London offers an overwhelming amount of cultural heritage, with historic landmarks around almost every corner. While popular sites like the Tower of London and Big Ben command attention, many lesser-known treasures are easily missed. Off the beaten path and hidden away by the numerous modern-day office blocks surrounding it, lies the beautiful Grade I-listed ruins of St Dunstan in the East.
Tucked away in the heart of the City, St Dunstan’s is a tranquil oasis. A public garden has been cultivated within the shell of a church whose foundations date back to 1100, and which was destroyed in the Blitz. As someone with a love for gothic architecture, I was amazed to discover this atmospheric, historic gem has been sitting right on my doorstep unbeknownst to me for years.
The History of St Dunstan Church
A church has occupied this site since 1100 – or ‘ancient times’, as the plaque outside aptly puts it. Over the many centuries, the church has endured a cycle of ruin and rebirth. The building was greatly damaged during the Great Fire of London in 1666 and was repaired before Sir Christopher Wren – the visionary behind St Paul’s Cathedral – was commissioned to add a striking Gothic steeple and tower between 1695 and 1701.
While the main body of the church was rebuilt in 1817 to fix its decaying structure, it couldn’t survive the Blitz of 1941. The near-total destruction left only Wren’s tower and a few walls standing. After the war, with local parish numbers dwindling, the decision was made to leave the ruins as they were. In 1971, the site was reimagined as a public garden, creating the beautiful sanctuary in the bustling city we see today.
How to Get There
Located on St Dunstan’s Hill, the garden is a 5–7 minute stroll from the popular Leadenhall Market. If you’re coming by Tube, Monument and Tower Hill are your closest stations. The area is also well-connected by bus, with routes 15, 21, 35, 42, 43, 47, 133, 344, and 460 all stopping nearby.
The garden is open from 8am to 7pm (or dusk, depending on the time of year).
