable on what they were serving and just absolutely lovely. The wine we chose was out of stock, however the alternative suggestion was very drinkable. Crockery beautiful. We just had a wonderful time and my guest felt very special. Thanks guys.

Going to Thompson is a full experience and not just a basic dinner with some banality courses that don't say anything to your night. It's a full experience where the wine and food blend together in such a manner that couldn't be anything else that a good night. The chef deserves a full compliment, and the friendly team will take care of you in such a manner that you'll feel important fr9m the first step in the restaurant. Thank you so much for a lovely evening! We will come back with the first occasion!

Exquisite as always and Nick on Front of House performed to his highest standards as he always does with an exceptional cheerful smile and with such detail and knowledge of all the courses and wines. Please try this wonderful restaurant for yourselves and you won’t believe the attention to detail that Phil and his amazing team put into making this the best restaurant in Hertfordshire.

What a wonderful place this is your visit, especially if you're a history lover or architecture enthusiast! I absolutely adored the rambling Gardens with a choice of different length walks, the cafe was very relaxed with a range of food and drinks but the highlight for me was the incredible tour of the old Elizabethan building by very knowledgeable and friendly Dermot! What a pleasure it was to enjoy such an in depth and interesting talk by such an experienced gentleman. We would definitely visit again!!

Visited the gardens only. Some of the most beautifully curated public gardens in SE England. Very lucky to be able to visit the East Garden which is only open to the public on certain Wednesdays. Some nice woodland walks as well although I would have to say that these aren't fantastically signposted.

It was very lovely place to visit. Free parking and only short walk to the house and gardens. Very brilliant, smiley and pleasant people work there, it was not a problem for them to help us use the lift a few times,so thank you.! It makes the visit so much easier and nicer. It's not easy to get around everywhere if you have a buggy or especially the walker.. Very recommend this place to visit!

What a gorgeous hidden gem just north of London crammed full of history. Very knowledgeable and helpful guides in each room. Check out their website as they put on ‘festival’ type events. The grounds are well kept. Only downside for me was you have to pay extra to go into the palace (£8 I believe). The ‘marmite’ fountain at the back of the house is interesting. I loved it. I will definitely be back.

I don't even know where to start to describe this fantastic place! We spent about five hours there and loved every single minute of it. There is just so much to see! We first visited the Gardens, which are stunning. Then we spontaneously opted for a guided tour of the Old Palace, which absolutely blew us away. I must admit that when we had decided to visit Hatfield House, we weren't even aware of the Old Palace and its significant history, so it felt like an extra bonus. Our guide was not only very knowledgeable, but also extremely engaging - a pure joy to listen to and get lost in the stories from days gone by. And then the house itself, which is absolutely marvellous in every respect. The staff in each of the rooms were genuinely eager to tell their story and engage with the visitors, so we were able to have long chats, which we thoroughly enjoyed! A long walk to the Oak Tree and back completed our visit, which exceeded our expectations by far. It didn't go unnoticed that unlike most historic houses in Britain, the gift shop was mostly stocked with local produce, rather than the usual souvenirs. But although we couldn't find anything to buy, we didn't even mind that. I got the feeling that despite all its fascinating history and splendour, Hatfield House doesn't seem nearly as commercialised as many similar places (we were surprised about the small number of visitors in the middle of summer), and that would actually seem a good thing. As a result, our visit had a very intimate touch, and we felt individually valued, rather than being a part of big masses of tourists passing through. Our visit turned out to be the highlight of our 10-day holiday in the UK!

Huge gardens & park with multiple routes for avid walkers / dog walking & a fantastic set up for a lovely morning / family day out. Easy parking, we visited their shops and cafe in their entry area, headed to the loo, got ice cream and made our way around their grounds in a beautiful sunny day! Might feel expensive for a walk but a worthy day out for family / friends and a great adventure location with food, facilities, and beautiful nature! Head here for a great day out when the sun is up!

You can feel the history at Hatfield house. You have the spectacular house, built by Robert Cecil, along with the old palace, where Elizabeth 1st and Edward would have been bought up. You can almost imagine them playing in the wonderful West Gardens as you walk around. The staff are full of information and love to share their wealth of knowledge, just ask. After the house, we went for a walk through the woods, down to the picturesque river. My mother is in a wheelchair, but we had no problems getting around. Everywhere is accessible. Just be prepared for some inclines in the woodland walks.

We had such a lovely day at Willows Activity Farm. The kids absolutely loved it — from feeding the animals to bouncing on the giant pillows and running around the Peter Rabbit play areas. There’s just so much for them to do, both indoors and outdoors, that we ended up staying most of the day without even realizing how fast it went by. Everything felt clean, safe, and well-kept, and the staff were friendly and helpful. The food was fine (a bit pricey, as expected at these places), but it didn’t really matter because the kids were having the best time. It’s clear that the place was designed with families in mind — it’s easy to get around with a stroller, there are plenty of toilets and shaded spots, and you never feel rushed. Perfect for young kids who love to explore and play. We’ll definitely be coming back — it’s one of those rare spots where the whole family leaves happy and tired in the best way.

Went for potato digging. It was such a fun experience for kids. We enjoyed rest of the day at the playground.

Absolutely amazing place to bring the kids. I think this is about our 7th year of coming here and each time gets better with something new being added. Loads of seating, loads of toilets, loads of lovely treats, loads of great activities for the kids and lovely clean animals. I’ll be sad when the kids don’t want to come anymore. Amazing value for money

We visited Willows Farm on a Sunday for the Pumpkin Festival, and it was a lovely family day out! The pumpkin patch was beautiful with lots of photo spots, and there was even a pumpkin carving area. Our daughter loved the pumpkin hunt around the farm and was thrilled with her little prize at the end. There’s so much for kids to do — bouncy castle, Peter Rabbit shows, tractor rides, feeding the animals, playgrounds, mini golf, and rides. You can easily spend the whole day there. The only downside for us was the food. We tried one of the food trucks near the pumpkin patch, but it was disappointing and overpriced. The buns were cold, and the burgers tasted like they’d been pre-cooked. We also skipped the hot chocolate after someone in front of us returned theirs. We then went to the indoor canteen, but it was very busy with long queues and packed seating, so we couldn’t get a meal there either. It was a cold day, so a nice warm lunch would’ve made the day even better. Overall, we had a wonderful experience and loved all the activities, but the food options really let it down. We’d happily come again for the fun, but next time we’ll definitely bring our own food!

UNWELCOMING PLACE IF THERE WAS 0 stars I would give. Discriminatary behaviour was demonstrated towards us by staff. Unwelcoming. No understanding towards children. My son who was over 90cm was denied access to areas that he was actually eligible for. Do not waste your money here. Also on weekdays majority areas are shut with one staff working and the shows do not run. I forgot to take photos on the day due to stress caused but attached photos of some closed attractions including “adventure playground” “carasouls” and “playground slides”

Grandparent’s paradise - a full day of entertainment for under 9’s. Great attraction good parking, well organised with really nice staff. If it’s dry there’s lots to do. Not so great in the wet. Indoor play area and soft play is a bit tired but the kids still love it. Toilets everywhere and good quality play equipment/bouncy castles. What’s not to like?

We recently spent a memorable day at Willows Activity Farm, and it truly exceeded our expectations! Visiting with two other families with children around 3.5 years old, we all had a fantastic time exploring the farm, especially with the added Halloween decorations and pumpkin patches for the season. Lucky for us, we enjoyed a sunny day—quite a treat for October in England—which made the visit even more enjoyable. Willows Activity Farm is packed with a variety of activities that kept the kids entertained from start to finish. 1.Animal Feeding: The kids were delighted to feed and interact with the farm animals, including goats and sheep. Feed is available to purchase, adding a fun hands-on experience for little ones eager to get close to the animals. 2.Piglet Race: This was one of the biggest hits! The kids loved watching the adorable piglets race around a small track, and the cheering made it all the more exciting. 3.Cow Milking Show: The cow-milking demonstration offers a great mix of entertainment and education, allowing kids to see where milk comes from. The setup is both informative and engaging for young children, making it a lovely learning experience. 4.Tractor Ride: A classic part of any farm visit, the tractor ride was a major highlight for the kids. It took us on a scenic loop around the farm, with plenty of interesting sights along the way. 5. Pumpkin Patch: Since it was Halloween, the pumpkin patches were wonderfully set up, allowing kids to pick their own pumpkins and take photos in a festive setting. Each child got to take home a pumpkin, which was a wonderful bonus! 6.Playgrounds and Inflatable Zone: There are several play areas with age-appropriate equipment for children, including swings, slides, and climbing frames. The inflatable play zone, with its bouncy castles and structures, was a huge hit as well and kept the kids engaged for quite some time. 7.Indoor Play Barn: A well-equipped soft play area inside provides a safe space for kids to play indoors. This is especially handy in case of rainy weather, and it offers a nice change of pace from outdoor activities. The farm’s facilities are excellent, which made it a stress-free day for all of us: • Food and Refreshments: With a food truck, café, and coffee shop, there are plenty of options for snacks and meals. The food is reasonably priced and family-friendly, making it easy to grab a quick bite or a refreshing drink throughout the day. • Clean Toilets: We were particularly impressed with the cleanliness of the toilets. They’re well-placed around the farm, so you’re never too far from one, and each was well-stocked and maintained, which is a real plus when visiting with young children. Ticket prices typically range from £20–£25 per person, with discounts available for online bookings. Special events, like Halloween, may impact ticket prices slightly, so checking the website for updated details is a good idea. Though it might seem a bit pricey at first glance, we felt that the wide range of activities and overall experience provided excellent value for money. The day felt like it was packed with entertainment and well worth every penny. Final Thoughts Willows Activity Farm is an outstanding destination for families with young children. The staff is friendly and attentive, the facilities are clean and convenient, and the range of activities offers something for every family member. The Halloween decorations added an extra layer of magic, and we’re already looking forward to visiting again for another seasonal event. In summary, Willows Activity Farm offers a wholesome, fun-filled day out that combines the charm of farm life with plenty of adventure and entertainment. Whether you’re local or coming from farther away, it’s well worth a visit for a day that’s sure to leave everyone smiling. We left with happy kids, a bundle of pumpkins, and wonderful memories. Highly recommended for any family looking for a special day out

Beautifully restored, and more fun compared to your usual cinema trip. You can go for regular seats or sit in the iconic red armchairs with a table. Also love that you can order snacks and drinks from the bar during the movie and they even provide blankets and cushions. Film selection is a good mix of new releases and classics. A great spot for a relaxed and memorable night out!

AMAZING!!! Highly recommend, first time I’ve been here and will definitely go back again and again, way better than a normal cinema and such good price!!!

A lovely art deco cinema with table service and comfortable seats. The tickets were remarkably inexpensive. Very friendly and helpful staff. The only difficulty was finding somewhere to park. We had a wonderful evening at The Odyssey

A great cinema with a wonderful variety of films. Art decro feeling throught with stand alone chairs and sofas. sables , s Bars at tge back swhere you can fetch a drink without disburbing anyone else. Cheeseboard, tacos and ice cream also sold. Staff are friendly and are obviously love film!

From being greeted as we walked in to having our cheese plate delivered to our seats, the staff are so friendly. Just love this cinema. Very clean and the perfect temperature inside. Looking forward to coming back on 5th July.

A truly memorable place to visit. Find a film you like, book a seat (downstairs if you can), and enjoy the experience. This is so far removed from modern mainstream, multiplex cinema experiences that you just have to live it to know.

We had a terrible experience with Odyssey - we could not attend our booking due to factors beyond our control, and despite taking the time to physically visit the cinema earlier in the day, and speak with a member of staff, they were unwilling to compromise their ‘strict no refund’ policy. I was advised to see if any family or friends could take our tickets, or failing that - try to sell them on Facebook Marketplace?! I requested that a gift voucher could be issued, as we still wanted to attend the cinema & experience a showing, but even that reasonable request was refused point-blank. Now our 2 seats will supposedly be left vacant, potentially causing other attendees to this evenings showing to not be able to get in - it’s short sighted, and really poor customer service. Given the lack of compassion on the part of the staff, the cost of our tickets, and overall bad impression, we will not be encouraging anyone to risk their evening attending the Odyssey.

A young forest that only came into existence recently, Heartwood Forest shows all the promise of a place that's idyllic for a walk, exercise, picnic or a place to sand away a few hours with a good book or catch up with friends. There are objects dotted around the forest - some of which have had some real imagination put into them, with the arch being a personal favourite of mine. The Bluebells are the real draw here and to see them in full bloom is a real treat for the senses, though it helps to know exactly at what time of the year the flowers bloom. The benches scattered around the forest provide spectacular views of the green carpeted landscape which, on a blue tinted sunny day makes for a delightful view, wherever you choose to sit. It may be young compared to some of the ancient forests we have across the UK, but Heartwood Forest is a place everyone should come and visit for something a little more varied.

I had quite a serene walk in this forest. I walked the Magical Meander trail and it truly was magical. Enjoyed the bird chirping sounds and natural forest sounds that I usually hear from a white noise app.

Heartwood Forest is a hidden gem! The walking paths are well-maintained and easy to navigate, making it a perfect spot for a relaxing stroll. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking, with beautiful views around every corner. Whether you're after a peaceful walk or a bit of nature therapy, Heartwood Forest delivers. Highly recommend for families, solo walkers, or anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors!

Awesome place. I enjoyed it a lot. Car park avialable. You can go for really nice walk.

Lovely walks, lots of which are hard standing so won’t get too muddy as it gets into winter. Good amount of free parking and map is clear and gives suggestions of different routes.

Lots of lovely wildflowes along the road to the carpark full of insects

A lovely place I keep going back to. Highly recommended. Well kept, no admission charges or parking charges. Plenty of parking on hard ground in the winter and grass in the summer. Not overcrowded and other dog walkers happy to stop and chat.

We made the right choice to celebrate graduation here! The food was good, we ordered steaks and it was done as how we liked it, fish and a set menu. Mash really taste good. Atmosphere, by itself, interior is really good (and the choice of soft music). The service was superb! 1st we have amended our booking and they were very accommodating, food wait is not too long, waiter was polite and very professional, plus we made a request on the booking and they accommodated it (plus more extras) Not sure if the extra is part of the promotion for graduation season but it really made our celebration special.

It’s been a while since our last visit, at the time it wasn’t great. Some years later and today we returned for lunch and we were to be pleasantly surprised. Fantastic food, excellent staff, our waiter Luke couldn’t do enough for us and even included a Birthday treat. All in all a fantastic experience with delicious food and good sized lunch time portions. Thank you.

A Memorable Sunday Roast Experience We had the pleasure of enjoying one of the finest Sunday roasts I’ve had in St Albans. From the moment we arrived, the staff were warm and attentive, making us feel genuinely welcome. A special mention goes to Billy, our table waiter, who was incredibly knowledgeable and thoughtful—he took the time to walk us through the menu options with care. What made the experience even more special was a lovely gesture from the team. A young lady (whose name I unfortunately didn’t catch) discreetly informed Billy that it was my birthday. To my surprise and delight, they presented me with a complimentary crème brûlée—a thoughtful touch that truly elevated the occasion. If you’re looking for a place that combines excellent food with heartfelt hospitality, I can’t recommend this restaurant enough. Treat yourself—you won’t be disappointed.

My experience here was fantastic.. staff were warm, friendly and accommodating.. we celebrated my sons birthday and the quality of the food was incredible and the range of drinks left you wanting more.. i recommend the Mango daiquiri.. our party was for 9 people and they seated us downstairs.. the staff were informative about the upcoming busy period as we had children with us and didn't rush us at all.. definitely recommend and will definitely return.. thank you for having us

Friends from Finland had never had a traditional Sunday roast. We took them to Prime yesterday and they couldn’t stop raving about how wonderful the food was, and one of them is a chef with 30 years experience! A fantastic meal, great value for money considering the quality of the food, and a big thank you to our server, Alex who was so welcoming, warm and helpful…a star! We are hugely picky regarding Sunday roasts, and usually prefer home cooked, but as an exception, we thoroughly recommend the Prime Sunday lunch experience. We’ll be back!

My fiancé and I visited Prime for the first time this weekend. The staff were lovely and friendly and the venue was very nice. We had the Crispy Salt & Pepper Squid to start, which was delicious and came very quickly. We then asked the waiter if we could have a pause before the main came out, which they agreed to. Then seconds later the main arrived. Which made the whole experience feel very rushed. We both ordered Rib Eye Steak, cooked rare. Unfortunately the steak was overcooked, medium rare at best with lots of sinew. The steak was average, not what I expected for an establishment that is known for it's steak and especially at this price point. We both left feeling a little underwhelmed.

Amazing food and fantastic service. The scotch egg is the best I've ever eaten!

Food was very small for the price. Disappointed in the portion size, it was not what the other takeaways are providing, not enough fish at all for what we were paying. Not worth your money even with the 20% off discount. Still hungry now even when we spent a fair amount on what we would believe to be a decent amount of sushi. Everything came smaller than other places we usually go to. Would not recommend.

What can I say! Great Food, great service and great atmosphere! Keep up the great work! Waiter named Jameel certainly knows how to keep customers happy. Highly recommended noodle bar to try out! My personal favourite, the prawn toast, with Noodles and Tiger prawns! Although everything I’ve tasted here is amazing, the prawn dishes are just my personal best!

The least amount of fish I’ve ever seen in a sushi roll! Absolute rip off. Tom Yum soup was flavourless, nothing like real Tom Yum. Mussels chewy and covered in huge garlic chunks and some weird sweet sauce. Spicy edamame covered in sweet chilli sauce. Really lazy below average food, we couldn’t eat most of it. Have eaten noodle dishes here before too which are just as bad. Such a shame as St Albans needs good sushi & Japanese.

Fab venue for excellent sushi, noodles and other dishes at keen prices. Mondays is 50% off list prices for most dishes.

I done the order take way food Sushi Plates it was disaster 😩. It didn't feel like and tasty like a nice and fresh food and it was from the supermarket package. The fish and salmon smell very bad.The rice was very bad tasty I throw straight away in the bin

Yesterday I ordered lunch via Deliveroo which arrived hot and in the time frame however thats all the was good, the freshness and quality of food was terrible. Ive never experienced hard chewy rice on sushi rolls before, was like chewing gum texture. The Yakitori chicken was also hard and stringy texture which I can confidently can say from eating alot of Japanese food this food has been sitting around for a while. I called the restuarant and owner didnt accept my concerns about the food and said it was freshly made (clearly not!) and said to raise with Deliveroo however Deliveroo dont look after customer disputes for this restuarant. I would not recommend this restuarant!

Fantastic vegetarian options at a reasonable price. Friendly staff and quick service. Would recommend for anyone looking for good Japanese food.

If you want a quick stop without the hassle of South Mimms services then this is perfect. Clean & Tidy with good service and toilets - you can be on your way quickly. Drive through also available.

It wasn’t a great experience. We ordered food and drinks to be delivered to the car, but the drinks were not included in the bag. I had to go and collect them myself. When I was about to eat my Big Mac, I noticed that I had been given a chicken sandwich instead of what I ordered. The staff were very friendly and corrected everything promptly. However, it seems that either there are not enough staff or training is lacking.

Absolutely incredible staff. Stopped in with my 2 month old baby and the manager, Vishal, was so kind and attentive to make sure we had everything we needed. He even brought over water as it was an exceptionally hot day. Such service is rare and so very appreciated!

Amazing experience at the drive-thru today, thanks to the outstanding service from Luisa. After receiving my order, I realised a couple things were missing. When i let her know, she handled the situation perfectly. She listened carefully and acting nothing but professional and friendly, sorting me out with the correct order - the food was extra hot too! Thank you!

A reliable and affordable McDonald’s stop This local McDonald’s is my go-to for a quick, satisfying meal that won’t break the bank. The value for money is commendable, making it great for families or even solo visits. Personally, I often pop in after work for a meal, or grab a frappe before heading in. At the moment, my absolute favourite is the Biscoff frappe, I really hope they keep it on the menu! The only downside is the straws they provide, which tend to collapse easily, so I usually bring my own reusable ones to avoid the hassle. One thing I wouldn’t recommend is getting McDonald’s delivered to your home. By the time it arrives, the food is often cold and the chips soggy. To be fair, this is probably more down to the delivery company than the branch itself. When ordering at the in-store self-service screens, I’ve noticed the receipt doesn’t always print. This can make for an awkward wait, especially when it’s busy, as I struggle to remember my order number and end up hovering around wondering where to stand without getting in anyone’s way. The location is right by the M25, so it’s busy pretty much any time of day or night. That said, the drive-thru is impressively fast, I’ve never waited more than 3–5 minutes. Inside, the service is efficient, the restaurant is very clean, and it’s fully wheelchair accessible, with disabled parking right outside the main entrance. There’s also 90 minutes of free parking (be careful though, overstay and you’ll get a fine), plus EV charging facilities and a good number of parking spaces. Overall, this branch is a solid choice for quick, affordable food with generally excellent service, just a few quirks that could be improved.

I had a very unpleasant experience here. I ordered food and sat down to eat without anyone saying anything to me at the start. In the middle of my meal, a staff member named Rajib suddenly came over and rudely asked me to leave, saying he wanted to clean the table and go home. He even called me “stupid,” which is completely unacceptable behavior in customer service. This is the worst treatment I have ever experienced at a restaurant. I came to enjoy my food, not to be insulted and rushed out. Very unprofessional staff and terrible customer service. I will definitely not be coming back and would not recommend this place to anyone.

This is one of the best McDonald's restaurants I have ever visited, the food was on point, fresh and hot and the toffee latte was made to perfection something which most other McDonald's restaurants are for some reason unable to get right despite it being from a machine. Top marks for this location! It's a bit out of my way but the extra travel is worth it. Update: I have had a not so nice toffee latte from here since my initial review but I was so impressed with my first visit I've decided to let it slide and keep my rating the same, I'll put it down to a slip in usual quality and service, hopefully I won't have to change my review the next time I visit. I will update again.

We came here for brunch, it’s busy between 11:30-1:30 and so we had to wait around 20 minutes to get our table. They have a kids menu which was great and they serve good coffee. My husband was particularly impressed with the specials. Our food took time to come out but they were busy which is understandable. I love where the cafe is situated. The items in the shop are lovely.

I have celiac disease and was excited to find out this cafe offers gluten-free options. I went with the English breakfast, minus the eggs and bacon (the hash browns weren't gluten-free). I paid full price, thinking they would add extra sausages to replace the rest. The food took over half an hour to arrive—half an hour for one sausage, beans, and toast. Sausage was really dry. 😕 will not be coming back.

Had a really nice lunch today in a pleasant setting. The highlight of the meal was the starter (the croquettes), I really hope this can be a permanent part of the main menu as it was definitely the stand-out item! Nice friendly service by our server Leyla too. Highly recommend the place!

I cannot fault the food! It was beautifully presented and tasted fresh. My only disappointment was no ginger beer available and a coffee was incorrectly added to our bill.

So, I debated whether to add this review so please read fully. We have been to the potting shed for many years, and while overpriced it has always been quality and the atmosphere welcoming. Until recently. I just had given birth to my second daughter a week ago, so we thought we’d walk around hertwood forest followed by tea and cake at the potting shed. Drinks were hot, cakes were lovely - however still on the pricey side so be warned! Worth it for us. My two year old is being potty trained, and she cannot make the distance from cafe to toilet yet so we have a travel potty. We were in the cafe not the restaurant with only one table sitting in relatively close proximity (2 meters). Since I was using the baby change for my newborn - my husband used the travel potty so my child wouldn’t wet herself. I have used this in many restaurants before without complaint, being discrete and private and quick as much as possible. Lets just say management were not pleased at this, and thought it best to remind my husband where the toilets were and that in future we should use them. Now, while I understand that usually we would take her to a nearby toilet, most of the time it’s not as clean as you would think, and a travel potty is designed for that purpose. The potting shed is hit and miss on cleanliness. Honestly, they want parents to toilet train their children before school - but cafes like this are the reason why we have problems in society and parents don’t or can’t. (Akin to asking parents to put on an iPad to distract children in restaurants) I have NEVER had an issue like this before, on the contrary - I have been praised for getting the potty out. I also tend to potty a child before i sit down in a cafe - but this time she asked for it. I spoke to the manager who said ‘we have never had someone use a travel potty’. To which I should have responded ‘then how do you know it’s your policy not to allow them or if anyone was offended’. However I was so upset, I left. The table occupied didn’t even notice, and were more upset we were told off given we had a newborn and just wanted a relaxing break. Unfortunately the attitude displayed by the manager was one of absolute indifference and this made me upset more than anything. Safe to say I wasn’t prepared to breastfeed there and left for my car. They allow dogs in, fully allowing them to groom themselves infront of guests - but a two year old using a discrete clean potty so they don’t urinate on the floor is obviously a bridge too far for them. For many people this experience will never happen, but if you are in the same position I would ask that you challenge this ignorant attitude to raising children or take your money elsewhere. For breakfast/tea/cake I recommend Hatch near Dunelm is lovely and the staff are friendly, or Street Cafe in town!

What a lovely little place this is. Went twice last week, once with hubby and then with girl friends. Fresh, delicious food, gorgeous setting and fabulous friendly and personalised service by Kirill & Danielle. Highly recommend x

Can't wait to go back. Shop is full of absolutely all you want and need. Not a massive place, but that is also good, because you can see exactly what you want. Staff very helpful. Now, listen up carefully. The restaurant is what you would call " Fantastically Gorgeous ". Staff are Brilliant. Servers are Brilliant. Husband bankrupt ( in a nice way ). Took my neighbour for breakfast and she loved it. You do need to book otherwise, you will be quite disappointed if you can't get in to eat. You will Not be disappointed. Enjoy 😃

There were a lot of plant and furnitures for you to buy and a free car park for unlimited time. Staff were great and there were a restaurant with tasty meal. Great choice of going on a weekend if you have nothing to do. You can buy a lot of accessories for outdoor gardening or related. Very interesting store.

First time visiting over the weekend near closing time, large selection of plants and is very kid friendly. My little one enjoyed the push car trolley and there was a little play area by the cafe inside

Lovely atmosphere, large area and plenty of choice without being too big. The garden centre has a charm and the coffee shop is a must for a break. I can't fault this place in any way.

Beautiful place , extraordinary offer with flowers, plants, gifts indoors and outdoors , I am recommending for buying flowers

A nice garden with a very good Christmas range.

A great place for your christmas shopping This year the displays are amazing and the range of gifts you wont find in your high st shops is vast, Pay a visit im sure you will be amazed Dont take my word for it, See uploaded photos and you will see why

We went to visit Santa in his grotto and it was absolutely lovely. The decorations made it feel really magical. It wasn't busy or crowded and the 'elves' and Santa made such an effort to engage with our two young children. It's the best Santa's grotto we've been to. The gifts given to my two young children were great too. For the price it is really good value.

The pool is nice but the changing rooms are filthy. Despite multiple complaints and assurances nothing has changed.

No safeguarding for children during swimming lesson. I wish I could give a zero star, but it doesn’t appear to be possible. I’m the parent of a 5 year old child who has been taking lessons at Everyone Active Westminster Lodge in St Albans for over a year. I personally swim there 3-4 times a week. Today I took my child to his lesson and I was asked not to sit poolside as I normally do, but to go to the viewing gallery (a 2 minutes walk from the pool max). As I got to the gallery and looked down into the pool I realized my son wasn’t there, whilst the other kids were taking the lesson. I rushed downstairs to find him crying and distressed looking for me in the changing rooms. He had walked out of the pool without any of the teacher stopping him or even noticing. When I went poolside to ask the teacher, instead of an apology and despite the fact that my son was in tears, the teacher told me ‘I didn’t even know he was here’. The teacher apparently had no register and no idea which child was in the pool. If parents cannot be poolside, what safeguarding is in place for a group of children between the age of 5 and 6? How can someone who has a group of young children in their care allow one to leave the pool unnoticed? The teachers present were totally unhelpful and one was outright rude. I since spoke to a duty manager who I had to solicit an apology from. I’m yet to receive an explanation from Everyone Active as to how this has been allowed to happen. It seems to me extremely concerning and I have zero trust in this team to look after my child.

Great equipment and classes, however, it is quite shocking to see how run down the gym is getting. The gym itself is very dirty, lumps of mud on the floor and dust on the machines, it really needs a deep clean!

The current state of the men’s changing rooms at the spa. Black floor for weeks on end, mould and dust everywhere, even nails embedded in the ground. What’s going on with hygiene here?

DON'T TAKE YOUR CHILD HERE FOR SWIMMING LESSONS UNLESS YOU'RE WILLING TO TAKE A RISK. MY SON WHOS 3YO WENT UNDER WATER TWICE IN 3 WEEKS FOR AT LEAST 5 SECONDS WITH ABSOLUTELY NO REACTION FROM THE LIFE GUARDS. HIS MUM HAD TO JUMP IN THE POOL DRESSED ON BOTH OCCASIONS

Gym is one of the dirtiest I’ve experienced, and the changing room of the Spa are no better! Very disappointing that it is not taken care of to the necessary standard…

I don't know about the sport facilities but the café staff are pretty terrible. Let's start with the positive: coffee costs GBP2.7 for a small americano. It is of a reasonable standard, though. Staff fairly incompetent. Asked for a small americano with a splash of milk. Was immediately charged for a large and then asked if I'd like milk. Menu offers a wide array of snacks but when I requested a sausage roll was abruptly told that they can only offer me porridge. Ridiculous. EDIT: another customer was served a bacon sandwich after I was offered porridge. But she then returned it, describing it to me as 'inedible'.

Visited Café Rouge in St Albans for the first time and it was a good experience. Used a Groupon discount code with a special menu and the staff were helpful. Friendly customer service and waitress. The place was near empty but it was a homely and peaceful environment to sit in. The food quality was great and seasoned well. Recommend

Food was excellent, very tasty and well presented. They had a good selection of drinks as well. The decor of the place is really cool and everything was clean. The service was quick. It is not the cheapest place to eat; however the service and quality was worth it. The only annoying thing is parking! But let that put you off, overall a very good experience, recommended.

Awesome Art Deco location. Very bright and sunny due to the glass panel roof. Afternoon Tea for two was spot on and was enough to carry you through the rest of the day. Staff were attentive and polite and facilities spotless. Highly recommend both the location and the afternoon tea.

Lovely food and friendly service on the whole. This branch is set in a lovely period building complete with a glass roof. Service was a little slow to begin with, but the foid was excellent.

Very nice cafe rouge, great building with full glass ceiling. We had afternoon tea with prosecco which was good value. Some confusion by staff over their own promotions, so check details and keep your whits about you! Updated as we visited a 2nd time and what a difference... no longer a nice range of sandwiches... just dry crusty mini breads with minimum amount of filling, just look at the pate of the pate on the knife that's all there was.... unlikely to go back a 3rd time.

Had dinner here and also breakfast.... lovely old building, like sitting in a conservatory...... Food well cooked and tasty, staff helpful, and very friendly, not one French!! no waiting, excellent service.

Food was mostly good, loved the art deco style, camembert cheese and baguette were excellent. The burger’s taste was okay though a bit plain. But it was good overall

This wall has deteriorated alarmingly over the past few years, it has discoloured to the point where the red brick has become distinguishable from the rest. It has a large bush growing right next to wall, and inside the fenced area is overgrown with grass and leaves, it just comes across as unloved, which I'm sure is not the case!

Amazing place to take families and learn about the history. Formerly the tribal capital of the native Catuvellauni tribe, Verulamium was conquered by the Romans during their invasion of Britain in 43 AD. By 50 AD, Verulamium had become a major Roman town, and as such was a prime target during the revolt of Boudica in 61 AD, when it was burnt to the ground. From Verulamium Park there is a magnificent view of St Alban’s Cathedral and Abbey Church, constructed in 1077, and said to be located on the site of St Alban’s execution. Things to do playground with swings, climbing frames, trampolines, mini golf, splash park, a cafe, outside gym, volleyball courts. A great day out for the whole family.

Beautiful parkland near lake. Roman walls, mosaics and museum. Recommended

The Romans got so comfortable in the area that it was actually the Iceni tribe that destroyed the area around 61AD. Subsequent rebuilds and fortifications had to be to do with local BRITISH tribes mostly at war with each other or at war with anyone who accepted the Romans as neighbours. People forget that the Romans left with good reason. We were a rough neighbourhood.

Had a lovely walk around the wall & pond. The pond was very over full & a bit smelly - not that our dog cared she was straight in!

As walls go it’s quite interesting, although I’ve seen bigger.

Just a small section of the walls that once surrounded the Roman city of Verulamium, but it’s worth a stop. The surrounding park is lovely and peaceful with plenty of walking paths.

We booked an early evening table for a couple of hours. Good selection of wines and they do great platters of cold meat or cheese. Big scotch eggs were great for sharing. Nice atmosphere. Helpful staff. You can select the cheeses you want with your platter. Lovely building with a lot of character and history. Looking forward to sitting by the fire on a cold day with a bottle of something, some cheese, and a good book or good company. A nice change from a pub.

The best cheese and wine shop in St Albans. We have been here many times, and it never disappoints. We always choose the mix board with cheese and meat. Nevertheless, I could see with the time that the portions are starting to get smaller than they used to be before. There is a nice variety of cheeses. Customer service is really friendly and quick. I really recommend this place.

In my opinion this is the best wine bar in St Albans. A lovely atmosphere, with the back room being particularly cosy. Great wines on offer, a wonderful selection of cheeses and good charcuterie. The staff are very knowledgeable and passionate about their wines and cheeses, offering great advice. A lovely place to meet friends. We had a really enjoyable evening and will definitely return.

Busy wine bar with great service from staff who will try to accommodate you where possible despite it being super busy and booked. Very generous portions for the cheese/meat boards and cater for gluten intolerance. Excellent wine menu both by glass and to take away. We travel from London to visit at least once a year. Recommend 1000%

Stepping into Bishop's Cave is like entering a cozy sanctuary for wine enthusiasts. The staff's hospitality is truly exceptional, their knowledge and passion for wine shines through in every interaction - thank you Rob. For food I had their massive scotch egg and chilli olives - both were absolutely delicious. I had a glass of the Australian Shiraz and a glass of the Georgian Saperavi. Both wines were full bodied and very impressive. What sets Bishop's Cave apart is their unique wine offerings, curated to satisfy both novices and connoisseurs alike. Whether you're seeking a romantic date spot or a place to unwind with friends, this gem is an absolute must-visit for any wine lover.

Lovely place for a drink wine or craft beer or get together with friends n family. Beautiful place with lovely atmosphere. Plenty of cheese variety to taste with wine. Huge variety of craft beer cans in fridge, on rack as well as on tap. Nice n cool staff. Great service. Sure recommend this place n I’ll b back soon too 👍

Fantastic experience with Dan and his staff at the Bishops Cave, St Albans. We were a group of ladies who wanted to learn more about wines and have a great time in doing so! Dan was a brilliant host who gave us a good insight into the best wines available. The cheese was delicious too. Thank you!

A stop over in ST Albans with my boys to do some shopping and meet some friends, so we go to the McDonald and was very easy to park and access the restaurant we already ordered via the app to make it easier for us. The place was very niece and tidy different from the other McDonald I been was more cosy with lots of space and sofa everything was clean and comfortable all around. I will go again when I will be back.

Avoid if possible. Always a mess , some staff very friendly unlike others 👎. But overall it’s a NO ❌ Branch for me. The most important has to be food hygiene standards for me. No excuse!

I stopped picking up food deliveries from here because it's all over the place. The Franchise owners need to investigate and get things in to order. During busy periods, all hell breaks loose and they simply can not meet the demand. Store needs re-designing to assist with efficiency, i.e. "delivery partner" entrance on the side of the building to ease congestion at the till. The managers need to communicate more with delivery partners to get orders off the shelf, RATHER THAN LETTING US FIGHT TO GET SOMEONE'S BLOODY ATTENTION! 🤣

DO NOT ORDER A DELIVERY FROM HERE UNLESS YOU ARE HAPPY WITH ITEMS MISSING - THEY SOMEHOW FORGOT A BURGER AND THOUGHT 6 NUGGETS WOULD FULFILL AND ORDER FOR 9!!! UPDATE: DECIDED TO GIVE THEM ANOTHER CHANCE TODAY 13/01/24. ORDERED A LARGE STEAKHOUSE STACK MEAL AND THEY FORGOT THE ACTUAL BURGER. THESE GUYS ARE HALFWITS THAT WORK HERE.

Every time over the last teo months our order has had missing items , the restaurant refuses to accept any accountability. This is extremely frustrating and not good enough . As regular customers we expect that you make every effort to ensure the same mistakes do not reoccur . Uber eats do what they can by offer a refund but it doesn’t alter the fact that order is never complete.

Food was cold even though we ordererd in store at the till lots of staff chatting in kitchin service was very slow deliveroo people see more inportant than customers .knoew friends that have it delivered and its always cold when it arrives most times but dont expect in when you go to collect it should be fresh and hot very disapointing after not having one for a while

Service is slow. Food is hit and miss, chips under cooked, chicken I had didn't look cooked so ended up not eating it. Its not a Mc Donalds I would rush back to anytime soon.

Mostly excellent. The decor, the room furnishings, the public areas are all smart and tidy, as are the grounds. Breakfast was good. but not fabulous. and service was polite and efficient. The dining room is a high-ceilinged conservatory so the sound echos and it lacks ambience Be aware that if you stay in one of the ground-floor rooms in the garden wing, the only way to ventilate the room at night is to open the french windows and some guests my feel insecure The hotel is high quality but not great value considering what we paid so we probably would not return

Great food in beautiful surroundings with a lake walk. Had Sunday Lunch in the Conservatory with was amazing overlooking the grounds and lake. Table service was amazing with attentive waiters/waitresses which gave a feeling of having your own waiter. Food was amazing and prices were great. Our waitress Hepy was amazing. A credit to all staff for their kind service

We hosted a Business Breakfast at St Michael’s Manor today and couldn’t have been happier with the experience. I’ve worked with the events team, Ussha and Christina, on several occasions now and they are always incredibly helpful and professional. Today’s event was a huge success – the breakfast was seamlessly run, the food was excellent quality, and the whole atmosphere felt relaxed and well organised. The service from the wider team was also fantastic. In particular, I spoke with Poppy from the serving staff, who was polite, attentive, and very professional throughout. Thank you to everyone at St Michael’s Manor for making the event such a pleasure to host – highly recommended!

Place fabulous, beautiful set. However,very disappointed with steak we ordered! Considering £8.50 is charged extra when ordering steak. We were shocked we weren't asked how we would like our steaks done,they were just presented full of fat & chewy.☹️Went home starving !

Wonderful-rooms, classic decor. Lovely grounds and plenty of parking. Staff could not be more helpful

I have to say very disappointing experience. Rocation wasn't communicated clearly beforehand. Something like this really should have been spoken about over the phone. Not written at the bottom of a confirmation email a day before the event. I completely missed this communication and only saw this when a member of your staff said it was emailed to me. It was such a anti climax arriving to simply be shoved in a pokey room to the side. Upon arrival noone actually greeted us and took us to a seat. I spoke to reception who gestured to enter the Cedar room where no staff were. There was a girl who just looked at us a few times but did not actually help us. When I went over to her, she just said 'I think you are there you can just sit down'. This really isnt the type of service expected from this type of place. The overall level of disorganisation and service was very poor. I think we had three different people speak to us at the table, all seemed clueless and unsure of what we were actually there for. It all felt bizarre and felt awkward. Having also done several afternoon tea experiences I can say the sandwiches were no were near up to the standard I would expect. In fact, I would almost say the bread was stale or close to turning. Nothing about it felt fresh. Overall the experience was completely underwhelming and there is far better out there. What is worse, when I shared feedback no-one from their side has even responded or reached out to discuss. Would avoid completely.

Very nice hotel, lovely room and facilities. Food (breakfast and lunch) was very good. Above all, service, particularly in the restaurant/lounge area, was excellent and very friendly.

Gracey’s Pizza – St Albans Review Location & Atmosphere (4/5) Tucked away on a quiet parade in St Albans, Gracey’s Pizza is the definition of a hidden gem—blink and you’ll miss it. Small, charming, and with room for just 10 diners inside, it has that cosy, independent vibe. Pro tip: Book your pizza (or dough) in advance. Like many independents these days, once they’re out of dough, that’s it. I got lucky with a 45-minute wait, but walk-ins behind me were turned away. Annoying? Maybe. But it’s part of supporting small-batch, quality-focused spots. The Pizza (4/5) I went for the Marg (12”), marketed as New Haven style. Now, what makes a pizza “New Haven”? Think of it as New York’s thinner, slightly charred cousin—meant to have a light dusting of cheese, a bit of chew, and those signature charred spots. • Gracey’s version leaned more thin and crunchy than chewy, but honestly—who cares about strict authenticity when it tastes this good? • There was a nice slight char, a crispy base, and the sauce and toppings were solid. • It wasn’t a mind-blowing, life-changing pizza, but it was a damn good one—the kind you’d be grateful to have as a local option. Value for Money (4/5) At £12, it’s fairly priced for an artisan-style pizza with quality ingredients. If you’re local, it’s a no-brainer. For those travelling in, it’s worth it—just not a weekly pilgrimage. Drinks (1/5) Quick side note: the non-alcoholic beer was dreadful—easily the worst I’ve had. Avoid it entirely. Overall Rating: 4/5 Gracey’s Pizza delivers a tasty, well-made pizza in a cosy, no-frills setting. Whether or not it ticks every box for a true New Haven style doesn’t really matter—what counts is that it’s good pizza. If you’re local, you’re lucky. If you’re travelling from London, it’s worth a visit—but pre-book and manage expectations around wait times. Would I return? Yes—but I’ll plan ahead next time.

This is excellent New Haven style pizza and rare to find in the UK. I can't recommend these guys enough and I'd absolutely suggest you eat in. I ordered delivery and after the first slice you lose some of the texture and temperature you need to enjoy this. The pesto swirl is fantastic and fairly priced. I will say with delivery and the limitation of the size of pizza means you are paying a premium price, then again this is a premium product. Portnoy would be proud, 8.3/10. Everyone knows the rules!

I think this is the best New Haven style pizza I’ve ever had. Excellent customer service and you can pull up just outside to collect your order. Music is on point in there too. (The picture is from the first time around but the pepperoni was different the second time I went. Smaller pieces but more on it.) A lot of people compare this place with Crisp. Their pies are great and different. The only thing is, Crisp creates this weird sense of demand that makes the experience of getting a pizza kind of rushed when it should be more… relaxed. Which is why I love them both but Gracey’s is my go to. Always on point!

Went to Gracey's yesterday and honestly, it was one of the best pizza experiences I’ve had! We started with their special garlic bread with chillies... the vibrant red look of it was out of this world, and the taste completely beats every cheesy garlic bread I’ve ever had. Then came the pizzas… we ordered 3 of the largest ones we could get our hands on, and wow. Each slice held straight with every bite (no flop!), the base was perfectly crispy, the tomato sauce was rich and full of flavour, and the cheese was layered just right. We even asked for chillies on the Margherita, and it was an absolute hit. Gracey's nailed it... amazing food, amazing quality. Definitely my new go-to pizza spot! 🍕🔥

Incredible Pizza. There are a few tables and we went early to make sure we could grab a seat. Pre ordered pizza were put on when we arrived to ensure it was as fresh as can be when it arrived at our table. Thin and crispy, beautiful charred crusts and dynamite toppings. Stop reading this and go already!

More than lives up to the hype!. Absolutely brilliant tasting pizzas that are clearly made with much more love than the mainstream competitors (and similarly priced!). There’s a few seats inside and the staff are super friendly. We didn’t expect any table service but they brought us cutlery, paper plates and served the pizzas to our table!. Drinks were also cheap (we’ve been to many a place in the centre of St Albans with similar soft drinks and paid 3 times more!) Also definitely give the dips and Burrata cheese a go if you like mozzarella in general! Will definitely be back again!!

Really nice service from the team. Interesting selection of drinks. And the pizza is clearly made with passion and high quality ingredients, one of the best I've tried. The special garlic bread is a spicy delight even on a warm day!