The cathedral city of St Albans is gearing up for a weekend of horrible histories from June 21-22 as the city retells the story of Britain's first saint, Alban, with a gory re-enactment of his last few hours.

Alban was executed in the 3rd century by the Romans after giving shelter to a Christian priest who was fleeing from persecution. Alban exchanged clothes with the priest, allowing him to escape, but Alban was captured by the Roman authorities and beheaded after he declared he was a Christian after having being influenced by the priest's prayer and teachings. 

This epic story of Britain's first saint is retold over the weekend with giant re-enactment through the city where enormous carnival puppets, Roman chariots, children dressed as centurions, lions, roses and executioners parade through the streets of the city as the story is retold, finishing outside the cathedral where Alban is “executed” and the eyes of the executioner “pop out” in front of thousands of people who flock to the city to take part in the weekend that celebrates Britain's first saint.

Following the “beheading”, the weekend continues with street festivals that will include more horrible history story tellings, balloon modelling, face painting, circus workshops and magic.

Street artists will be appearing throughout the city as part of the horrible history experience, including Dragon Quest, which features an extraordinary encounter with a goblin queen and her huge and ancient dragon.

As part of the story telling weekend, the city will also host a folk festival at three venues, including the city's Old Court Room, one of the very few remaining pre-Victorian courtrooms, where there is going be a sing-a-round in the cells.

Where to stay: the four-star, boutique hotel St Michael's Manor, just 10 minutes walk from the cathedral. Prices cost from £125 per room per night for a double room. 

For more information: www.enjoystalbans.com

About St Albans

• St Albans is the perfect place for a romantic mini break. It is one of the best-kept secrets in UK tourism: a historic gem of an English Cathedral City, just a stone's throw from London.
• St Albans stands out as a unique English Cathedral City. St Albans Cathedral is the oldest place of continual Christian worship in the UK, and has the longest nave of any Cathedral, including St Paul's and Westminster Abbey.
• St Albans has the only medieval clock tower in the country. 
• St Albans has the oldest public school in Britain where Pope Adrian IV, the only Englishman to occupy the papal chair, and scientist Stephen Hawking were educated.
• The Roman city of Verulamium (now the site of St Albans' Verulamium park) was the second-largest town in Roman Britain after Londinium and was burned and destroyed by Queen Boudicca and her army (St Albans) in AD60
• St Albans' pub Ye Olde Fighting Cocks is in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest pub in the country.
• St Albans Abbey (now Cathedral) was at one time the principal Abbey in England and was the location of the first meeting (in 1213) which ultimately led to the sealing of the Magna Carta (in 1215).
• St Albans has fabulous shopping with many small independent shops amongst the high street stores and a fantastic range of eating and drinking establishments.
• There is a packed calendar of special events throughout the year in the City, many of them family friendly 
• It's easy to get here too. We're just 22 minutes from London St Pancras, a short hop off the M1 and M25 motorways, within easy reach of London Luton and Heathrow airports. Come and visit to discover St Albans for yourself - you'll be sure of a warm welcome.

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For further information please contact:

Angie Cronin 

Tel: 07970810302

Email: angie@loudbird.co.uk