Worcester St Albans Train

Worcester is a city and country town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. The city is roughly 17 miles to the south west of Birmingham and has the River Severn running through its centre. The city is also overlooked by Worcester Cathedral which was constructed in the 12th century. It is also the site of the last battle of the Civil War and was where Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army defeated King Charles II's Cavaliers. The city was also home to composer Sir Edward Elgar for much of his life.

Interestingly, Worcester was known for its glove making industry which peaked in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. During this period it employed 30,000 people and around half the glove manufacturers in the United Kingdom were based in Worcester. By the end of the 20th century three manufacturers remained in the city. Another of the city's famous products is Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce which has been made and bottled in the city since 1897.

The city's main shopping areas are its High Street, The Shambles, Broad Street, the CrownGate Shopping Centre, Cathedral Plaza and Reindeer Court. The Cross, and surrounding area, is home to the city's financial centre and where many of Worcester's bank branches are located.

Located in the county of Hertfordshire, the city of St Albans is a historic market town and is now a dormitory town within the London commuter belt being only about 20 miles to the north of London. The St Albans Museum service runs two museums. The Verulamium Museum, which tells the story of everyday life in Roman Britain using objects from the excavations of the important Roman Town and the Museum of St Albans, which focuses on the history of the town and of Saint Alban. The Watercress nature reserve is by the River Ver and is run by the Watercress Wildlife Association.

St Albans is not a large city and it is possible to walk from one edge to the other in about one hour. Most bed and breakfasts, hotels and attractions require a shorter walk. The main railway station is roughly 10 minutes walk from the city centre with the St Albans Abbey railway station located down a steep hill right next to the Verulamium Park and near the Abbey itself, which is around 15 minutes walk. St Albans is well linked to neighbouring towns by bus, although despite the distances, journey times are relatively long. There is also a frequent direct bus service to London Heathrow Airport.