A guide to St Dunstan in the East, one of London’s most secret gardens – here’s the history of its ruins, and what to visit nearby, like hidden Plantation Lane!
You may have noticed I love quiet places, lesser-known neighborhoods that no one treads, and just secret spots I feel the first to find out about.
St Dunstan in the East church ruins, in the morning, is such a place.
There’s no fanfare about this secret City of London church, aside the one that you see on social media, and then again, it’s not a fanfare spot.
To me, this opening between buildings, where time split and never really stitched itself back together, is a site full of history and reflection.
London’s Secret Gardens: How to Visit St Dunstan in the East
You might have walked right past St Dunstan in the East without knowing; it’s located only a few minutes from Monument and Bank stations.
Tucked behind office blocks and the low hum of the Thames, just off Great Tower Street, this secret garden lives inside the ruins of a bombed-out church.
If I’ve told you time and time again about London’s church gardens, even the ones further out that no one visits but locals (and even then), there’s no denying St Dunstan in the East really isn’t typical in any way.
St Dunstan in the East: The History You Can Still Feel
The name St Dunstan in the East comes from St Dunstan, a 10th-century monk who became Archbishop of Canterbury and was known for resisting corruption and championing monastic reform.
He was also a blacksmith, musician, and artist, which, weirdly, makes him a kind of perfect namesake for a church that’s now part sculpture, part silence, and part nature.
The original church on this site was built in the 12th century, making it one of the oldest church foundations in the City of London.
But what’s left today comes from centuries of change. Indeed, St Dunstan in the East was:
- Damaged during the Great Fire of London (1666), but not entirely destroyed
- Rebuilt and patched up over time
- Redesigned by Sir Christopher Wren in the late 1600s, including the tall gothic tower we can still see today
- Then bombed heavily during the Blitz in 1941, which brought us to the last version of the church we know
After the Blitz, most of the church was gutted by firebombs, with only the outer walls and Wren’s tower stayed standing.
And after the war, instead of rebuilding it, the City of London decided in the late 1960s to turn it into a public garden, not unlike Greyfriars Christ Church closer to Blackfriars station.
St Dunstan in the East: What We Can Still See Today
First of all, I think important to note that as soon as you step in, everything feels overly quiet – it feels like you’re outside of London for a moment.
St Dunstan in the East is surrounded by glass buildings and noise, but inside the ruins? It’s still, especially in the morning, which is the time I recommend you visit if you want to avoid influencers.
There’s still:
- The original gothic windows and the tower
- Trees that grow up through what used to be the nave
- Benches that line the interior walls
- And a second little garden behind the ‘entrance’
When to Visit St Dunstan in the East Church Ruins
Officially, the garden is open daily from around 8am to dusk, but check the City of London’s website if you’re unsure because it sometimes closes earlier on weekends or during maintenance.
Best time to come?
Early morning on a weekday, before lunch hour hits and nearby office workers show up to eat or scroll on their phones.
Or in the late afternoon sun, when the light hits the windows at just the right angle.
And if you’re in Central London and it’s raining, I can’t recommend a visit to the church ruins enough: this place looks unreal when it’s wet.
How to Get To St Dunstan in the East Church Ruins
You’ll find it at St Dunstan’s Hill, London EC3R 5DD, close to London Bridge and the Tower of London, Monument and Bank.
- Nearest stations: Monument, Tower Hill, or Bank — all within 5 to 10 minutes’ walk.
- It’s right off Great Tower Street but almost unmarked. You’ll see a small gap between buildings and a hint of stone arches. That’s your entrance.
Read: The Most Historic Neighborhoods in London
I definitely got lost the first time I finally made it to St Dunstan in the East, after months seeing in online.
But it’s not actually that difficult to find when you come straight from Monument or from the Thames riverside.
Also, don’t forget to look up when you’re there: there’s a little view of The Shard in the distance!
What to See Near St Dunstan in the East
St Dunstan in the East is located in the historic City of London neighborhood, one of the oldest areas in London.
There are many secret gardens in the City of London, hidden Wren churches, and tiny alleys and passageways that teach us more about London’s past.
I’d recommend, once you’ve visited the gorgeous church ruins, to not just jump back into noise.
There are a few really unexpected places nearby with that same strange, quiet mood:
- Plantation Lane: just a few minutes away, this narrow passageway runs behind the old Plantation Place building. The long Simon Patterson poem engraved into the stone floor references time, trade and memory – wonderful.
- All Hallows by the Tower: one of London’s oldest surviving churches, located just to the east. Quiet crypts, Roman floors, wartime scars. If you’re in a history mood, this one is often overlooked and always worth it.
- The London Stone at Cannon Street: a short walk from the ruins, the London Stone is a medieval relic thought to mark the very centre of the city.
London’s Secret Gardens: How to Visit St Dunstan in the East
If you’re getting a little tired of visiting even secret museums, or of seeing lots of people crowding the shore at South Bank, a little visit to St Dunstan in the East might very well be the perfect pick-me-up.
It’s just broken walls and open sky, and definitely one of the best hidden gems of London.
Even if, truly, once the day starts daying, you will not be able to miss the influencers using it as a photo spot.
And if you’d like to discover other historical sites in London, do check out these guides:
- 11 London Disused Stations You Can Still Spot Today
- 12 Historical Buildings in London With Great Architecture
- 25+ London Guides to Historical Sites, Ruins & Retro Treasures
For more reviews of hidden gems I’ve found while walking about, you’ll discover some really gorgeous places below: