St Albans Newport Train

The city of St Albans is located just to the north of London in the county of Hertfordshire. The medieval town grew on the hill around the Benedictine foundation of St Albans Abbey. In its time it was the principal abbey in England and the first draft of the Magna Carta was drawn up there. The Abbey Church, now St Albans Cathedral, became the parish church in 1553 only around 15 ears after the dissolution of the priory in 1539. The town was granted city status in 1877 when the church was declared a cathedral.

The growth of the city was slow before the 20th century which largely reflected the fact that it was a rural market town, a Christian pilgrimage site and the first coaching stop on the route to and from London. The latter is the reason why there are a large number of inns and public houses dating from Tudor times (1485 - 1603). Today the city is a popular visitor destination as the city shows evidence of building and excavation from all periods of its history. Notable buildings include the Abbey and the 15th century clock tower, which is one of only two similar towers in England. The city is also the site of the Eleanor Cross which was destroyed in 1703.

Located on the Pembrokeshire coast in South Wales lies the town of Newport which has retained its charm and laid back way of life and is a popular destinations for visitors wishing to escape the excesses of modern life. Newport is a town of two halves, the streets around Market Street and the area around the Parrog. Market Street was once wide enough to accommodate market stalls but has since been narrowed with the enclosure of front gardens at many of the properties. Just over 5 miles to the east of Newport is Castell Henllys, a reconstructed Iron Age hill fort complete with roundhouses and other buildings, built in exactly the same place as the Iron Age buildings as identified by archaeological excavations. Also a few miles from Newport to the south east is Pentre Ifan, an exposed Neolithic burial mound on the hillside high above the village. The setting is magnificent with Carn Ingli and Newport Bay as a backdrop. The main shopping streets of Newport city centre are pedestrianised and include High Street, Newport Arcade, Market Arcade, Commercial Street, Skinner Street, Bridge Street, Upper Dock Street, Market Street, Griffin Street, Corn Street, Cambrian Road, Hill Street, Llanarth Street and John Frost Square.