All Hallows-by-the-Tower is the oldest church in the City of London. It was founded in 675 and contains second-century Roman tiles and a seventh-century Anglo-Saxon arch.
It is well worth visiting the church simply to see the beautiful interior of such an old building and the Undercroft Museum in the crypt is also well worth a visit.
All Hallows-by-the-Tower is the oldest church in the City of London. It was founded in 675 and contains second-century Roman tiles and a seventh-century Anglo-Saxon arch.
The church was damaged by an explosion in 1650 and was rebuilt in 1658 and it narrowly survived the Great Fire of London, largely because of the efforts of Admiral William Penn (the father of William Penn for whom Pennsylvania is named) demolished surrounding buildings to create a firebreak. Admiral William Penn’s neighbour, the famous diarist, member of parliament and naval administrator, Samuel Pepys, witnessed the progress of the fire from the church’s spire. It was destroyed again during the Blitz and subsequently restored and rededicated in 1957.
What to see at All Hallows-by-the-Tower
It is well worth visiting the church simply to see the beautiful interior of such an old building and the Undercroft Museum in the crypt is also well worth a visit.
The Undercroft Museum in the crypt has exhibits relating to the history of the church and include the church’s 16th-century registers which document the baptism of William Penn and the marriage of John Quincy Adams. There is also a model of Roman London circa 400 and a tessellated Roman floor dating from the second century.
Visiting All Hallows-by-the-Tower
All Hallows-by-the-Tower is located at the southeastern corner of the City of London, close to the Tower of London. It is just a three-minute walk to Tower Hill tube station and not too much farther from Monument tube station, Tower Gateway DLR and Fenchurch Street railway station.
The church is very close to the Tower of London (less than a five-minute walk from the main entrance). Other nearby attractions you can visit include the Monument to the Great Fire of London, Leadenhall Market and Tower Bridge.
An audio tour is available through the izi.travel app (available for Android, Apple iPhones and Windows phones). There are also guides at the church available to answer any questions most weekdays between 10.30am and 1.30pm and 2pm to 4pm.
It is a small church that is free to visit and shouldn’t take longer than half an hour, a little longer if you follow the full audio tour.
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