St Botolph's Aldgate
St Botolph's Aldgate
4
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
About
A Church of England parish church sitting at the threshold of the City and the East End. A Questioning Faith. A Radical Hope. An Inclusive Love. You are welcome here.
Duration: < 1 hour
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Plan your visit
The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Whitechapel
Whether you're here for its dynamic street life, world class galleries or famed curry houses, you're bound to be wowed by the uniquely cosmopolitan flavor of Whitechapel. Long gone are the days when Jack the Ripper stalked its streets. And despite his mysterious legacy bringing throngs of curiosity driven tour groups to its back alleys and otherwise serene garden squares, these days you're more likely to catch a cutting edge fashionista scurrying through its age old lanes than criminals of any sort.
How to get there
- Aldgate • 1 min walk
- Aldgate East • 3 min walk
Reach out directly
Best nearby
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10,000 within 3 miles
Attractions
2,801 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.0
36 reviews
Excellent
8
Very good
17
Average
10
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Paul Legate
United Kingdom21,891 contributions
Mar 2022 • Friends
St Botolph's Aldgate is an iconic church in the City of London and is adjacent to Aldgate tube station. The church is located outside the former Eastern walls of the city and is officially a part of the East End of London, the official title of the church is St Botolph without Aldgate, however there have been various boundary shifts and administrative changes to parishes in the church's vicinity over the years.
Written 7 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tim D
London, UK89 contributions
Mar 2016 • Solo
I am not a churchgoer but regularly attend the lunchtime concerts (which are free) of a Wednesday, between 1 and 1.40. The performers are of a very high standard, many of them on the verge of a career as a professional soloist or orchestral player, whether singer or instrumentalist. Certainly, the quality of the pianists I have heard there is astounding. The church itself is a refreshingly light and airy space, with none of those stifling smells so often encountered in larger buildings. There is also a small collection of interesting postcards detailing the architecture and history of the edifice as well as the fantastic organ, said to be the oldest in the country - and an organ recital here is a real treat, let me tell you! So while you are sitting there peacefully, allowing the chaotic London traffic to sweep past like a tsunami, take time to chill and admire the interior design, particularly the sculptural figures that line the wall-ceiling intersections.
Written 1 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emmanuel123
Kuala Lumpur242 contributions
Dec 2015 • Couples
St Botolph's is near East End, on Aldgate High Street, and not Aldersgate Street. We attended an annual big band performance which raised funds for charity. This is a lovely building, quite well kept and of interests to those keen on history of early London. The organ is lovely but some seats need repair here and there. It is not a part of London where tourists would normally go though accessible through Aldgate Station (next door) via The Circle Line.
Written 28 December 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jolyon67
Melbourne, Australia5,667 contributions
Dec 2014 • Friends
St Botolph's Aldgate is one of three surviving St Botolph churches in London. Each were built beside a gate in the ancient city wall. St Botolph is the patron saint of travellers and people would stop by here to pray for a safe onward journey. Aldgate guarded the main road leading east out of London towards Colchester.
Today the church still sits on a busy traffic island just outside the boundary of the City of London. It was built in 1744 and replaced an earlier Saxon church. Inside it has a gallery and a finely carved plaster ceiling. It is open weekdays 9-3pm on Mondays 11-3pm.
In the late 19th century this was prime Jack the Ripper territory. Many Ripper walking tours spend time around Aldgate telling you about the colourful history of the area. The island that the church sits on was known as prostitute island.
St Botolph prides itself on inclusivity. The gay Christian movement was founded here. It also does a lot of supportive work for the homeless.
Currently there is a lot of building work going on around the church for a new public park due to open in 2016.
Today the church still sits on a busy traffic island just outside the boundary of the City of London. It was built in 1744 and replaced an earlier Saxon church. Inside it has a gallery and a finely carved plaster ceiling. It is open weekdays 9-3pm on Mondays 11-3pm.
In the late 19th century this was prime Jack the Ripper territory. Many Ripper walking tours spend time around Aldgate telling you about the colourful history of the area. The island that the church sits on was known as prostitute island.
St Botolph prides itself on inclusivity. The gay Christian movement was founded here. It also does a lot of supportive work for the homeless.
Currently there is a lot of building work going on around the church for a new public park due to open in 2016.
Written 11 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lee S
Australia3,976 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
While walking past noted the steaple & decided to have a closer look unfortunately the church was no open, from the outside I could see the stain glass windows will try & get back when it's open.
Written 8 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
YeovilWuppy
Yeovil, UK766 contributions
Aug 2016 • Solo
Whilst in this area I called in to St Botolph's, well known for it's ancient history and often mentioned in tales about "Jack the Ripper". It is a lovely church but due to roadworks and ongoing improvements by roadgangs I was unable to get a proper look at the surrounding churchyard. The inside was worth seeing, as there was some lovely architecture. The plaster ceilings were particularly beautiful and the organ was stunning. Just across the road was the famous Aldgate Pump which has been slightly moved from its original position. There are many historic pubs in the vicinity including The White Hart in Whitechapel Road which is also mentioned in the "Ripper" stories. This is a great area to find many old buildings of a bygone age. The infamous Mitre Square is also just a short walk away.
Written 10 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew
St. Albans, UK7,116 contributions
Apr 2016 • Solo
St Botolph’s church occupies a nice sunny site, just perfect for relaxing and eating a picnic lunch (that a lot of people were doing). The church has a welcoming feel and the choir practice was excellent to listen to.
There has been a church on this site for more than a thousand years; the current building dating from 1744. Daniel Defoe (author of the books "Robinson Cruso" and "Moll Flanders") was married here in 1684; and in churchyard are buried Lord Thomas Darcy and Sir Nicholas Carew who were beheaded at Tower Hill for their part in a rebellion against King Henry VIII.
There has been a church on this site for more than a thousand years; the current building dating from 1744. Daniel Defoe (author of the books "Robinson Cruso" and "Moll Flanders") was married here in 1684; and in churchyard are buried Lord Thomas Darcy and Sir Nicholas Carew who were beheaded at Tower Hill for their part in a rebellion against King Henry VIII.
Written 22 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ShaunH290
London, UK2,986 contributions
Jul 2021
The third on the site since Saxon times, this church building was consecrated in 1744. It is the work of George Dance the Elder, who also built Mansion House, the official home of the Lord Mayor of London. Several of the stained glass windows commemorate Lord Mayors.
The ceiling's amazing plasterwork angels look down on you as you walk around. J F Bentley, architect of the Roman Catholic Cathedral at Westminster, made the carved ceiling and added the decorative plasterwork in the 1890s. The building was repeatedly saved from destruction during WW2 and again restored in 1966 after damage by fire.
It is a gem, with a lovely garden just outside, just a stone's throw from Aldgate tube station. Pop in when you are passing!
The ceiling's amazing plasterwork angels look down on you as you walk around. J F Bentley, architect of the Roman Catholic Cathedral at Westminster, made the carved ceiling and added the decorative plasterwork in the 1890s. The building was repeatedly saved from destruction during WW2 and again restored in 1966 after damage by fire.
It is a gem, with a lovely garden just outside, just a stone's throw from Aldgate tube station. Pop in when you are passing!
Written 22 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
StephenCross
Dublin, Ireland31,546 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Near to Aldgate Station. Nice long standing church. It’s very large and well looked after. Recommended
Written 7 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kate M
25 contributions
Sept 2019 • Solo
I attended a Sunday service while on business travel and thoroughly enjoyed the intimacy of the church and congregation, which welcome all.
Written 5 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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