St Bride's Church, Fleet Street image

St Bride's Church, Fleet Street

Tourist attraction Anglican church

Elegant Baroque-style place of CofE worship with a tiered spire and lunchtime music recitals. People often mention church, London, visit, crypt, churches, history, Bride', free, Wren, interesting,


Address

Fleet St, London EC4Y 8AU, United Kingdom

Website

www.stbrides.com

Contact

+44 20 7427 0133

Rating on Google Maps

4.70 (425 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Thursday: 8 AM to 5 PM
  • Friday: (Good Friday), 8 AM to 5 PM, Hours might differ
  • Saturday: 10 AM to 3:30 PM
  • Sunday: 10 AM to 6:30 PM
  • Monday: 8 AM to 5 PM
  • Tuesday: 8 AM to 5 PM
  • Wednesday: 8 AM to 5 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: church (59) London (21) visit (18) crypt (17) churches (16) history (15) Bride' (15) free (14) Wren (13) interesting (12)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 George P. 1 year ago on Google • 32 reviews
    I was in the area for business and had some time to stroll around, when I noticed the sign outside the church. I went in to have a look, even though it was not the day/time mentioned in the sign. I was pleased to see that it had a welcoming environment and, unlike many other churches, was not trying to make a profit out of the visitors (there is an option to make a donation if you wish, but access to the "modern" Church and the crypt is free). Well presented and easily accessible. An interesting place to visit with its own history, suitable for someone who wants to pray or just to have some quite time during a stressful day. The way a modern church should be like, in my opinion. 5 stars from me!
    9 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Christopher J K. 1 year ago on Google • 352 reviews
    As St Paul in covent garden is to the arts, St Bride's is to newspapers and journalism. The church is a memorial to journalism and their mission to accurately inform. The church has a remembrance altar on which are the ordo of service for deceased journalists and others. St Bride's suffered damage during the war and a positive was the discovery of Medieval and earlier church ruins and the crypt is worth visiting.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Cajetan B. 5 months ago on Google • 248 reviews
    Another fine work by the famous Christopher Wren. The place is just 5 minute walk from St. Paul Cathedral (another work of Wren). Entry to the cathedral and the crypt/museum is completely free. Well worth a visit.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Becky T. 2 years ago on Google
    We have lived in London 6 years and walked past this place many times without noticing as it is set back behind the main road buildings. The church itself is ok but the museum and crypt in the basement were absolute gems and worth a 20-25 minute visit as you can see small Roman ruins and signs/info with the history through to the present, including about Christopher wren building it and being his highest steeple. It’s free to enter though of course cash and contactless donations are appreciated.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Bora K. 4 years ago on Google
    THE CHURCH of St Bride's is justly world famous. To enter its doors is to step into 2,000 years of history, which had begun with the Romans some six centuries before the name of St Bride, daughter of an Irish prince, even emerged from legend to become associated forever with the site. The story of St Bride's is inextricably woven into the history of the City of London. By the time the Great Fire of 1666 left the church in ruins, a succession of churches had existed on the site for about a millennium, and the area had already assumed its unique role in the emergence of English printing. It took nine years for St Bride's to re-appear from the ashes under the inspired direction of Christopher Wren, but for the next two-and-a-half centuries it was in the shadow of the church's unmistakeable wedding-cake spire that the rise of the British newspaper industry into the immensely-powerful Fourth Estate took place. Then, in 1940, St Bride's fell victim once again to flames as German incendiary bombs reduced Wren's architectural jewel to a roofless shell. This time 17 years elapsed before rebuilding was completed, although a series of important excavations in 1953 amid the skeletal ruins, led by the medieval archaeologist Professor W. F. Grimes, came up with extraordinary results, uncovering the foundations of all six previous churches on the site.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Daniel D. 7 months ago on Google • 327 reviews
    St Brides on Fleet Street is one of London's most historical churches, and sadly, it was destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666. However, a new church was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and erected on the site until its demise during the Second World War. Despite being extensively damaged during the Blitz, the church was painstainkingly restored to its former glory and re-opened for worship in the 1950s The church has been synonymous with the newspaper industry because of its location in Fleet Street. However, the church is open to all and now houses its own museum in the Crypt and is well worth a visit.

  • 5/5 Benny S. 2 years ago on Google
    Beautiful church with a great history. The Journalist's Church. The tiered wedding cake was inspired by the church spire. Go visit it, check out the crypt & the museum
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Γιάννης �. 1 month ago on Google • 263 reviews New
    Beautiful and quiet church that works as a small museum. It’s also free

  • 5/5 S 3 months ago on Google • 60 reviews New
    Highly recommend a visit if you’re a history fan. They have a very unique exhibit under the main church that shows thousands of years of history. From Roman era flooring through Saxon, 11th century, 12th century, etc. foundations of earlier churches. All well labeled and documented by signage. And all free! Truly a historic gem that isn’t well known. Thankfully a pub tour guide recommended it to me.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 J S. 1 month ago on Google • 172 reviews New
    One of Londons most beautiful churches as well as historical having s museum in the crypt. Designed by Christopher Wren in the late 17th century, St. Bride's Church is a familiar part of the London skyline and has long been known as the "journalists' church," thanks to its location in the traditional hub of the British newspaper industry. One of its most intriguing features, however, had been completely forgotten until the church was gutted by German firebombs in World War II. The current building is the eighth church to occupy the site on Fleet Street, with the first most likely being built in the 6th century by Irish missionaries. A different incarnation subsequently built on the spot in the Middle Ages was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. Wren was commissioned to design a replacement in 1672; the resulting church took seven years to build and ended up being one of the tallest and most expensive churches the architect ever built, second only to St. Paul's Cathedral. The new church was built atop the remnants of the seven previous churches, including seven different crypts and two medieval charnel houses which Wren organized into one cohesive substructure. The crypts regularly welcomed new inhabitants for almost another two centuries, right up to the 1854 cholera epidemic. Faced with a growing pile of bodies and worried about spreading the disease further, Parliament ordered the closing of all London crypts. The ancient crypt beneath St. Bride's was sealed shut and subsequently forgotten. In 1940, the Blitz inflicted severe fire damage on St. Bride's Church, leaving little more than a smoldering shell. Once efforts to rebuild Wren's design got underway a decade later, the crowded burial chambers below were unexpectedly rediscovered by preparatory excavations in 1953. The crypts were found to contain the remains of 227 individually identified people interred since the 17th century, as well as an estimated 7000 human remains in the more communal charnel house, where bones removed from the cemetery during the Middle Ages (in order to make room for new burials) were arranged according to type (skulls with skulls, femurs with femurs, etc.) and laid out in a checkerboard pattern to an as-yet unknown depth. St. Bride's more recent bone cache is concerned one of the best resources for historic forensics in Europe. The crypts are accessible only via guided tour.

  • 5/5 Paul R. 2 months ago on Google • 164 reviews New
    Beautiful and tasteful post war restoration of a lovely church. Never realised there was a museum in the crypt before - a small but very interesting one.

  • 5/5 jes 1 year ago on Google • 10 reviews
    Beautiful church hidden behind the buildings on the main road and perfect place to contemplate and get some peace from the outside world. The church, its crypt and museum charts the history of London from the roman times to now with the archaeological finds from the site to explore.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tricky B. 1 year ago on Google
    Lovely church for visiting, catacombs and recitals on a Tuesday and Friday at 1.15 which are always wonderful. A great little sanctuary with over 2000 years of history. Also legend has it that the spire (built by air Christopher Wren) was the inspiration for the tiered wedding cake.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Abigail W. 8 months ago on Google • 9 reviews
    Just a little off the beaten path from St Paul’s church, St Bride’s is worth a visit! Visitors are welcome to see this site, it is free, but we made a donation to the church! Please know, there are not any public restrooms. A church steeped in great history! I definitely suggest taking 20-30 minutes to go downstairs and see the historical exhibit that dates back 2000 years. “'PHOENIX OF FlEET STREET' This crypt orS Brides where you now sand. spans 2000 years of this country's history; spiritual, political and social. The Romans built on this spot. It was believed that a Celtic Christian community was active here. Saxon and Norman churches followed. The medieval church was one of 88 parish churches destroyed by the Great Fire of London in September 1666. Sir Christopher Wren, the builder of St Paul's Cathedral, designed the new St Bride's with its 'wedding cake' steeple. On 29 December 1940, during the Second World War, St Bride's was burnt down - only the steeple and outer walls remaining - in the great fire-bomb raid on London. After the War, the church was rebuilt substantially to Wren's original design. In 1952, before rebuilding began, Professor W. F. Grimes carried out excavations on behalf of the Roman and Medieval London Excavation Council; unfortunately he died before his detailed report could be completed In 1993, research funded by English Heritage, began at the Museum of London to reassess his work; meanwhile archacologists from University College London complemented the earlier investigations by recording in detail the standing medieval stonework. The story of St Bride's is embodied in the stones around you; this exhibition reveals that story of the past as it has been interpreted by archacologists of today.”
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Chris M. 1 year ago on Google
    The recent building of St.Brides Church today is the seventh built church and was designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1672. Wren's original building was also partly struck during the 1940 Blitz and largely gutted by fire though. The church has a long association with journalists and newspapers, as indeed their are many famous historic names linked to the church. The spire - second tallest of all Wren's churches at 226ft ( 69m) - resembles a beautiful tiered wedding cake. Most of the church building is of a baroque style architecture and grade 1 listed status. Both interiors and exteriors are a fine example of Sir Christopher Wren churches. The site of the church is steeped with history dating back to Roman times ( as you will see in the Crypt).There are plenty of interesting relics and displayed history to be seen in the Crypt. A good informative documented display and artefacts showing the timescale of the church. The church is free to visit but every donation helps! I find that both St.Brides Church and the historically associated Old Bell 🔔 Inn Tavern very close by make a good combination leisurely visit. There is disabled access into the church hall but a staircase descends to the Crypt....? St.Brides Church, off Fleet Street EC4 is certainly one of my favourite City of London sights. Plenty of bus routes / stops adjacent in Fleet Street/ Ludgate Circus to serve and Thameslink Blackfriars Rail Station. Very kind, interesting members of the church staff ready to greet you - I had an engaging interesting chat, thoroughly enjoyed. Guidebooks are are for sale if you wish. Every pound and penny helps for the restoration. Please consult for guided visits of the church and any church services. I highly recommend a visit to this wonderful historical City of London masterpiece, a hidden gem in a cosy corner of the City. Even if only a casual browse, but its historical status deserves much credibility for a longer stay - as you may discover! One of the finest, cleanest, elegant, and beautifully kept churches ive ever entered within the U.K. Hopefully, I will return in the future. God bless 🙏. Best regards Chris. ps. Ive heard it mentioned that the beautiful spire changes to a tint of pink colouration after or during rainfall. Sir Christopher Wren built St.Pauls Cathedral mostly using Portland cement stone from quarries near Portland Bill in Dorset.....St.Brides Church looks to me of the same material used...does rain water have such an affect? I wonder...? Chris.👍💒⛪
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Han S. 1 year ago on Google
    I visited St Bride a few weeks ago while I was in the area. The church was one of the buildings designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the London Great Fire in 1666. Supposedly the steeple was the inspiration behind modern wedding cakes. There is an excavation exhibit of the old iterations of the church. The church also has an altar dedicated for slain or imprisoned journalists (including a dedication for Shireen Abu Akleh). Has a little gift shop in the back. entrance is free and they have numerous services and events for public. Also lucky to have met Rector Alison and Verger Robin during my visit.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Thomas Q. 2 years ago on Google
    I suppose this place might be eclipsed by it's larger neighbor church but it is still very charming. It's interesting to see the crypt and medieval church below. It also has it's famous spire that influenced wedding cakes.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Carolyn J. 3 months ago on Google • 134 reviews New
    I only went because of Notting Hill, the journalist church and it's stunning. An unusual tiled floor, beautiful stained glass windows and statues but more surprising below ground level are the ruins of the original church. A wonderful memorial place for those lost at war. So much to see, I loved it.

  • 4/5 Chelsea D. 5 months ago on Google • 126 reviews
    We visited St. Bride's as part of our free City of London tour. The visit was free on a Tuesday morning. Our guide Sinead took us down to the crypt and explained Victorian-era resurrection men. It was really interesting to explore the excavated area, old tombstones, and the lovely little chapel. We didn't look much into the ground floor main church, but it was very bright and spacious.

  • 5/5 Rachael1918 1 month ago on Google • 26 reviews New
    Really beautiful church with a fascinating crypt that's deeply evocative of London's ancient past. The museum is small but completely free and very peaceful on a weekday morning, so perfect for a quiet visit to get away from the hustle and bustle of Fleet Street.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Andy H. 2 years ago on Google
    Another little-known gem. Lovely church and lots of interesting material in rhe underground museum crypt.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 HMT 1 year ago on Google
    Great historic place to visit if in or around Fleet Street area of London
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Neil B. 1 year ago on Google
    Fabulous choir! Packed full of history with free museum downstairs in the crypt. Moving altar in side chapel which remembers those killed or held whilst bringing us the news.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Reda K. 2 years ago on Google
    It's beautiful little church with a museum in the crypt in the heart of London
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 FHI Prince P. 1 year ago on Google
    I paid a visit here during a lunch break. The Man at the reception was very helpful and informative. He explained the history of the Church, the damage during the war , the services etc. The connection with the Journalists and why you see a lot of pubs near churches ( for very practical reasons really once you know.) he was very patient and a great ambassador. Would like to visit with my children on a Sunday to worship one time.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dr Noël T. 2 years ago on Google
    Excellent care and efficiency was shown and delivered. S truly lovely and memorable Carol Service, beautifully and sincerely presented. Mince pies great as well (Spectator event). Thank you. Dr Noël Tredinnick
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Eddie M. 2 years ago on Google
    Beautiful church. We dropped in on a rainy afternoon and it had such a relaxing, peaceful atmosphere. I lit a candle for a friend who died the day before which made this special for me.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Damian 1 year ago on Google
    It was a restful haven from the busy world. Beautifully bright inside with an interesting crypt for those wanting a bit more depth to their visit
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kurt P. 2 years ago on Google
    Lovely church just off Fleet Street by Ludgate Circus a tranquil haven in the busy City
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 philip w. 2 years ago on Google
    Saw a virtuoso pianist play a lunchtime concert. She did Grieg, and an instant composition based on a 4 note phrase, which was unbelievable. It was lovely and cool in the church.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 James H. 2 years ago on Google
    Great little church. For the full experience, take in the tranquil surrounds of the churchyard with a takeaway curry from the neighbouring Indian curry house, Metropot. Just wonderful.

  • 5/5 Inger S. 2 years ago on Google
    Went here by accident when there was Open House couple of weeks ago, beautiful church.

  • 5/5 james u. 2 years ago on Google
    Very interesting and historical church, well worth a visit.

  • 5/5 Art T. 2 years ago on Google
    A lovely, quiet church, tucked away in central London. Known as the Journalist's Church, it had many touching dedications to journalists who have died in service to their trade and practice.

  • 5/5 Debbie W. 7 months ago on Google
    What an interesting, unassuming place. The historical details covered were interesting. Plus the way it was presented was engaging. Highly recommended

  • 5/5 kittyhk c. 4 years ago on Google
    great place to have Christmas carol singing together for free , chessboard floor is a signature ,comparatively newer than the ancient ones next to Victoria and Albert

  • 5/5 Stu R. 11 months ago on Google
    Walked past this alleyway on Fleet Street many times but never actually been inside St Bride's. Shame as it's really really lovely and probably one of Sir Christopher Wren's less well known churches (well to me it was!). When we arrived the organist was doing his practice which just set the scene beautifully. The inside is visually stunning and there's even a little shop where you can find guides to SCWs other London churches and other bits of interest. An oasis of calm in the midst of the city.

  • 4/5 Neil R. 1 year ago on Google
    Attended a free lunchtime music recital. Good acoustic and bright, quiet oasis in the busy city. Wonderful playing by the Blaze Ensemble.

  • 5/5 Martin J. 1 year ago on Google
    Wonderful church in historic City of London. Beautiful art and architecture, peaceful and welcoming, magnificent choir and organ. Must see!


Call +44 20 7427 0133 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Assistive hearing loop
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom

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