London Travel Guide > Historic Churches

Historic London Churches

An A-Z of historic or architecturally significant churches to visit in London. Note that most are relatively modern. This is due to the horrible destruction of the Great Fire in 1666, which burned some 100 churches in London. So most of the churches you can see today date from the late 17th or early 18th century.

All Hallows-by-the-Tower
Byward Street EC3
Samuel Pepys climbed the tower of All Hallows to look upon the destruction of the Great Fire. The church, which dates from the 12th-15th centuries, was badly damaged in the Blitz, though the font cover carved by Grinling Gibbons was untouched. In the crypt there is evidence of Roman paving, and stones from the 7th century Saxon church that stood here. All Hallows by the Tower in Depth >>

All Hallows London Wall
London Wall, EC2
18th century church built by George Dance the Younger. The churchyard is bounded by one of the few remaining sections of the original London Wall. All Hallows London Wall in Depth >>

All Hallows Staining
Mark Lane, EC3
Historic early church, beloved of Queen Elizabeth I.
All Hallows Staining in Depth >>

All Saints
Margaret Street, W1
A striking Victorian Gothic design in coloured bricks built by William Butterworth in 1849. All Saints in Depth >>

All Soul's
Langham Place, W1
Classical design by John Nash built in 1822 as part of his vision for developing Regent Street. A circular portico is topped by a remarkable needle spire. All Soul's in Depth >>

Brompton Oratory (London Oratory)
Brompton Road, SW7
An ornate (that's putting it mildly!) Italian Catholic church built in 1884. Magnificent organ containing nearly 4000 pipes. The third widest nave in Britain after Westminster Abbey and York Minster. Brompton Oratory in Depth >>

Chelsea Old Church (All Saints)
Cheyne Walk, SW3
Although the church was damaged in the Blitz (later restored), the 1528 More Chapel, built for Sir Thomas More and his family, survived unaltered.

Holy Trinity
Sloane Street, SW7
Arts and Crafts style church with superb stained-glass windows executed by Edward Burne-Jones.

St. Alfege
Church Street, Greenwich, SE10
Thomas Tallis, "the Father of English Church Music", is buried in this 1718 church designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor. The church was badly damaged in the Blitz but has been restored.

St. Andrew
Holborn Circus, EC1
The largest parish church designed by Christopher Wren. Thomas Coram, founder of the Foundlings Hospital, is buried here.

St. Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe
Queen Victoria Street,. EC4
The offices of the Redundant Churches Fund are in this church, which was damaged beyond repair in the Blitz.

St. Andrew Undershaft
St. Mary Axe, Leadenhall Street, EC3
A largely Tudor church housing a memorial to John Stow, author of the 1598 "A Survey of London". The unusual name of the church comes from the fact that a popular maypole once stood nearby.

St. Anne and St. Agnes
Gresham Street, EC2
Small gem rebuilt by Wren after the Great Fire.

St. Anne Limehouse
Commercial Road, E14
A striking tower tops the Classical church designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor in 1712.

St. Bartholomew-the-Great
West Smithfield, EC1
One of the few remaining Norman churches in London. Began in the 12th century as the chancel of a monastery on this spot. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries the building saw use as a stable and factory, before reverting to a church in the 19th century. The entry is a 13th century arch with a half-timbered gatehouse above.

St. Bartholomew-the-less
West Smithfield, EC1
A 15th century tower and vestry are melded into an 18th century design in this chapel of St. Bartholomew's Hospital.

St. Benet's
Paul's Wharf, Queen Victoria Street, EC4
Welsh Episcopalian church designed by Christopher Wren.

St. Botolph
Aldersgate, EC1
Georgian church on 11th century foundations, blessed with excellent stained-glass.

St. Bride's
Fleet Street, EC4
Recently restored to Christopher Wren's design, this is the "church of the press", so named for its use by newspaper reporters from Fleet Street. This is the eighth church in this location, and remains of the other seven, plus Roman pavement, can be seen in the crypt museum.

St. Clement Danes
Strand, WC2
The official church of the Royal Air Force contains over 8oo badges of RAF squadrons and units. The first church here was built in the 9th century. The bells are famous in the nursery rhyme "Oranges and Lemons".

St. George's Cathedral
Lambeth Road, Southwark, SE1
Catholic cathedral designed by Pugin.

St. Giles Cripplegate
London Wall, EC2
The first church here dates to 1090. John Milton is buried at St. Giles.

St. Magnus the Martyr
Lower Thames St., EC3 - by London Bridge
Rebuilt by Christopher Wren after the Great Fire; records show the history of the church in honour of St Magnus dates back at least to 1067. The present building was described by T. S. Eliot in 1922 as holding "inexplicable splendour of Ionian white and gold".

St. Martin-in-the-Fields
Trafalgar Square, WC2
Classical church famous for the classical orchestra of the same name. Lunchtime concerts Monday, Tuesday, Friday.

St. Mary-le-Bow
Cheapside, EC2
A true Cockney must be born within the sound of the bells of St. Mary-le-Bow. The present church is a Wren design.

St. Paul's Cathedral
Ludgate Hill, EC4
Christopher Wren's classical masterpiece. The present cathedral replaces Old St. Paul's, which was destroyed in the Great Fire. There is a museum in the crypt, and memorials to Wren, John Donne, and the Duke of Wellington. More on St Paul's Cathedral here >>.

Southwark Cathedral
London Bridge, SE1
Gothic church contains magnificent stone carvings, and the tomb of Shakespeare's brother Edmund.

Temple Church
The Temple, EC4
One of the oldest buildings in London, this delightful round church is tucked away in a quiet courtyard, just yards from the hurly burly of busy Fleet Street to the north. The church was built by the Knights Templar in 1185. Temple Church in Depth >>

Wesley's Chapel
City Road, EC1
The "mother church of world Methodism" opened by Wesley in 1778. There is a Methodist museum in the crypt.

Westminster Abbey
Parliament Square, SW1
The premier church of the realm and burial place of many of Britain's monarchs. More on Westminster Abbey here >>.

Westminster Cathedral
Victoria, SW1
The most imposing and most important Catholic church in England, a marvel in multi-coloured brick.