East of England Visitor Guide

ROYSTON
Positioned on the North Hertfordshire border
Royston is a small market town that ticks all
the boxes. With a market dating back to when
the first market rights were granted in 1189,
Royston is a town full of character and charm.
The town has several historical buildings and
an unusual man-made cave with medieval
carvings. Royston has grown up at the intersection
of the Ickenield Way and the Roman
Ermine Street, which was built almost 2,000
years ago.
Royston holds general markets on Wednesdays
and Saturdays, between 8am and 2pm.
One of the town’s main attractions is its fascinating
cave, which lies beneath the bustling
town centre. Visitors climb down to discover
an amazing cavern, intricately carved with
religious and pagan symbols, which may or
may not be linked to the Knights Templar. It
was rediscovered after a workman stumbled
on the opening in 1742 but its origin and purpose
remains keenly disputed. If you would
like to visit the cave, it is open weekends from
2pm – 4.30pm between 15 April and 1 October
2017 and Wednesdays during August only.
With its rich history, it’s no surprise that
Royston is home to a range of traditional pubs
and restaurants that offers a superb Sunday
lunch and good hearty food.
eastlife.co.uk 61