St Albans was famous for producing watercress, which was sent in 56-pound (25 kg) lots to London and Manchester.

St Albans Abbey, the other station serving the city, is a decade older and was built by the London and North Western Railway in 1858.

There is a second exit to the west, to a small surface car park off Ridgmont Road and Victoria Street, located at the original entrance to the station.

A larger surface car park to the east of the railway lines gained planning permission in 2003, in connection with a large residential development.

The station participates in the Plusbus scheme where combined train and bus tickets can be bought at a reduced price.