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8 Gorgeous Secret Churches To Visit in the City of London

By: Author The Working Line

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For centuries, the City of London, or Square Mile, has been host to significant landmarks that range from churches, for the most part destroyed during the Great Fire of London of 1666, to mansions and famous squares.

I have been finding myself growing ever-so-fonder of London’s beautiful churches and temples lately, but for some reason, I cannot bring myself to visit London without knowing about its past anymore, as I used to do when I first moved there.

Out of the dozens of churches that used to populate the City of London before the Great Fire, 87 were lost to the fire, which destroyed most of the city during the four days it lasted.

51 churches, as well as St Paul’s Cathedral – which was also destroyed during the fire – were then rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren’s office, and we are still able to visit many of them today.

The City of London’s Must-Visit Historic & Secret Churches

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If you’re looking for a map of churches in the City of London, you will most probably find many suitable secret places to visit off the beaten path.

Actually, as I am nearing my thirties, I find myself easily engrossed in London’s history books, and feel the need to understand the why’s, the how’s and the what’s.

Many of the City of London’s churches boast centuries of history, often dating back to Roman and medieval times.

Before London became one of the biggest cities in the world, with all the gorgeous medieval sites that are today part of our bucket lists, it was, just like any city, a evolving place of trade.

And the City of London, which used to be the heart of the city (nope, it was neither Oxford Street nor Mayfair!), bears witness to the city’s evolution.

Some of the secret churches of the Square Mile I’ll mention today are still some of London’s most beautiful buildings, undeniably, with a mix of impressive baroque, Gothic, medieval, and even Roman architecture at times.

Between religious, architectural, and cultural heritage, a self-walking tour of the City of London’s beautiful churches makes for the perfect day off the beaten path.

Secret Churches in the Square Mile of London: St Bartholomew the Great

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Let’s start with one of London’s secret neighborhoods, Smithfield, which in medieval times, and even later, was one of the city’s most important.

Smithfield is located in what we now know as Barbican, which hosts some of the prettiest medieval sites of London.

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That’s where you will find Cloth Fair, one of London’s oldest streets, as well as St Bartholomew the Great church, which dates back to 1123.

Famous for its medieval architecture, St Bartholomew the Great is one of Barbican’s best hidden gems, and it faces another one of the City of London’s prettiest sights, 41-42 Cloth Fair, the oldest house in the City of London.

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Founded by Rahere, a courtier of Henry I, St Bartholomew the Great was established as part of a priory in connection with St Bartholomew’s Hospital, located a few seconds away on foot.

The church was used as a filming location in a few movies such as Shakespeare in Love, and can be visited for free.

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If you’re one to love secret gardens, St Bartholomew the Great’s churchyard offers everything you need: a couple of benches, a few century-old tombstones, and a view on 41-42 Cloth Fair.

Read: The Best Free Rooftops in London

Secret Churches in the City of London: St Stephen Walbrook

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If you ever happen to pop by Horizon 22, one of the City of London’s free rooftops and end up walking your way down to St Paul’s Cathedral, you’ll come across St Stephen Walbrook.

Considered one of Sir Christopher Wren’s most important works, St Stephen Walbrook is one of the smallest secret churches of the City of London, and an architectural masterpiece.

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The central dome, namely, is considered a precursor to Wren’s famous dome at St Paul’s Cathedral, and I couldn’t help but notice the similarities between this dome and those you often find in Roman churches and basilicas.

St Stephen Walbrook is another one of the churches destroyed by the Great Fire of London in the 17th century, and was completely rebuilt on the same site.

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What I noted when visiting this historic church was the doorway, which makes for a perfect photo spot of the always-in-movement City of London.

Read: The Most Unusual Places to Visit in London

Secret Churches in the City of London: St Dunstan in the East

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I’ve mentioned St Dunstan in the East more times than I can recall, but if you’re interested in finding secret church ruins in London, this one is particularly noteworthy.

The original church was built around 1100, and dedicated to St Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury in the 10th century.

Damaged during the Great Fire of London, St Dunstan in the East was rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren’s office before it was damaged again during the Blitz in the World War II.

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That is when the City of London decided to turn the St Dunstan in the East ruins into a small garden, which happens to be one of the prettiest places to visit to see autumn colors in London.

Elements of Renaissance, and even stronger notes of Gothic architecture can still be enjoyed while you’re having a romantic date!

Read: The Best Hidden Gems in Covent Garden

Secret Churches in the Square Mile of London: St Mary Aldermary

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St Mary Aldermary is another one of the City of London’s secret churches, and beyond its incredible baroque architecture, what makes it even more special is that it hosts one of London’s secret cafes.

You’ll find many more coffee shops in London churches than you would initially think, for starters.

However, if you’re down to enjoy fresh pastries with strong coffee, Host Cafe in St Mary Aldermary is a must-visit.

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The original church on the site of St Mary Aldermary used to be a medieval church, and yet another one destroyed during the Great Fire of London.

The one we can visit today was completed in 1682, 16 years after the medieval church was destroyed, and features Corinthian columns, a reminder of classical influences that characterized the end of the 17th century in London.

Another one of London’s secret spots is located about 5 minutes on foot away from St Mary Aldermary and faces St Paul’s Cathedral: the Reflection Garden, a must-visit if you ever need a quiet place to rest.

Read: The Best Hidden Gems in Oxford Street

Secret Churches in the City of London: St Bride’s Church

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When I first visited St Bride’s Church on Fleet Street, I couldn’t believe all the secret corners I found inside.

If you’ve been on The Working Line before, I’ve already told you many times about all of Fleet Street’s hidden gems, and trust me, there are many – and they’re not all about Temple Church we’ll see further down this guide.

St Bride’s Church is not only one of the most secret churches in the City of London – its churchyard, turned into a tranquil garden, is a perfect place to write and read as well.

With evidence suggesting the existence of a church on the site as early as the 7th century, St Bride’s Church is one of the oldest churches in the Square Mile, and to understand its significance, you’ll have to make your way downstairs.

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Often referred to as the ‘Journalists’ Church’ due to its historical association with the printing industry, St Bride’s Church houses a tiny chapel downstairs as well as medieval, Saxon, and Roman ruins.

It’s true you can spot many Roman ruins in London, from Guildhall to the London Wall, but I did not expect to find Roman pavement under St Bride’s Church.

It might be part of what we would dub ‘secret churches’ today, but St Bride’s Church used to be one of the most important religious sites before the Great Fire of London, and the new design was completed in 1675.

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For whoever loves finding catacombs and crypts in London, the underground crypt at St Bride’s Church houses a small museum with explanations and artifacts about the church’s past, and that of the Fleet Street area.

Another fun fact – when entering the church and making your way straight down to the other side of the church, you will find a small face sculpture.

It is said to be the representation of the first child born in America from English parents, parents married in St Bride’s Church.

Read: The Best Hidden Gems in East London

Secret Churches in the Square Mile of London: Temple Church

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Temple Church and the whole surrounding area is a stop you cannot miss when walking down from St Paul’s to Fleet Street, which farther leads to The Strand, and finally, Trafalgar Square.

Those after secret churches in the City of London will absolutely love Temple Church as it’s one of the oldest churches in the area, and one rich with Knights Templar history.

It can be visited for £5 per adult, which makes it an incredibly affordable activity if you’re living in London on a budget!

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Temple Church is easily accessible, just off Fleet Street, and you can also access it from Mitre Court, which leads to the church and the Inner Temple Gardens.

Inside, you can admire effigies of knights with their crossed legs, the usual position in which they were buried, as well as a sculpture of King Henry II, present at the consecration, who chose to be buried at Temple Church before making Westminster Abbey his final resting place.

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The round church design is also something different from all other secret churches I’ve mentioned so far, as there are very few of these in England, and is believed to symbolize the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, a significant site for the Knights Templar.

And for those of you who love finding filming locations in London, Temple Church was mentioned as a key site in Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code – another reason to visit!

Read: The Best Hidden Gems in West London

Secret Churches in the City of London: Christchurch Greyfriars

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When visiting the ruins of St Dunstan in the East, you’re not too far from Christchurch Greyfriars, so you might as well pop by this one as well if you’re in love with secret churches turned into quiet gardens!

Much less popular than St Dunstan in the East, which happens to be visited by tons of influencers and locals throughout the year, Christchurch Greyfriars used to be a Franciscan monastery dating back to the 13th century.

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Like St Dunstan in the East, it was damaged by both the Great Fire of London in 1666 and the Blitz in World War II, and it is another one of the Square Mile’s churches rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren – and completed in 1687.

Writing about the completion of secret churches and visiting the City of London almost feels too touristy today.

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However, when you realize that, for instance, Covent Garden piazza was only laid out in 1631, you can understand how empty most of London was, except for the City of London, with fields all around.

Christchurch Greyfriars was turned into a public garden after the Blitz, making it yet another one of the secret churchyards Londoners love to visit for a slice of quiet.

Read: The Best Hidden Gems in North London

Secret Churches in the City of London: The Charterhouse

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I thought I would include something a little different to finish this guide beautifully, with what is not an old church, but a former monastery: the Charterhouse.

We’re back in Barbican with this one, and not that far from either St Bartholomew the Great or Cloth Fair I mentioned at the beginning of the post.

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The Charterhouse dates back to 1371, and was originally built as a Carthusian monastery.

Over time, it served multiple purposes, including a Tudor mansion and an almshouse – part of it is still a charitable institution known as Charterhouse, and people still live there.

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If you’re looking for free things to do in London off the beaten path, you can, well, hardly beat a visit to the Charterhouse, as visiting its chapel and its museum is completely free.

Some parts of the Charterhouse can only be accessed with a tour guide, but its quaint secret garden will already make your day.

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Don’t miss out on a visit to the Charterhouse museum is all I can say – ancient artifacts, architecture and plenty of history are to be felt in this unusual place.

Read: The Best Hidden Gems in South London

The City of London’s Must-Visit Historic & Secret Churches

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There you have them, some of the City of London’s most secret churches and historic places you have to visit when traveling to London.

These fine examples of history and architecture will explain everything you need to know about London and its evolution from medieval to Roman and Saxon times, much better than words ever could.

Historic London doesn’t stop there, though.

There are many secret alleys in the City of London to be visited if you want to understand more about all types of architecture, namely medieval, Georgian and Victorian.

Secret streets, alleys and courtyards are my jam, and once you get to know this other side of London, it will become yours as well.

Until next time!

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The Working Line
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Sam is a certified fashion makeup artist, a freelance writer, a blogger and a digital nomad. Since 2019, she roams around the world, from London to Rome and shares her knowledge about makeup, scented candles, travel, blogging and the digital nomad lifestyle.