St Albans is the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans in southern Hertfordshire, England, around 35.5km north of central London. It was the first major town on the old Roman road Watling Street for travellers heading north and was previously the Roman city of Verulamium. After the Roman withdrawal, and prior to becoming known as St Albans, the town was called Verlamchester or Wæclingacaester.