A SUITABLE RESTING PLACE FOR St ALBAN

Advantages: Antiquity, Architecture, Free Entry, Guides, History.
Disadvantages: None Found

...It was one of those rare days that we "happened upon" St Albans and it's Cathedral. Having half a day to kill whilst the car was being serviced in Chiswick, West London, although our loan car, being electrically assisted, was, for now at least, exempt from the Central London Congestion Charge, we made the positive decision to leave "The Smoke" and search out somewhere a touch less claustrophobic. THE ROMAN "CITY" OF ST ALBANS Around twenty miles to the north of London is the delightful old town of St Albans, many years ago I had enjoyed a day out here, Mrs R in her seven years in England had never had the pleasure - but was not, for whatever reason over-excited at the prospect! Asking me 'what was there to see', my first and only real answer was the Cathedral. However, having had a very early start that morning, my thoughts...

RICHADA 28.02.2008 · Read review
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Review of St Albans Cathedral, England

Ancient St Albans

Advantages: A wealth of history, in a compact area.
Disadvantages: Drunken louts on a Friday night

...Having grown up in this ancient city, it's easy to forget that it's also a place with several historic tourist lures. Layers of it's history are visible, from Roman Verulanium's amphitheatre, through the Medieval Abbey and Clocktower, the two battle grounds of the Wars of the Roses, through to the contemporary Gardens of the Rose (show place for the National Rose Society). Perhaps when I next go home I will re-visit some of these sites and write more detailed ops of them, but as a whole St Albans has much to recommend it to travellers and day-trippers from London, so long as they are interested in history.. Located about 25 minutes by train North of London, and on the way to London Luton airport, it's an easy day trip from London. The return fare is approximately £10 on Thameslink, depending on time of day, and if you have any...

Ariel 13.07.2001 · Read review
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Review of St Albans in General

PERFECT SETTING FOR THE COLNEY FOX

Advantages: Location. Pub Ambiance. Parking. Breakfast.
Disadvantages: Dirty En-Suite. Old Bed. Tatty Room.

...WHY DID WE BOOK THE INNKEEPER'S LODGE St ALBANS? A.K.A THE COLNEY FOX VINTAGE INN A slightly complicated set of factors this time - indeed this is the first hotel in which we have stayed south of Watford Gap in very many years. Living in Brighton and attending the Company Car in Action event at Millbrook, just south of Bedford, we usually set out from home at 5.30am in order to be there for gates open at 9.00am. I owed myself a couple of days off work and, feeling a little under the weather, did not fancy a crack of dawn departure followed by the rush hour crawl around the M25. Also, in an envelope, following our last, disastrous, Innkeeper's Lodge experience in Litchfield before Christmas, we had a complimentary "stay one night free" voucher. Looking at the list of available Inkeeper's Lodges in the area, the choice was not...

RICHADA 01.07.2008 (09.07.2008) · Read review
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Review of Innkeeper's Lodge, St Albans

Pizza for Two

Advantages: Food cooked freshly to order
Disadvantages: No pineapple!

...It was raining and I was hungry. I did not really fancy fries or a sandwich. I wanted something warm and filling, but what? I am veggie, whilst Shane is the complete opposite. It is always a dilemma when eating out! Walking down the High Street, in St. Albans, I happened to spy a nice restaurant, which seemed to fit the bill. It looked clean and tidy so my hubby and I decided to pay it a visit. The prices and menu in the window seemed very tempting, so we walked in. Zizzi’s is an independent, Italian restaurant is in the heart of St. Albans, Hertfordshire. It can be found on the High Street, in the City Centre. Walking in one immediately notices a faint smell of garlic. It is not over powering, but not surprising as all the food is freshly cooked to order in a kitchen area, situated within the seating area and in full view...

wulise 26.03.2001 · Read review
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Review of Zizzi (St. Albans)

Thistle fantastic!

Advantages: Great health and leisure club, comfortable, clean rooms
Disadvantages: Pricey if not brought on a special deal

...Thistle hotel St Albans Star Rating **** Thistle St Albans Watford Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL2 3DS Phone: 0870 333 9144 Fax: 0870 333 9244 Email: StAlbans@Thistle.co.uk Website: www.thistlehotels.com Check in 2pm Check out 12pm ***Overview of facilities*** * Thistle St Albans has two restaurants and two bars offering a wide selection of drinks, light refreshments and meals. * The hotel has an Otium Health and Leisure club with a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, spa pool and work out facilities. The hotel offers free car parking to guests. * Thistle St Albans has 14 meeting rooms, the largest of which seats 50-theatre style. All meeting rooms have air-conditioning. The hotel also has a summer and winter marquee that accommodates up to 150 people. As my boyfriend and I have just moved back to our...

funphobic2 13.02.2005 · Read review
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Review of Thistle hotel, St Albans

Busy Zizzi

Advantages: Good food at reasonable prices
Disadvantages: Waiting for a table

...Take Pizza Express and Cafe Uno, put them together and then make 20% better and you have Zizzi. My local Zizzi (St Albans) can get very busy but it's worth the noise and clatter for the good food they offer at reasonable prices. ~ Prices ~ Zizzi provides good quality food at reasonable prices. Starters are priced from £3.10 to £4.45. Their pizzas are from £5.30 for a basic Margarita pizza, up to £8.50 for a Calzone de Pesci which contains oak roasted salmon. The menu also contains a wide range of pasta dishes, ranging in price from £5.80 to £8.65, and a small selection of main course salads, priced from £6.85 to £7.95. Desserts are priced from £2.25 for ice cream, up to £4.45 for a Mela Crocchate which is an Italian Apple and Amaretto crumble served with cream or ice cream. It's possible therefore to have a 3 course meal...

KatherineA 24.07.2006 · Read review
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Review of Zizzi (St. Albans)

Fat gits and flirty waiters

Advantages: see op
Disadvantages: see op

...After a weekend spent decorating it was a welcome relief to go out for a decent meal on Monday night, so me and a couple of mates went to the Italian restaurant Zizzi, located in the centre of St Albans. I'd never been to this particular restaurant before, although a few weeks ago I did go to Zizzi in Nottingham, which was just as good. Zizzi is a pretty big place and actually feels like a huge conservatory thanks to the big windows. The interior is nicely decked out with a wooden flooring, and there's a ramp for disabled access. I suppose the central gimmick of Zizzi is that the kitchen area is clearly visible from the dining area - it's actually an integral part of the restaurant, so even before the food is served you can smell the pizzas being cooked from the huge ovens. To be honest I did get a little worse for wear during...

jonathancowley 27.09.2001 · Read review
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Review of Zizzi (St. Albans)

Bum-Crunching

Advantages: Some excellent acts
Disadvantages: Uncomfortable seats

...The Alban Arena is a large entertainment venue in the centre of St Albans, which is in Hertfordshire, about 20 miles north of London. You might wonder why the residents of St Albans would need such a place, being as close as they are to the bright lights of the big city? But we?re a funny lot around here, we generally don?t like travelling into London if we don?t have to, and tend to prefer to have everything on our own doorstep. Well, that?s my thinking behind it, anyway! The Arena is ideally situated for easy reachability ? it really is slap bang in the centre of St Albans ? sat back in a small civic centre, just off the main road. There?s a multi storey car park to the rear of the building which is free outside of office hours. Buses stop all along St Peter?s Street, the road directly in front of the Arena, and whilst...

mokee 07.10.2004 · Read review
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Review of The Alban Arena, St Albans

A town with a heart

Advantages: Quaint friendly town
Disadvantages: Can be a bit pricey

...St Albans is an ancient market town built on the site of the Old Roman settlement Verulamium. Named after the first English Christian martyr it is steeped in history. On Wednesdays and Saturdays the main street of St Albans is taken over by a bustling market. Its town centre is a mix of high street shops and independent shops selling their curios. There is no shortage of eateries with something for all taste and budgets. And if the hustle and bustle gets too much retire to the conveniently located Verulamium Park. Historical St Albans lies on the site of the old Roman town Verulamium which was one of the biggest Roman towns in the U.K. The town fell into decay after the departure of the Romans AD410. The ruins of this town provided building material for the growth of the market town of St Albans. There are still remnants of the Roman...

CVipond 03.05.2007 (31.03.2007) · Read review
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Review of St Albans in General

ST Tropez Autobronzant

Advantages: Nice even colour, can see where it has been applied already
Disadvantages: Messy and expensive

...*Introduction* The St Tropez autobronzant is a thick lotion which you apply on your face and body, and then leave to absorb for 4 hours before washing off to reveal your tan. It promises to be 'non-greasy' and 'quick drying' with a 'relaxing aromatic scent'. It comes in one shade only, but you can reapply two nights in a row to deepen the tan. I have really pale skin that doesn't tan at all naturally, so I have to be careful what fake tan I use as I can be left with orange coloured skin! *Packaging and Price* The packaging is quite simple and whereas most fake tanning products come in a brown or orange bottle, it is distinctive as it comes in a white bottle with black writing. When buying, look carefully at the bottle to check you have the right product though as the St Tropez body polish comes in a very similar bottle...

CezaWeza 10.04.2007 · Read review
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Review of St. Tropez Self Tan Lotion