St Albans on Market Day

St. Albans is a fine city with a 11th century Abbey and Roman ruins, but market day brings the added dimension of its 1000-year-old general market. St Albans market today is one of the most colourful and vibrant street markets in the South of England. With over 160 stalls on Wednesdays and Saturdays, it offers everything from fish to fancy goods so you will be spoilt for choice.  In June the city comes alive celebrating the feast of St Alban with a procession of giant puppets to the cathedral.

The Alban Pilgrimage takes place annually and is held in honour of the city’s namesake, St Alban, who died on 22nd June over 1700 years ago. He was executed for giving shelter to a Christian priest later named Amphibalus who was fleeing persecution by the Romans. Moved by the priest's faith, Alban became a Christian and the two men swapped cloaks, enabling the priest to escape. Alban was arrested instead, brought to trial and executed on the hill where St Albans Cathedral now stands.

Stunning 12-ft tall carnival puppets and a procession of around 300 children, teenagers and adults from the local community dramatize the tale of Alban’s martyrdom, with the final scene taking place at the West End of St Albans Cathedral, the oldest site of continuous Christian worship in Britain.