Once an ancient Roman city and now one of the most desirable places to live in the United Kingdom, St. Albans, a Hertfordshire town of over 65,000 residents, is just 22 miles north of central London.
A historic market town in the heart of London’s commuter belt, St. Albans was once the Roman city of Verulamium, the second biggest in Roman Britain after London. Its modern name is homage to Saint Alban, Britain’s first Christian martyr, who was beheaded in the town. St Albans was an important hat-making centre, as was nearby Luton, and a local pub, The Fighting Cocks, is said to be the oldest in Britain (dating from the 8th century).
St Albans schools have a rich pedigree, notably that of its public school, St Albans School, which is over a thousand years old and is the only school in the English speaking world to have educated a Pope. The town is a haven for cultural enthusiasts, with a plethora of theatre companies, operas, concert venues and museums.
Sport England has declared the people of St Albans the tenth most active sports participants in the country, a fact reflected in the many leisure and sports clubs that dot the town. Hundreds of famous figures over time, from Sir Francis Bacon to Les Ferdinand, have called St Albans home.
Given the town’s exceptional quality of life, variety of leisure options, and impressive history, life in the town comes at a premium, especially when it comes to property. The Sunday Times has classed St Albans as one of the top twenty most expensive places to buy a home in the UK. Since new properties are often hard to come by in the area, we have decided to highlight two of the most spectacular new builds in St Albans, the prices of which are both available on application to the respective agents.
The first, a five-bedroom property from agent Colinson Hall, is located in the leafy area of St Stephens. With traditional architecture but an ultra modern interior, the house is adorned in lush south-facing gardens to enjoy St Albans’ average summer temperatures of 21c. The property’s vast kitchen is perhaps its focal point; under-floor heating is also included throughout the property. Similar properties in the area have sold for upwards of £3 million.
For another level of luxury, prospective buyers in St Albans would be advised to consider Bohemia House, which agent Fine has described as “a true reflection of sophistication”. It would be hard to disagree. Set in the midst of 35,000 acres of Crown Estate land, the home is a fine latter-day example of an English country manor. The main house itself includes five double en-suite bedrooms, three reception rooms, a large entertainment hall, library and cinema room. The home also boasts a leisure complex that is linked to the main home via an underground passage that also leads to the clubhouse and two offices. The property’s most unique feature is a world-class recording studio, built with the rest of the house by its musician owner, who decided upon completion that he would rather live in another country!
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