Visiting St Giles Cripplegate – Secret City of London Church

A local’s visit to St Giles Cripplegate church in Barbican – one of the most secret churches in the City of London, with sculptures and beautiful architecture!

The Barbican area is nestled in the heart of the City of London, and it’s definitely a stop you should make when visiting.

I love discovering new historic neighborhoods in London; the Barbican, with parts of the Roman Wall, quiet churchyards and beautiful buildings, is one I cannot recommend enough.

There are photo spots galore in Barbican, like the Barbican Centre, Conservatory and the nearby artificial lake; and you will also come across many a historical site to enrich your trip to London.

One such site to visit is St Giles Cripplegate; full of history, one of the few remaining medieval sites in the city, and perfect for architecture and art lovers.

Visiting St Giles Cripplegate – Secret City of London Church

St Giles’ Cripplegate survived the Great Fire of London in 1666, unlike other City of London churches I’ve showed you here in the past, like St Dunstan in the East and Greyfriars Christchurch.

You can easily access it from the Barbican Centre via The Postern, an elevated secret passageway.

Don’t miss it, as it is adorned with a stunning bronze sculpture, the Barbican Muse by Matthew Spender, created in 1995.

There’s actually been a church on the St Giles Cripplegate site for around 1,000 years.

A Norman church was built there in 1090 and despite being outside the old City wall (its full name is St Giles-without-Cripplegate), it played a central role in the life of the parish.

As you walk around the Barbican area, you will find many hidden gems, from churches like this one to sculptures and secret gardens.

For instance, a short walk from St Giles Cripplegate, you will come across the St Alphage church ruins, and the even more secret Salter’s Garden, with a wonderfully detailed door exhibited right opposite it.

Over the centuries, St Giles Cripplegate was restored multiple times – today, it is a Grade I-listed building.

It’s not only the Great Fire of London that damaged it, but also major fires in 1545 and 1897, and the Blitz during WWII.

The Blitz heavily destroyed other City of London churches, many of which were later turned into pocket parks, like the Reflection Garden near St Paul’s, or the St Pancras Church Gardens in the heart of the city.

As you walk around St Giles Cripplegate church, you will find busts of John Milton (buried on the site), Daniel Defoe, Oliver Cromwell and John Bunyan.

It’s really a history lasagna you can admire in the church; the tower, added in the 17th century, still has stone from the 1090 church at its base, and was restored in 2012-13 along with the clock and exterior.

When you leave the church, take some time to walk around the area; you’ll namely find pieces of the Roman Wall close to St Giles Cripplegate, and a beautiful view of the Barbican Centre.

St Giles Cripplegate Church London Photo Gallery

Visiting St Giles Cripplegate – Secret City of London Church

Many times before, I’ve told you about beautiful London churches to have on your bucket list, and if you’re only spending a day in London, two days, or three days, do add St Giles Cripplegate to your list.

As you keep discovering London, you will come across many more secret church gardens and religious buildings that will blow your mind.

For instance, you can visit the Rotherhithe area with its small, local church from which the Mayflower ship departed to reach America.

Or, if you’re into aesthetic places, why not visit Mark Street Gardens in East London close to Shoreditch, or Leadenhall Market for photo opps and secret ruins at the back of a barber shop?

You could also visit the Sir John Soane’s Museum in Holborn after the church – it’s a completely free and secret museum with countless sculptures and paintings all arranged in a specific, wonderful way.

There are so many hidden gems to spot in London – St Giles Cripplegate is a great start!