St. Mary Abchurch
St. Mary Abchurch
4.5
About
This church was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666 and rebuilt by Christopher Wren from 1681 to 1687, with its landmark tower four stories high, rising to 51 feet.
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: City of London
From its ancient past as a Roman trading outpost to its 21st century status as the wealthiest square mile in the world, the financial district known simply as “The City” is one of London's most historic and fascinating neighborhoods. Here high rise office towers such as Norman Foster’s Gherkin mingle with Roman ruins and architectural marvels from virtually every era in between, including Christopher Wren's glorious St.Paul's Cathedral, and John Soane's dauntingly classicist Bank of England. This neighborhood is also home to some of the finest restaurants and plushest hotels in Europe, in addition to an assortment of watering holes, upscale shops, and Tube stations. During the week, the City is abuzz with white collar workers going about their business; the weekend sees this area turn into a quiet haven for sightseers.
How to get there
- Bank • 2 min walk
- Bank • 2 min walk
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10,000 within 3 miles
Attractions
2,826 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
19 reviews
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Tunahan İnce
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates52 contributions
Jun 2023
I had the chance to take a photo of the back of the church. The photo of the rear facade impressed me a lot. Unfortunately, I couldn't see inside. You can smell many historical locations even just by walking around the streets of London.
Written June 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lauraine M
Ilminster, UK792 contributions
Nov 2016
Tucked down St Swithin's , this is an lovely building little changed since being rebuilt by Wren after the Great Fire of London. Lovely painted domed ceiling and a superb Grinling Gibbons carving on the altar. It is like stepping back in time when entering this church.
Written November 27, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Superhoopsa1882
London, UK410 contributions
May 2015
This is yet another of the great churches in the City of London designed by Sir Christopher Wren to replace those that burnt in the Great Fire of 1666 and which most people do not even realise exist. It is located near Cannon Street Railway Station. I must have passed this church many hundreds of times whilst working in the City and did not realise that it exists. It has some fabulous architecture and is well worth a visit. The dome is a fabulous piece of architecture with paintings on it like the Sistine Chapel - well it is not that good but in that style.
Written September 12, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
crawford g
Aberdeen, UK1,804 contributions
Feb 2017 • Couples
Not just another of the many churches of the city of London, this Wren rebuild after the fire is an amazing revelation. The use of light in the small building is a wonderful example of the craftman's skill, and the painted dome ceiling is of a standard rarely seen. There are many other remakable features including the pellican. This is one church well worth the trip!
Written February 25, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Abbotsbury92
Arlington, VA904 contributions
Aug 2016 • Solo
This is a lovely little Christopher Wren church. The dome has a beautiful fresco. The dark wood pulpit has an oversized top. The best part, in my opinion, is the sumptuously-carved reredos (the screen above the altar), which is one of Grinling Gibbons' documented works.
Organ concerts are held occasionally; I wandered in just before one started. The music was lovely and enhanced my experience of the church.
Organ concerts are held occasionally; I wandered in just before one started. The music was lovely and enhanced my experience of the church.
Written August 28, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sankes
Leeds, UK602 contributions
Aug 2016 • Solo
A wren church opposite some nice restaurants...the plain exteriors serve as a complete contrast to the interiors and the dome. Loved it.
Written August 8, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
raoulhood
Towson, MD2,902 contributions
Jul 2016 • Solo
As usual outside the church shortly but instead says, once entered, it appears in all its grandeur.
It has a red brick exterior with stone dressings.
It dates back to the twelfth century (it is mentioned 1198-1199) [and they dedicated to the Mary. The additional name "Abchurch" may be a variant residue of Latin "ab" (from).
The Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed, and was rebuilt as we see it now.
in September 1940 a german bomb hit the church During The famous and sad London Blitz. the dome was completely damage and was repaired between 1948-1953.
Now the church has returned to its former glory, with its medieval characteristics and is one of the most beautiful London time.
It has a red brick exterior with stone dressings.
It dates back to the twelfth century (it is mentioned 1198-1199) [and they dedicated to the Mary. The additional name "Abchurch" may be a variant residue of Latin "ab" (from).
The Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed, and was rebuilt as we see it now.
in September 1940 a german bomb hit the church During The famous and sad London Blitz. the dome was completely damage and was repaired between 1948-1953.
Now the church has returned to its former glory, with its medieval characteristics and is one of the most beautiful London time.
Written July 21, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WMIM
Horsham, UK3,200 contributions
Apr 2015 • Solo
On the very narrow Abchurch Lane between Cannon Street and King William Street, this is one of the 51 churches built by Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of 1666 devastated almost all of the square mile of the City of London, destroying the previous church on this site.
There was some World War II bomb damage but it wasn't great and the building was restored expertly and received its Grade I listing in 1950.
The interior is magnificent. Its shallow dome is beautifully painted, there are original box pews and the reredos/altarpiece has been authenticated as work of the great woodcarver Grinling Gibbons.
There is so much more of interest in this astounding church and should you visit be sure to pick up an information sheet when you enter.
When I last went there early this year it was open to visitors on weekdays only, from 11am to 3pm.
There was some World War II bomb damage but it wasn't great and the building was restored expertly and received its Grade I listing in 1950.
The interior is magnificent. Its shallow dome is beautifully painted, there are original box pews and the reredos/altarpiece has been authenticated as work of the great woodcarver Grinling Gibbons.
There is so much more of interest in this astounding church and should you visit be sure to pick up an information sheet when you enter.
When I last went there early this year it was open to visitors on weekdays only, from 11am to 3pm.
Written September 17, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
futtock21
London, UK17,261 contributions
Oct 2019 • Solo
A church has existed on this site since the twelfth century, the present one replacing an earlier version destroyed in the Great Fire of London designed by ‘the office of Sir Christopher Wren’ and built beteeen 1681-6 rather than exclusively attributable to the great man himself. It was intended to be much larger and was severely damaged in the Blitz in 1940 although subsequently painstaking restored since. It has a spacious courtyard outside with a prominently sited coffee vendor.
Written October 10, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter P
Andover, UK303 contributions
Jan 2019 • Friends
We were on our way to St Pauls when we noticed this Church quite by accident and thought Let`s take a look, Re-built by Wren after the great fire it has an amazing painted domed ceiling, when we were there volunteers were on duty and very willing to tell us about the Church. If you are nearby it is well worth a visit
Written January 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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