St Bartholomew The Great

St Bartholomew's is situated just west of Smithfield, beside St Bartholomew's hospital and William Wallace's memorial. If you're looking for some London history in one of the most gorgeous London churches, you'll find it here. The church was founded in the twelfth century by Rahere (either courtier or gester to Henry I) after a trip to Italy during which St Bartholomew advised Rahere (ill with malaria) that he'd chosen a high place in the suburb of London at Smithfield in which to locate an Augustinian priory. Rahere vowed to do this should he live. St Barts is now an Anglican priory church. It has witnessed many bloody scenes over the years, as has the whole of the Smithfield area (William Wallace was hung drawn and quartered just along the street) ... but stood miraculously unscathed after the Great Fire of London and Second World War. It's one of the most atmospheric and old churches in London and the smell of incense and age greeting you as you walk through the door immediately transports you away from thoughts of the financial centres and merchant banks that you'll find nearby. And Hogarth was baptised here!

St Barts in Film and Literature

She starred in Four Weddings and a Funeral (this is where Hugh Grant didn't get married), Shakespeare in Love (Shakespeare pleaded for forgiveness here), End of the Affair (never saw it) and it doubled as Nottingham Cathedral in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves.

Ghosts and ghoulies

Visitor Information

Right beside Smithfield market, the nearest tube stations are Farringdon and Barbican, although it's not so very far from St Paul's as well.

The address is SBG Parish Office, 1st Floor, 6-9 Kinghorn Street, London EC1A 7HT, and opening times are Tues-Fri 8:30-5:30 (closes at 4 in winter); Sat 10:30-1:30; Sun 8:30-1, 2:30-8. It's closed on Mondays and during services. The official website is Great St Barts. There's now a entrance fee of £4 to help with the up-keep of the place. It's been kicking up a bit of a stink but I think it's well worth it.