St Martins-in-the-Fields

St Martins-in-the-Fields is one of London’s more famous churches and its central location and tourist-friendly activities run by the church (including brass rubbing, lunchtime classical concerts and jazz concerts in the crypt) make it a popular spot for both locals and visitors to London.

The church is referred to in the nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons as well as the following novels, A Room with a View by E M Forster, Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell and The Parasites by Daphne du Maurier. The exterior of the church has also appeared in films (including Notting Hill and Enigma) and television programmes such as Doctor Who and Sherlock.

It is the local parish church of the Royal Family, Number 10 Downing Street and the Admiralty.

What to see at St Martins-in-the-Fields

There is a lot going on at St Martins-in-the-Fields including exhibitions of contemporary art and historic artefacts, tours, concerts and the London Brass Rubbing Centre.

While the church dates from the Georgian period, many of its highlights are much more recent. These include the imposing East Window with its mouth-blown glass and stainless steel frame dating from 2008 and the travertine limestone altar dating from 2011, both of which were designed by Shirazeh Houshiary and Pip Horne.

St Martins-in-the-Fields is probably best known for its music programme which includes lunchtime concerts and jazz nights in the crypt.

Brass rubbing

Brass rubbing is a hobby that was popular throughout Britain during Victorian times, where you place paper over a brass plaque and make a rubbing using chalk, graphite or wax to create a souvenir. Nowadays most places ban brass rubbing as plaques dating from the 13th–16th centuries were being degraded by the rubbing process, although brass rubbing centres like the London Brass Rubbing Centre in the crypt of St Martins-in-the-Fields use replica plaques to avoid damage to the originals.

The London Brass Rubbing Centre has over 100 replica brasses from churches across the United Kingdom to choose from with specialist paper and metallic waxes to create a unique memento of your visit.

Brass rubbing is an inexpensive activity that gives you a unique souvenir of London.

Concerts at St Martins-in-the-Fields

St Martins-in-the-Fields is perhaps best known for its music programme, which includes Friday lunchtime concerts, candlelight concerts and jazz in the crypt. Check the music programme on the St Martins-in-the-Fields website for further details.

Visiting St Martins-in-the-Fields

St Martins-in-the-Fields is at the southern end of Charing Cross Road and at the northeastern corner of Trafalgar Square making it possibly the most centrally-located church in London.

Admission to the church is free, but there is a charge to make brass rubbings (brass rubbings are free or discounted with a London Pass). There are free lunchtime concerts most days although evening events such as jazz nights incur an admission charge.

Tickets for paid concerts should be booked in advance through the church’s website, although you can simply show up and take a seat if you want to attend one of the free concerts. Tickets for jazz nights go on sale six weeks before the event.

The Cafe in the Crypt is a popular spot for a meal in a unique setting and profits support the church’s work with the homeless. Meals are reasonably priced and the St Martin’s Afternoon Tea is among the best value in the capital (although the Luxury Afternoon Tea is more expensive).

It is only a three-minute walk from Charing Cross railway station and Charing Cross, Embankment and Leicester Square tube stations are all within a five-minute walk.

In addition to its proximity to Trafalgar Square, it is close to the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery (both only a one-minute walk away).