The gorgeous UK city with a legend that it has a 'pub for every day of the year'

Just 20 minutes from London lies a pint-sized city with an outsized reputation. With locals claiming there's a pub for every day of the year, it's no wonder this historic Hertfordshire city has earned a reputation as "the ultimate destination for the great British pub experience."

From medieval coaching inns to trendy craft beer spots, St Albans offers stories, character, and a true sense of community. Walk its cobbled streets and you'll pass dozens of welcoming doors leading to pubs that are quirky, cosy, and utterly unforgettable.

St Albans' pub culture stretches back to the Middle Ages, when inns sprang up to house pilgrims visiting the shrine of Britain's first saint.

Centuries later, the city became the first coaching stop on the road from London, which led to a pub boom that never really stopped.

Professor Tim Boatswain, of St Albans and Hertfordshire Architectural and Archaeological Society, said: "The legend is that St Albans had a public house for every day of the year. It is, of course, untrue, but the city did have a large number of inns and alehouses, as for many years it was the first coaching stop out of London, and those hospitality buildings survive today, but in a different guise."

Even today, many of these buildings retain their original charm, oak beams, crooked ceilings, and even a ghost or two.

The Boot, tied to the Wars of the Roses, or The White Hart Hotel, are all reportedly haunted by a thirsty monk. Step into The Snug, once home to a French king, or The Blacksmiths Arms, where 1960s rockers The Zombies first took the stage.

In 1972, history was made in St Albans when the very first CAMRA branch meeting was held at The Farriers Arms. That grassroots movement would go on to save traditional British beer.

Today, local breweries like Farr Brew and The 3 Brewers continue that tradition with small-batch, locally crafted ales served fresh in pubs across the city.

As summer heats up, St Albans' pub gardens come into their own. Try a pint in the beach-hut-filled oasis behind The Blacksmiths Arms, or soak up river views at Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, one of England's oldest pubs.

For families, The Elephant & Castle boasts wildflower gardens and a play area. If you prefer something low-key, grab a drink at The Mad Squirrel Tap and watch the sun set behind St Albans Cathedral.

Pub grub here is far from ordinary. Enjoy fine dining at Dylan's at the Kings Arms, smoky barbecue at The Craft and Cleaver, tacos at The Boot, or seasonal dishes at The Wicked Lady, named after a local legend turned highwaywoman.

Whether you're after a quiet pint in a listed building, a summer session in a secret garden, or a taste of award-winning ales where real beer culture was born, this city delivers.