Historic London Churches
Kingsbury, St Andrew's Old Church - St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe Church
An A-Z of historic or architecturally significant churches to visit in London. Note that most are relatively modern. This is due to the horrible destruction of the Great Fire in 1666, which burned some 100 churches in London. So most of the churches you can see today date from the late 17th or early 18th century.
Likely the oldest building in the borough of Brent, Greater London, the redundant Old Church of St Andrew in Kingsbury probably predates the Norman Conquest, and Roman remains have been found on the site. The church stands in a treed area close by the Victorian church that took its place.
Old Church Lane, Kingsbury London,
Brent,
Greater London,
England, NW9 8RU
Heritage Rating:
Nearest: Self Catering
There has been a chapel in Lincoln's Inn since at least the 15th century. The present building was designed by Inigo Jones and erected in 1623. The open undercroft was used by poor 18th-century mothers to leave foundlings, which were raised by the Inn and given the surname Lincoln.
Old Square, Lincoln's Inn London,
Greater London,
England, WC2A 3TL
Heritage Rating:
Heritage Highlight: 17th-century painted glass windows
Nearest: Self Catering
A Baroque masterpiece of a church, erected by James Bridges, later the first Duke of Chandos, around 1715. Chandos rose from relative obscurity as the son of a Herefordshire squire to become one of the richest men in England. He just as quickly lost his fortune, but more on that in a moment.
Whitchurch Lane, Little Stanmore London,
Greater London,
England, HA8 6RB
Heritage Rating:
Nearest: Self Catering
St Andrew's Holborn is the largest parish church designed by Sir Christopher Wren, but its history goes back to at least the 10th century. Thomas Coram, who established the Foundlings Hospital, is buried here.
5 St Andrew Street,
London,
Greater London,
England, EC4A 3AB
Heritage Rating:
Heritage Highlight: The largest parish church built by Wren
Nearest: Self Catering
Recently restored to Christopher Wren's design, this is the "church of the press", so named for its use by newspaper reporters from Fleet Street. This is the eighth church in this location, and remains of the other seven, plus Roman pavement, can be seen in the crypt museum.
Fleet Street,
London,
Greater London,
England, EC4Y 8AU
Heritage Rating:
Heritage Highlight: Roman mosaic in the crypt
Nearest: Self Catering
Formerly known as St Mary Overie ("over the river"), the parish church of Southwark only became a cathedral in 1905. Highlights include an ornate 16th-century screen behind the high altar, and a memorial to local resident William Shakespeare.
London Bridge,
London,
Greater London,
England, SE1 9DA
Heritage Rating:
Heritage Highlight: 13th-century wooden effigy of a knight
Nearest: Self Catering
The first Catholic cathedral in the UK since the Reformation, St George's was built in 1846 by prominent Gothic Revival architect AW Pugin, who was also responsible for most of the Houses of Parliament.
Cathedral House, Westminster Bridge Road London,
Greater London,
England, SE1 7HY
Heritage Rating:
Heritage Highlight: AW Pugin Victorian design
Nearest: Self Catering
The church of St Alfege is a Greenwich landmark; its striking tower catching the eye over the rooftops of more modern buildings that jostle for space along Greenwich High Street. There has been a church here for over 1,000 years, since Alfege, Archbishop of Canterbury, was killed on this spot by Danish invaders in 1012.
Church Street, Greenwich London,
Greater London,
England, SE10 9BQ
Heritage Rating:
Nearest: Self Catering
St Andrew Undershaft is a largely Tudor church housing a memorial to John Stow, author of the 1598 "A Survey of London". The unusual name of the church comes from the fact that a maypole once stood nearby, so the church stood literally 'under the shaft' of the maypole.
St. Mary Axe, Leadenhall Street London,
Greater London,
England, EC3A 6AT
Heritage Rating:
Heritage Highlight: Tomb of John Stow, 1605
Nearest: Self Catering
St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe was the last city church rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London. The church has a history going back to the 13th century.
Queen Victoria Street, St Andrew's Hill London,
Greater London,
England, EC4V 5DE
Heritage Rating:
Heritage Highlight: Sir Christopher Wren's last city church
Nearest: Self Catering