We checked 20 St Albans and Harpenden shops, from Raindrops on Roses to Books on the Hill, for opening hours and what each sells. Updated November 2026.
St Albans has 20 shops worth a Christmas shopping trip in 2026, and this guide puts them in one place with opening hours, addresses and what each one sells. Raindrops on Roses, Books on the Hill, Chloe James and Jago are good places to start. The hours were checked on 5 November 2026.
These are regular hours: only Raindrops on Roses had posted its Christmas hours by 5 November, so ring before making a special trip.
Dates for the Christmas shopping diary
| Date | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday 7 November, 11am to 3pm | Christmas Artisan Market, £2.50, under-16s free | St Albans Cathedral |
| Saturday 21 November to Sunday 3 January | Christmas Nutcracker Trail, 20 nutcrackers around the city | Maps from St Albans Museum + Gallery |
| Sunday 22 November, noon to 6pm | St Albans Christmas Cracker, free | City centre |
| Sunday 22 November, noon to 6pm | Harpenden Christmas Carnival with a Farmers’ Market, free | Harpenden town centre |
| Thursday 26 November, 6pm to 10pm | George Street late night shopping, the street’s first | George Street |
| Thursday 26 November, 6pm to 9pm | Christmas Artisan Market, £10 | St Michael’s Manor Hotel |
| Sunday 29 November, 11am to 5pm | Redbourn Christmas Market | Redbourn |
| Saturday 5 December, 10am to 4pm | Creative Christmas Market, free | St Albans Museum + Gallery |
| Sunday 6 December, 9am to 3pm | Antique and Vintage Market | St Peter’s Street and Market Place |
| Wednesday 9 to Sunday 13 December; Wednesday 16 to Sunday 20 December | St Albans Festive Market, free: Wednesdays noon to 7pm, Thursday to Saturday noon to 9pm, Sundays noon to 5pm | Civic Close, AL1 3JZ |
| Thu 10, Fri 11, Tue 15, Thu 17, Fri 18, Sun 20, Tue 22 and Thu 24 December, 9am to 3pm | Extra Charter Market days, on top of the usual Wednesdays and Saturdays; no market on Saturday 26 December | St Peter’s Street |
| Sunday 20 December, 10am to 2pm | Harpenden Christmas Farmers’ Market | Harpenden town centre |
The hotel’s own events calendar did not list the St Michael’s Manor market on 5 November, so confirm it before setting out.
The Enjoy St Albans directory gives The Maltings as open from 9am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and from 10am to 5pm on Sunday, and says individual shops may vary. For the car, Enjoy St Albans says The Maltings and Christopher Place charge £2 all day on Sundays and public holidays, and council car parks are £2.70 for the day on Sundays. If someone on your list is hard to buy for, the St Albans Gift Card works at more than 60 local businesses and starts at £10.
George Street: late night shopping, jewellers and party dresses
George Street’s businesses are holding their first late night Christmas shopping event on Thursday 26 November. The organisers name Earley’s, Flower Box and Galio among the shops taking part, with local crafters selling gifts at Dwayne Edwards Ltd.
1. Galio
Galio describes itself as an award-winning jeweller trading since 1992, with British and international designer jewellery, an in-house bespoke service and fine watches. Its Enjoy St Albans listing mentions 18ct gold, platinum and silver.
Open Mon to Sat 10am to 5pm; closed Sun
Call 01727 860329
Address 4 George Street, AL3 4ER
Website galio.co.uk
Good for jewellery, watches, bespoke design, late night 26 November
2. Christopher Wharton Goldsmith
The site calls this a family jeweller since 1947, with an on-site workshop and master goldsmiths. Its Enjoy St Albans listing adds watches and luxury homeware alongside bespoke engagement rings.
It is not among the shops the late night event names, so ask before making a special trip that evening.
Open Mon to Sat 10am to 5pm; closed Sun
Call 01727 859489
Address 1-2 George Street, AL3 4ER
Website whartongoldsmith.com
Good for bespoke jewellery, watches, homeware, gift cards
3. Flower Box
Flower Box calls itself an award-winning florist. The shop also sells silk flowers, furniture, lighting, vases and luxury scents, Enjoy St Albans says, and the late night event suggests it for a wreath.
Its site lists a Christmas wreath workshop on Saturday 28 November from 5.30pm to 7.30pm at £85.
Open Mon 9am to 4pm; Tue to Sat 9am to 5.30pm; Sun 11am to 4pm
Price wreath workshop £85
Call 01727 842070
Address 23 George Street, AL3 4ES
Website flowerboxstalbans.co.uk
Good for wreaths, flowers, candles, vases, late night 26 November
4. Earley’s
Earley’s is a George Street boutique, and the late night event’s organisers suggest it for a party dress. It publishes no opening hours and its old website no longer works, so ring first.
Call 01727 830666
Address 9 George Street, AL3 4ER
Good for dresses, late night 26 November
5. Atelier Ferrari + Monti
This fashion studio says its pieces reflect Italian design heritage and are made in-house, in small batches or as one-off bespoke work, including occasion dresses and tailored suits. Enjoy St Albans says it has been in the city since 2013.
It sells gift cards through its site.
Open Tue to Sat 10am to 5pm; closed Sun and Mon
Call 01727 837168
Address 6 George Street, AL3 4ER
Website ferrarimonti.com
Good for occasion wear, bespoke, Italian fabrics, gift cards
High Street and Heritage Close: gifts, fashion, records and comics
6. Raindrops on Roses
Raindrops on Roses began in 2012 and calls itself a “charity shop with a difference”: it sells gifts and donates all its profits to Action Against Cancer, with £220,000 given so far, its site says. Its Christmas range runs to decorations, candles, stocking fillers, cards and wrapping, with a section of gifts under £15.
Last order for Christmas delivery is Friday 11 December, and click and collect runs until Christmas Eve.
Christmas hours from its site: Christmas Eve 9.30am to 4pm; closed 25 and 26 December; Sunday 27 December 11am to 4pm; closed 28 December to 1 January; Saturday 2 January 10am to 5pm; Sunday 3 January 11am to 4pm.
Open Mon to Sat 9.30am to 5.30pm; Sun 11am to 5pm
Call 01727 866898
Address 15 High Street, AL3 4EH
Website raindropsonroses.org.uk
Good for gifts under £15, decorations, cards, charity
7. Chloe James Lifestyle
Chloe James has been on the High Street since 2010 and is run by its owner, Donna Nichol, its site says. The boutique sells fashion, accessories, interiors and gifts, and has a Christmas section of decorations, cards and wrapping paper and stocking fillers.
It lists a gift wrapping service and shopping by appointment.
Open Mon to Sat 10am to 5.30pm; Sun 11am to 4pm
Address 12 High Street, AL3 4EL
Website chloejameslifestyle.co.uk
Good for gifts, decorations, gift wrapping, fashion
8. The Dressing Room
Deryane Tadd founded this women’s fashion boutique in May 2005, and it remains independently owned, its site says. Enjoy St Albans credits it with more than 80 brands.
The site has a gift section with ideas under £50, home fragrance and gift cards, and warns that hours on bank holidays may differ at Christmas.
Open Mon to Fri 9.30am to 5.30pm; Sat 9.30am to 6pm; Sun 11am to 5pm
Call 01727 853577
Address 6-8 High Street, AL3 4EL
Website the-dressingroom.com
Good for women's fashion, gifts under £50, fragrance, gift cards
9. Waterers
Waterers traces its tailoring workshop to 1934 and still alters garments by hand on the premises, according to its Enjoy St Albans listing. For presents its site points to shirts, ties, cufflinks and belts.
Its site’s seasonal notes are several years old, so ring to confirm the hours below.
Open Mon, Tue, Thu and Fri 10am to 5.30pm; Sat 9.30am to 5.30pm; closed Wed and Sun
Call 01727 865712
Address 5 High Street, AL3 4ED
Website waterers-menswear.co.uk
Good for menswear, ties and cufflinks, tailoring
10. Empire Records
Empire Records sells new and secondhand vinyl and CDs, from classical and jazz to death metal, according to its Enjoy St Albans listing, and says new stock arrives almost every day. Its site sells gift vouchers.
Open Mon to Fri 11am to 5.30pm; Sat 10am to 5.30pm; Sun midday to 4pm
Call 01727 860890
Address 21 Heritage Close, AL3 4EB
Website empirestalbans.com
Good for vinyl, CDs, gift vouchers
11. Chaos City Comics
Also in Heritage Close, Chaos City says it was one of the first comic shops to open in the UK during the boom of the 1990s. Its site lists single issues, graphic novels, figures, statues, trading card games and roleplaying games.
It is closed on Mondays.
Open Tue to Sat 11am to 5.30pm; Sun midday to 4pm; closed Mon
Call 01727 838719
Address 20 Heritage Close, AL3 4EB
Website chaoscitycomics.com
Good for comics, graphic novels, figures, card games
Holywell Hill, Market Place and Chequer Street: books, heirlooms and a deli
12. Books on the Hill
This independent bookshop stocks new, vintage and antiquarian books, has a children’s section and keeps a “Curiosity Cabinet” of rare titles and first editions, it tells Enjoy St Albans. Its site also sells gift vouchers, reading subscriptions and bundles, and offers a personal shopping experience.
Its reading rooms open on Saturdays and Sundays.
Open Mon to Sat 10am to 5.30pm; Sun 11am to 4pm
Call 01727 807248
Address 1 Holywell Hill, AL1 1ER
Website books-on-the-hill.co.uk
Good for books, first editions, children's books, gift vouchers
13. Jago Jewellers
Jago dates itself to about 1750, the oldest date claimed by any shop on this list, and says it was relaunched in 2015. It sells fine jewellery and watches and has a workshop for repairs and valuations.
Open Mon to Sat 10am to 5pm
Call 01727 851519
Address 29 Market Place, AL3 5DL
Website jagojewellers.com
Good for jewellery, watches, repairs, valuations
14. Kings Hill Jewellery
Kings Hill describes itself as a third-generation family business, valued by customers for more than 60 years, and specialises in vintage jewellery, bespoke pieces and pre-owned luxury watches.
Open Mon to Sat 10am to 5pm; closed Sun
Call 01727 864700
Address 14 Market Place, AL3 5DG
Website kingshilljewellery.com
Good for vintage jewellery, pre-owned watches, bespoke
15. Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery
Harriet Kelsall has made bespoke jewellery since 1998 and its site carries the title UK Bespoke Jeweller of the Year 2026. If a commission is for Christmas, ask about timing before you start.
It lists no Sunday hours.
Open Mon to Fri 10am to 5.30pm; Sat 10am to 5pm
Call 01727 221160
Address 20 Chequer Street, AL1 3YD
Website hkjewellery.co.uk
Good for bespoke jewellery, engagement rings, design consultations
16. Silver Palate Deli
The deli returned to Market Place in 2023 after 20 years away, it says, and sells artisan cheeses and charcuterie along with takeaway lunches and coffee. The Silver Palate also sells gift cards, and has a second deli in Harpenden, listed below.
Open Mon to Sat 8am to 5pm; Sun 8.30am to 4pm
Call 01582 343943
Address 1 Market Place, AL3 5DR
Website silverpalate.co.uk/stalbans
Good for cheese, charcuterie, coffee, gift cards, dogs welcome
St Peter’s Street and Victoria Street: homeware and art
17. Zoohause
Zoohause sells furniture, lighting, home accessories and gifts from St Peter’s Street, with a second shop in Woburn. Its site has a Christmas range of baubles, wreaths and garlands, tableware, candles and diffusers.
It warns that hours may vary on bank holidays and special occasions.
Open Mon to Sat 9.30am to 6.30pm; Sun 10am to 4pm
Call 01525 290092
Address 89 St Peter's Street, AL1 3EN
Website zoohause.co.uk
Good for decorations, wreaths, candles, homeware
18. OCA Gallery
OCA Gallery sells original art and collector pieces and offers framing, its site says. Its founder named it after their parents, according to its Enjoy St Albans listing, and it hosts workshops and events.
Its site invites anyone wanting a private viewing to get in touch.
Open Mon to Sat 9.30am to 5.30pm; Sun 11am to 5pm
Call 01707 629859
Address 4 Victoria Street, AL1 3JD
Website ocagallery.com
Good for original art, framing, private viewings
Harpenden
19. Serena Hart
Serena Hart sells homeware, gifts, accessories and cards from Bower’s Parade, and is a stockist of Annie Sloan paint. Its online range includes a Christmas section, along with Jellycat soft toys, jewellery, scarves, books and candles.
Open Mon to Sat 9.30am to 5.30pm; closed Sun
Call 01582 761681
Address 10 Bower's Parade, Harpenden, AL5 2SH
Website serenahart.co.uk
Good for gifts, cards, soft toys, homeware
20. Silver Palate Deli, Harpenden
The Harpenden deli says its expanded shop is now “bigger and better”, with deli products, takeaway drinks and lunches. Its site also gives an earlier start, 7.30am from Monday to Saturday and 8am on Sunday, so ring if you are counting on an early coffee.
Open Mon to Sat 8am to 5pm; Sun 8.30am to 4pm
Call 01582 343943
Address 3 Vaughan Road, Harpenden, AL5 4HU
Website silverpalate.co.uk/harpendendeli
Good for deli food, coffee, gift cards, dogs welcome
How we chose
We started from the Enjoy St Albans directory, which St Albans BID runs, and OpenStreetMap, then read each shop’s own site where it has one. We favoured independents with gifts to sell. Where a shop’s site and the directory disagreed, we used the shop’s site. We did not include Tomoka Spirits Boutique in Christopher Place because its website would not load when we checked, with no suggestion that it has closed. We would like to add more Harpenden shops.
Run a place that should be here, or spot something that has changed? Email newsdesk@stalbansdaily.co.uk. Taken a good photograph of any of these places? Email it to newsdesk@stalbansdaily.co.uk and we will add it with your name as the credit.
For the rest of the season see our Christmas markets, the Christmas Cracker, the Harpenden Christmas Carnival, the Christmas dinner guide, Christmas at the Cathedral, Christmas trains and travel, what’s on in St Albans, things to do in St Albans and the local business directory.
Frequently asked questions
Is there late night Christmas shopping in St Albans in 2026?
Yes, on George Street. Its businesses are holding their first late night Christmas shopping event on Thursday 26 November from 6pm to 10pm. We found no late night date for the rest of the city centre, The Maltings or Christopher Place when we checked on 5 November 2026.
Which St Albans shops open on Sundays before Christmas?
Books on the Hill, Chloe James and Flower Box open from 11am to 4pm, Raindrops on Roses from 11am to 5pm and The Dressing Room from 11am to 5pm. Empire Records and Chaos City Comics open from midday to 4pm, Zoohause from 10am to 4pm, OCA Gallery from 11am to 5pm and the Silver Palate deli from 8.30am to 4pm.
Is there a Christmas market in St Albans city centre?
Yes. The St Albans Festive Market is in Civic Close, just off St Peter’s Street, from 9 to 13 December and from 16 to 20 December, with free entry. The Charter Market also adds eight extra days in December, from 9am to 3pm, including Christmas Eve.
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