St John’s, Smith Square

The West End


In the heart of Westminster, this eye-catching church was built by Thomas Archer in 1728 under Queen Anne's New Churches in London and Westminster Act (1710), which aimed to build 50 new churches for London’s rapidly growing metropolitan area. After receiving a direct hit during WWII, it was rebuilt in the 1960s as a classical-music venue and is renowned for its excellent acoustics. Check the website for upcoming concerts and other events.

Although they never did build all 50 churches, St John’s, along with a dozen others, saw the light of day. Unfortunately, with its four corner towers and monumental facades, the structure was much maligned for the first century of its existence thanks to rumours that Queen Anne likened it to a footstool. Today it is considered a masterpiece of English baroque. The brick-vaulted Footstool Restaurant in the crypt is a delightful choice for sustenance or a coffee.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby The West End attractions

1. College Garden

0.15 MILES

One of the original gardens within Westminster Abbey, the lovely 900-year-old College Garden was used for growing medicinal herbs and foods for the Abbey…

2. Jewel Tower

0.18 MILES

Once part of the royal Palace of Westminster, the Jewel Tower is the only surviving piece of the 1834 fire that engulfed the structure, and it's one of…

3. Westminster Abbey

0.26 MILES

A splendid mixture of architectural styles, Westminster Abbey is considered the finest example of Early English Gothic. It's not merely a beautiful place…

4. St Margaret's Church

0.27 MILES

Adjacent to Westminster Abbey is St Margaret's Church, the House of Commons' place of worship since 1614, where windows commemorate churchgoers Caxton and…

5. Houses of Parliament

0.28 MILES

Both the elected House of Commons and the House of Lords, who are appointed or hereditary, sit in the sumptuous Houses of Parliament, officially called…

6. Lambeth Palace

0.3 MILES

A gorgeous red- and fired-brick Tudor gatehouse, dating from 1495 and located beside the church of St Mary-at-Lambeth, leads to Lambeth Palace, the…

7. Supreme Court

0.31 MILES

The Supreme Court, the highest court in the UK, was the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords until 2009. It is now housed in the neo-Gothic Middlesex…

8. Garden Museum

0.32 MILES

Housed in the disused church of St Mary-at-Lambeth, this peaceful, green-fingered museum takes a close look at the 17th-century, father-and-son Tradescant…