Location: London
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10 Churches & Cathedrals in London That You Shouldn't Miss
The crown jewels, Buckingham Palace, Camden Market…in London, history collides with art, fashion, food, and good British ale. A perfect day is different for everyone: culture aficionados shouldn't miss the Tate Modern and the Royal Opera House. If you love fashion, Oxford Street has shopping galore. For foodies, cream tea at Harrod’s or crispy fish from a proper chippy offers classic London flavor. Music and book buffs will love seeing Abbey Road and the Sherlock Holmes Museum (at 221B Baker Street, of course).
Restaurants in London
1. St. Etheldreda's
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 52 reviews
Reviewed By NJ_Bobcat - Allendale, United States
oldest Catholic chapel in London - many locals come for the 1 p.m. daily Mass, which is open to the public
2. All Saints Margaret Street
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 38 reviews
Two minutes from Oxford Circus, All Saints Margaret Street has been serving God and people in the heart of London for over 160 years: its ministry of worship and prayer, pastoral care and spiritual counsel, preaching and teaching; and its glorious building - a priceless hidden gem worth taking a short detour to see while visiting central London. We very much hope that you will come and visit us - we are generally open seven days a week from 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday - so you can pop in to pray; light a candle or attend one of the three daily Masses (8am, 1.10pm and 6.30pm). Special arrangements apply on Saturday - when we open at 11am - and Bank Holidays when only the lunchtime 12 noon Mass takes place).
Reviewed By 804hanst
Gorgeous church, well worth a visit. I can understand why Christians would wish to express compassion for the homeless and give them shelter, but don't let them live in the church. The pope welcomes the homeless into Vatican City, feeds them, shelters them etc, but not in St.Peters. Hey, wait, on second thought, in the spirit of trendy, liberal thinking, the focus of Christians SHOULD be on the poor, right? So beautiful churches and artwork and sacred vessels that give glory to God, feed our souls, connect us to God and the saints via our senses and connect us to our ancestors or shared, collective cultural past are meaningless and should be sold with the money used for the poor. Got that All Saints? Put your money where your sermon is (this is irony, folks) or at least house those men in the parsonage or the homes of parishioners.
3. Jesuit Church of The Immaculate Conception Farm Street
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 27 reviews
Reviewed By DERtravels - Upland, United States
While staying at the Grosvenor House, we wanted to go to Sunday Mass.We were very fortunate that there was a 5:30pm Sunday service here. Locals call this the Farm Street Church. Our cabbie dropped us off at a very non descriptive entrance. Once we walked inside, we were awed by the architecture. The stonemasonry and the decor of this outrageously beautiful. The service was very warm and allowed for contemplation. The regular parishioners were very friendly. We exited the church opposite of where we entered and found a lovely courtyard and a beautiful little park. Well worth a visit even if you don't stay for services.
4. Fitzrovia Chapel
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 24 reviews
Visit, film, exhibit, wonder, marry, celebrate, record, listen, show, dine, be. The Grade II* listed Fitzrovia Chapel, once the chapel of the former Middlesex Hospital and now beautifully preserved and restored, is a stunning hidden gem in the heart of the city. Never consecrated, the nineteenth century chapel is a luminous place to have a secular wedding, display a beautiful object, steep yourself in history and architecture or just sit and reflect.
Reviewed By 227ianc - London, United Kingdom
A hidden gem, now linked to a modern development and with a relaively plain exterior, the highly decorated Byzantine Fitzrovia Chapel, designed by John Loughborough Pearson and his son Frank, originally the Chapel of the Middlesex Hospital is well worth finding, though check the days when it is open The interior architecture is quite astonishing and this week is also home to an exhibition of scorched wood sculptures by leading contemporary artists and designers, curated by Sarah Myerscroft, the dark sculptures contrasting with the gold and marble decoration of the chapel. Not to be missed....
5. St. Paul's Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17,029 reviews
Rebuilt by Christopher Wren after the great Fire of 1666, St. Paul's has been the site of many historic state occasions; including Sir Winston Churchill's state funeral and the Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. A busy working Christian community with several daily services at which all are welcome. St Paul’s also welcomes visitors with access to five levels of the Cathedral including the Whispering Gallery with its unique acoustics and the Stone and Golden Galleries atop the Dome offering breathtaking panoramic views over London. Multimedia guides in eight languages for adults and children are included with sightseeing admission as well as free guided tours to join upon arrival.
Reviewed By 448jw - Markham, Canada
We've visited many renowned churches around the world and while there're similarity it doesn't take away their own beauty! this church is amazing and their dome is also facinating! Climb the stairs and you can also reach the top (narrow stairs and the highest level) to get an amazing view of the city and the entire London Skyline!
6. St. Stephen Walbrook
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 92 reviews
Said to be the most complex and accomplished of Christopher Wren's churches (1672-79), the structure incorporates a large central dome and a cross-in-square plan, which recall the structures of Byzantium.
Reviewed By Escape716563
My Old School extendd the Invitation to all Old Boys to attend the inaugrial Christmas Carol Service in 2018 and, afterwards, mulled wine and hot mince pies! The same service was again held this year, 2019. St.Stephen Walbrook is the MOST beautiful church one could possibly imagine. It is well-worth visiting in its own right, if one finds oneself in London. The congregation sit in concentric circles around the central Altar which, l believe, weighs one ton of solid marble, St.Stephen Walbrook is steeped in history and is one of three in the area to have escaped the Great Fire of London. Close to the Mansion House, this is very much in the Financial District of "The Square Mile". W.G.
7. Old Royal Naval College
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,613 reviews
The Old Royal Naval College (ORNC) is Sir Christopher Wren's riverside masterpiece and one of London's most popular attractions. The iconic buildings stand on the site of Greenwich Palace, Henry VIII's favourite royal residence, and were originally designed as a refuge for old and injured sailors. There are currently some adjustments to the way we are welcoming visitors, with new measures to ensure social distancing and your safety. Please check out our website for more details.
Reviewed By niceg34 - Èze, France
A rare opportrunity to almost be able to touch the ceiling. Makes one feel very humble to see the artistry and craftsmanship that went into such a great work, and is so little recognised; Its bigger than the Sistine chapel ceiling! A good tour, pitched about right in terms of information , humourously presented.
8. Westminster Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,480 reviews
Admission to the Cathedral is free but donations are gratefully received Tower Lift - £6 adult; £3 concession; £14 family ticket (2 adult and 2 children) If you enter the Cathedral at a quiet moment in the day, don’t imagine that it is always like this. Westminster Cathedral must be one of the busiest churches in the United Kingdom. Located in the heart of London, it is the mother-church of England & Wales. People are drawn to this great edifice from all over London, all over the country and the world. If you are trying to imagine ‘what goes on’ here, consider that there are seven masses each day, many great services of worship on special occasions and unique gatherings of every description which fill the Cathedral to the doors. Westminster Cathedral Choir, justly renowned for consistent excellence, sings at the Solemn Mass each evening - with few exceptions. Even when no public ceremony is taking place, the private prayer of individual believers is a work of faith, continuously in progress. The Cathedral is a sacred space at the heart of a great city, dedicated to the worship of God.
Reviewed By Mooline - Florida, United States
I made three different visits to Westminster Cathedral - one, to tour in a leisurely fashion, a second to re-visit some of the areas of the cathedral where I wanted to have a more immersive experience, and a third time, for Sunday evening Mass. Each time, I was in awe of the structure itself, the intricate architecture, and the more than impressive crucifix that hangs above the entrance to the main altar. The Cathedral is of course steeped in history, and is hone to the bodies of notable Catholic martyrs including St. John Southworth. The sung Mass was an incredible experience with a wonderfully talented young female soloist, a relevant and interesting homily with a touch of humor and a traditional service that enables a deeply spiritual experience. Advice: Arrive early, the main aisles of the Cathedral were full by the time the Mass started.
9. Wesley's Chapel & Museum of Methodism
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 130 reviews
The Museum of Methodism tells the history of Methodism from John Wesley to the present day and its contribution to shaping Britain's political and social history. John Wesley's House stands next to the Chapel. His home for over a decade it is one of the finest surviving small Georgian townhouses in London. Wesley's Chapel has a thriving Methodist congregation in the heart of London with a full programme of services and events throughout the week. Please note that groups larger than 6 people must book in advance. Last entry is at 3.30pm.
Reviewed By futtock21 - London, United Kingdom
Wesley’s Chapel (formerly known as the City Road chapel) was built under John Wesley’s direction and incorporates a side chapel and hall on the ground floor and the Museum of Methodism in its crypt. Wesley’s house is next door. This Saturday a service was in full swing in the main chapel commemorating war dead hosted by a priest in gown and banns accompanied by a battery of trumpeters. Regimental flags flew aloft from each side of the gallery. The downstairs museum was unexpectedly closed.
10. Southwark Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 864 reviews
Reviewed By 997briant - London, United Kingdom
If you’re put off by extortionate entry prices, seething masses of visitors, and church volunteers getting on their high horse and on your nelly because you’ve taken a photograph, head to this beautiful cathedral just by London Bridge on the south bank of the Thames. This cathedral is FREE to visit; you’ll find charming and helpful volunteers who will answer your questions but let you see the cathedral in peace and without watching your every move; and, best of all, you can take all the photographs you want for a photo pass which only costs £2.00. Southwark Cathedral may not have the grandeur, history and royal connections that the likes of Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral have, but it’s a grand, beautiful and extremely peaceful London cathedral. There’s been a religious structure on this site for over a thousand years, but the present Gothic edifice started to take shape in the early 13th century, and over the ensuing centuries the present structure evolved. The then collegiate parish church of St Saviour only became a cathedral in 1905 when the Church of England Diocese of Southwark was created. It’s an enormous structure in traditional ‘cross’ formation, with soaring vaulted ceilings. Sit still for a few moments and just appreciate the vastness and beauty of the space. There’s lots of little curiosities to see: the tomb of John Gower (poet to King Richard II and Henry IV), the Harvard Chapel, the Pugin Chapel, the magnificent altar screen dating back to 1520, the Nosuch Chest, and the Shakespeare Memorial and Window (Shakespeare lived in Southwark). As mentioned, you can take photographs, but you’ll nee to purchase a photo pass for £2.00 - the photo pass is actually a comprehensive guide to the cathedral. There were quite a few visitors when I visited on a recent Saturday morning, but it was not an oppressive crowd by any means and there was no queueing. Go outside onto the garden area on the southern side of the cathedral to appreciate the grand structure and soaring central tower. A great view of the Shard puts it into perspective. It's a beautiful spot to while away an hour or so, to sit quietly, to pray, or to attend a service. Apart from the photo pass, the only thing which will cost you is use of the toilets (50 pence). Entrance is on the western side of the cathedral, on Montague Close. It's open daily, though times vary, so check the cathedral's website.
