Churches and Cathedrals in Hastingwood

"St Paul’s Cathedral (fee*) is an Anglican church designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the English Baroque style. The present church was consecrated in 1697; however, it sits on the same site as the former medieval church of the same name which was badly damaged by fire. Today it is the seat of the Bishop of London and one of the most important churches in London."

"From the Tower of London, walk 20 minutes west, up Ludgate Hill, and find yourself at the City of London’s highest point – right in the shadow of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Whether it’s the Cathedral’s iconic dome, colonnade-adorned West Front, or glistening interior, there’s plenty to leave you speechless during a stroll through St. Paul’s."

"Year Built: 675 CE Location: Byward Street, City of London Purpose:  Church (Current Denomination – Church of England) Still Standing:  Yes. photo source: Wikimedia Commons. Although St. Bride’s Church is considered older, All Hallows by the Tower often cites itself as the oldest church in the City of London – unlike other early churches, All Hallows has a definitive founding date backed up by well-kept records."

"All Hallows-by-the-Tower is an ancient historic Anglican church that was founded in 675. Surprisingly, it's still not the oldest church in London. Inside the church is a seventh century Anglo-Saxon arch with recycled Roman tiles."

"All Hallows-by-the-Tower is associated with the executions on Tower Hill, and has a piece of Roman pavement in the crypt 4"

"This historic site was first built by the Knights Templar as their English headquarters back in the late 20th century. These days the church prides itself on its musical output and together the choir and the Harrison & Harrison organ produce some of the most sonorous gospel music in the city. It's one of the very oldest churches in the city, sure to fascinate history buffs."

"This church belongs to the Inner and Middle Temple, two of England’s ancient societies of lawyers. Located in the heart of the city between River Thames and Flee Street, the Temple Church’s origin dates back to 12th century. Built by Knights Templar, this church showcases a typical round structure."

"One church which comes up in very few London guide books is St Brides church on Fleet Street. The current St Bride’s is at least the seventh to have stood on the site, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the 1672 incarnation was damaged heavily during a fire in the WWII blitz in the 1940’s but thankfully able to be restored. The second tallest church in London, after St Paul’s, St Brides is an imposing figure on the London skyline, especially against the modern highrise buildings of today."

"Another of Sir Christopher Wren’s designs from the ashes of the 1666 Great Fire, St Bride’s is the tallest of Wren’s churches after St Paul’s, standing at 69m tall. Located in Fleet Street, it has a long association with newspapers and journalists. It was largely gutted by fire during the Blitz in 1940."

"If this church were a computer program, it would be called St Bride’s 8.0. It’s the eighth building on the site just to the south of Fleet Street. It’s another beautiful Wren church in white stone."

"St Pancras Old Church is located in Somers Town in central London and is thought to be the one of the oldest places of Christian worship in the country. The Church itself is on Pancras Road and was rebuilt in the Victorian era by Alexander Dick Gough who made alterations to the old site, removing the tower and adding a north side vestry. The church itself is a church of England parish in its current state but used to be a place of catholic worship, due to the fact that it could have been a place of worship as early as AD 314."

"Just moments away from the lively hub of King’s Cross, the St Pancras Old Church is a picturesque spot to visit when in London. This church in London traces its history as far back as the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, but an altar stone dating 625 AD suggests that worship may have taken place from the 7th century. You can attend mass on Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday, or join a host of history talks and intimate live music gigs at the London church."

"It’s thought to be one of the oldest Christian places of worship in England. It dates back to the fourth century and got renovated in Victorian times."

"St Etheldreda’s Church is the oldest church in London, and one of only two in the city which have survived since the reign of Edward I. The exact date in which the building was constructed is unknown but is expected to be between 1250 and 1290. Dedicated to the Anglo-Saxon saint Etheldreda who founded the monastery at Ely back in 673 the church was purchased by the Catholic Church in 1874 and opened in 1878. As such it’s now one of the oldest operational churches in England owned by the Catholic Church."

"St Ethelreda Ely is a fragment of a medieval ecclesiastical palace belonging to the Bishop of Ely. It used to be the chapel and dates from 1293. The crypt incorporates older walls that may have been part of the Roman basilica."

"St Margaret Pattens is one of Wren’s plainest churches, with a severe, un-Wrenish, but beautiful spire. The church gets its name from the nearby makers of pattens in medieval times. Pattens were devices that you wore under your shoes to elevate you several inches off the ground."

"The gothic tower of St. Michael Cornhill is sometimes called Wren’s last work (it was finished in 1721) but was actually designed by his pupil Nicholas Hawksmoor. The rest of the church is by Wren. Thomas Gray, the author of Elegy in a Country Churchyard, was baptised here, and the church has his walking stick."

"With a waterfall behind the bar and a giant gold-plated crocodile hanging on the wall, it’s hard not to get caught up in the glamour of Sexy Fish – a lavish pan-Asian brasserie with real “wow factor”. Eager staff in multi-coloured waistcoats attend to diners’ every need, delivering thrillingly fashionable food at heavyweight prices to an equally fashionable crowd peppered with celeb faces. Wagyu ganku rolls come topped with white miso and black truffle, while scallops are pepped up with jalapeño sauce and pickled green apple, although the biggest hits are elsewhere – witness tender, honey-glazed duck breast sharpened with kimchi and pickled daikon or sticky pull-apart pork ribs from the robata grill dressed with green onions and chilli."

"Arguably the city’s most flamboyant restaurant, Richard Caring’s Sexy Fish is a sight to behold. Apparently it cost £15 million to produce – which won’t come as a surprise to anyone who has stepped inside. With bronze Damien Hirst-designed bronze mermaids adorning the bar, a coral reef ceiling, a giant gold-plated crocodile on display and walls running with water, the space feels like some kind of mystical, underwater-inspired wonderland."

"Have you ever thought “I like fish, but I just wish it was sexier?. ” Look no further than Berkeley Square, where Sexy Fish is solving just that problem. The interior of the restaurant is certainly alluring: a pair of Damien Hirst mermaid sculptures adorn the bar, and a glittering crocodile takes to the walls."

"Long before we all had devices chock-full of apps on the go 24/7, there was Inamo. Its touch-screen table menus still offer a dose of fun, especially for kids – you can view and order dishes electronically, alter the restaurant’s playlist, and even book a cab home. Check out the Asian-leaning fusion dishes such as sizzling chilli tofu – perfect candidates for a bit of bragging on Instagram."

"This Asian fusion restaurant in Covent Garden boasts a pioneering interactive ordering system projected onto the table, making it one of the coolest restaurants in London. At Inamo, you can place orders via a 3D menu, choose from a selection of virtual tablecloths, find out about the local neighbourhood and even order a taxi home, all from the comfort of your seat."

"Address: 11 - 14 Hanover Place, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9JP / 134 - 136 Wardour Street, London, W1F 8ZP / 265 Hampstead Road, London, NW1 7QX. Nearest train station: Covent Garden, Tottenham Court Road, Mornington Crescent. [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Z0e1rADXQ/?"

"The Diner serves hearty food all day long, starting with an array of eggs and sweeter treats including pancakes, burgers, hotdogs and caesar salad. Grown-ups can wash it all down with a hard shake, where creamy milkshakes get an adult twist with a shot of liquor. There are restaurants across town including ones in Spitalfields, Camden and Shoreditch."

"With 8 locations across London, you can nail your pancake craving in super quick time. These guys are taking pancakes up a notch with inspiration from all those treats that always find their way on to your desk: choose from the Jaffa pancake, the Oreo Cookie Cake or the Red Velvet Wonder. Wanna keep it plain Jane?"

"Rootin'-tootin' and big on flavour, this is cowboy food by way of central London. When you can get 20 chicken wings as a starter, you know you're ordering from the right place. The Diner does a fine line in fries, dogs, milkshakes and salads, but that's not why we're here."

"Do it NYC-style at Dirty Bones, which has reopened its Soho and Kensington restaurants and is ready to throw a brunch party. There’s no clean eating here: fried chicken thighs and fried eggs top waffles drenched in maple syrup; crumpets come with poached-egg and 12-hour-cooked short rib, and a buttermilk pancake stack comes with fresh clotted cream, blueberries and yet more maple syrup. For £14, diners can also enjoy a package of three brunch cocktails, with options including an espresso martini and a Hip Monkey, made with rum, red vermouth, and Ting grapefruit soda."

"Just when you thought mac and cheese couldn’t get anymore indulgent, the folks at Dirty Bones decide to deep fry it to make gooey bite-sized treats. They come served with a sweet chilli sauce to cut through the creamy pasta. When the cheese strings from your mouth, that’s when you know it’s great junk food."

"Independent wine specialists, 28-50 Wine Bar & Kitchen Covent Garden & 28-50 Wine Workshop & Kitchen Marylebone will open up both terraces for guests to dine outside whilst sampling Executive Chef, Julien Baris’ new seasonal dishes. Highlights from the new menu include: freshly caught seafood platters; including mussels, rock oysters, prawns, clams and crab which pair perfectly with 28-50’s varied wine-list with vintages have been chosen from their own vineyard in the French Alps."

"A post shared by 2850 Wine Workshop & Kitchen (@2850marylebone). If you like deliberating over wine lists and food like Jerusalem artichoke soup with ceps and sourdough croutons, you're in luck: both the Marylebone and Covent Garden branches of 28-50 have opened their terraces."

"10 Upper St Martin's Ln, London WC2H 9FB Why should you care?. The Covent Garden 28:50 is an offshoot of the marylebone original, bringing plenty of wines by the glass to a much larger location."

"Bon Vivant, an unassuming French restaurant with classic Parisian outside seating and sumptuous interior design, is a lovely, low-key option in Bloomsbury. The staff hail from all over Europe and are led by a French manager, who ensures they all partake in French lessons after joining his team, so as to keep things feeling as authentic as possible. And it works, particularly alongside the oh-so-French menu, which sees classics given a modern update: think escargots (snails) doused in a buttery mix of garlic, so that the parsley and shallots drip down your chin and need mopping up with a warm slice of the restaurant’s homemade bread."

"Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all on the cards at Bon Vivant, which also includes such delights as bavette steak and an Earl Grey crème brûlée. Yeah, we’re drooling too."

"Sardine may be in an odd location (tucked behind McDonald’s on City Road) in Hoxton, but upon entering you’ll immediately feel like you’re in the Mediterranean. From the aromas to the colourful (yet tasteful) décor, it’s a pleasant place to be. But it’s the smell of the Southern French cooking happening on an open wood fire that really draws you (and your taste buds) in."

"Cigalon is a restaurant in London that shows it worth both in its plates and on its walls. When you're not lapping up the velvet booths and white tablecloths alongside sweeping plates, you'll be enjoying a meal focused on all things Provençal."

"Wood-fired Southern French cooking is what you’ll get at Sardine, launched by Alex Jackson and Pastaio owner Stevie Parle. It also pulls double duty as an art gallery, so you can overhaul your flat decor whilst sampling their onglet steak."