Mentioned by Visit London
Cathedrals and churches in London
"Along the south bank (always worth a wander), you can stop in at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the Tate Modern Art Gallery, and even quickly cross the Millennium bridge for a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral. The Globe and St. Paul’s Cathedral are both included on the London Pass, whilst the Tate Modern is free to enter."
"Finally, All Hallows-by-the-Tower is believed to be the oldest surviving church in London, and overlooks the Tower of London on Byward Street. The church was founded in 675, and while it has obviously undergone extensive restoration since then, it still contains an Anglo-Saxon arch from the time which we believe qualifies it to take the crown as London’s oldest church!. Thanks to its proximity to the Tower of London, this church was frequented often where beheading victims were sent for a temporary burial!"
"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."
"A post shared by Spring Education London (@springedulondon) on Mar 29, 2019 at 4:06am PDT. Though bombed in WWII, All Hallows by the Tower remains a gorgeous Grade I listed church. The oldest in the City, having been founded by the Abbey of Barking in AD 675, it was from this church that Samuel Pepys watched the Great Fire spread in 1666."
"A post shared by Hugo de Groot (@hugo_de_groot_creative) on Mar 22, 2019 at 10:18am PDT. Among the oldest churches in London, Temple Church was built by the Knights Templar, an order of crusaders founded in the early 12th century to protect pilgrims travelling to Jerusalem. Serving as a HQ from the order’s early days, the Round Church was modelled on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and contains the effigies of some of medieval England’s most important men."
"One of the oldest churches in London, Temple Church was founded in the 12th century by the Knights Templar - a Christian order of crusading monks from the Middle Ages. The church has a distinctive design and is one of just four medieval round churches still in use in England. You’ll find several services each week, which follow the Book of Common Prayer and feature beautiful singing from the prestigious Temple Church Choir."
"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."
"early 6th century CE Location: Fleet Street, City of London Purpose: Church (Current Denomination – Church of England) Still Standing: Yes. photo source: Flickr via Jim Linwood. According to the official history of St. Bride’s Church, the site that the church rests on has been a place of worship not long after the Romans established Londonium in 43 CE."
"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."
"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."
"A post shared by Cesar Silvestre (@cjcaspt.83) on Sep 30, 2018 at 6:18am PDT. Named after one of early England’s foremost saints, St Dunstan narrowly escaped the Great Fire of London when the Dean of Westminster roused 40 scholars from their sleep and had them extinguish its flames. Rebuilt in 1831 after years of wear and tear, the church is most famous nowadays for its clock, which dates to 1671."
"St Dunstan in the West has been nestled in among the pubs and old printing and publishing offices of Fleet Street for over 180 years. One of the finest examples of London’s gothic revival architecture, the church is something of a hidden gem in the heart of the city. Like so many landmarks, the church was severely damaged during the blitz."
"St Pancras Old Church isn’t that old nowadays, having largely been rebuilt as recently as the 19th century, but it probably dates back to Saxon times, most likely the 7th century AD, making it one of the oldest churches in London. It’s a fairly small, humble but atmospheric church, around ten minutes’ walk from King’s Cross and St Pancras railway stations. The churchyard and surrounding St Pancras Gardens are also noteworthy – the churchyard contains the tomb of architect Sir John Soane, which was the inspiration for the famous British red telephone box design."
"Just across the King’s Cross, St Pancras Old Church is one of the oldest churches in London, whose origin can be traced as early as the days of Norman conquest. The place is calm, soothing and offers regular mass services on Monday, Tuesday, Saturdays and Sundays. Moreover, this church also hosts live music gigs and interactive sessions for visitors."
"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."
"This church was initially built in the 13th century when it was known as St Olave-towards-the-Tower, dedicated to the patron saint of Norway, King Olaf II. It was a favourite place of worship of the diarist Samuel Pepys, and he and his wife Elizabeth are both buried in the nave of the church. The present building was erected in 1450, and survived the Great Fire in 1666 thanks to Sir William Penn (whose son would found Pennsylvania) and his men from the local naval yard."
"St Olave’s church near Fenchurch Street station dates from the fifteenth century, and survived the Great Fire mainly due to the efforts of the writer Samuel Pepys, who lived and worked nearby. Pepys is buried in the nave of the church. Other burials include Mother Goose, who was interred in 1586, and Mary Ramsey, the woman who it is claimed brought the plague to London in 1665."
"As one of several churches in London with Scandinavian connections, St Olave Hart Street is often claimed to have been established as early as 1056. However, this may be true, as the memories of Olaf’s London adventures were at their best during this period. Furthermore, it was just a short period of time before Norway attempted to invade England in 1066."
"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."
"Dating from the reign of Edward I, this is one of the oldest Roman Catholic churches in the country and was the private chapel of the Bishops of Ely"
"Stunning relaxation space with marble treatment bed and Turkish steam bath. 6 Waterloo Place, St James's, London, SW1Y 4AN. Tube: Piccadilly Circus Station"
"Until 2007, Londoners had no idea what an affordable spa was, until Spa London opened up its first spa-tique in Bethnal Green. Now there are several all over London, but the favourite must be in Swiss Cottage. Signature body treatments, facials and massages are up for grabs from as little as £30 — rare in this part of town."
"From the classic egg mayo to the fancy coronation chicken, there’s no need to settle for a sad ham and cheese. Pret A Manger is the go-to place for London’s busy workers, and you can score a sandwich from the cold case for around £3. Full size and mini grocery shops like Sainsbury’s and M&S Local also carry pre-made sandwiches for the same price."