Photo: londondrum.comUseful things to know before your visit
Address: St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square WC2N 4JJ. Telephone: 0207 766 1100. Website: stmartin-in-the-fields.org
How much do the tickets cost?
St. Martin-in-the-Fields is free.
What are the opening hours?
Opening times for the church is usually 8.30am to 5pm (Mon-Tue and Thu-Fri); 8.30am to 7.30pm (Wed); 9am to 5pm (Sat); 9am to 6pm (Sun). The Cafe in the Crypt is usually 10am to 5pm (Mon-Wed and Fri); 10am to 7pm (Thu-Fri); 11am to 5pm (Sun).
How much time do you need?
A typical visit to St. Martin-in-the-Fields takes 15 minutes.
Which buses go to St. Martin-in-the-Fields?
Bus routes 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 23, 24, 29 53, 87, 88, 91, 139, 159, 176 and 453 all stop close by.
Which is the closest train station?
The nearest station is Charing Cross, which connects with the Bakerloo and Northern lines. It also serves National Rail trains. It only takes two minutes to walk to St. Martin-in-the-Fields.
Which other attractions are nearby?
These attractions are all within 15 minutes walk of St. Martin-in-the-Fields: National Portrait Gallery, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery, Nelson’s Column, Benjamin Franklin House, Leicester Square, Household Cavalry Museum, Chinatown, Covent Garden, Cleopatra’s Needle, Horse Guards, Transport Museum, Banqueting House, Piccadilly Circus and Downing Street.
Twitter 
Facebook 
WhatsApp 
Email My review of St. Martin-in-the-Fields
The Romans were burying people here when it was still a mile outside town but the earliest mention of a church was in 1222 when it really was “in the fields”, lying halfway along the road between the city walls and Westminster.
Photo: londondrum.comThis early church was rebuilt under Henry VIII and Janes I, but by 1721 it was in such a sorry state that the whole thing had to be pulled down and put up again by James Gibbs. This is the building that we’re looking at today, with its huge portico, pediment and Corinthian columns.
Most of the churchyard disappeared a hundred years later when they started laying out Trafalgar Square and the only patch that survives today is that paved area out the back with flower pots and benches.
Photo: londondrum.comSupporting homeless people
The church is well-known for helping out the homeless through The Connection next-door, which is why you see so many of them camped out round the rear. They’re not the kind of blokes that I’d want to approach because they’re all young adults (always young men) who stop you for money and cigarettes.
“Need money for a hostel!” I haven’t got any money, sorry. “Cigarette, cigarette?” they say, waving scissor fingers in your face. I don’t smoke, sorry.
Then it’s straight onto the next person – money for a train ticket? I need it for a train ticket, bus ticket, hotel, hostel, phone call to my wife. Then they take out their mobile phone and have a ten minute chat on it.
One guy is wearing his sleeping bag like a coat whilst another is pumping up the council bin bags so he can use them as a seat. A third man has lashed all of his belongings to a shopping trolley so he can use it as a wireframe safe. Whatever plans he had when he arrived in London I’m guessing that he wasn’t expecting to end up defending his clothes at the back end of a church. People come here with two suitcases and two hundred quid and two days later they have 2p and are sleeping on the street.
Photo: londondrum.comWhenever you look inside the church you invariably find a few more of them kipping in the pews. There’s one guy in here at the moment who’s gently resting his head against the column with his hood zipped up. I suppose when you’re homeless you expect it to rain wherever you go, even indoors.
It’s very quiet in here. Ten steps outside is a steady stream of traffic but in here there’s nothing. There are no artworks on show, no paintings, just a few fancy chandeliers, ornate plasterwork, and a big window rimmed with melted metal.
Classical concerts inside the church
Photo: londondrum.comSt. Martin-in-the-Fields is well known for the classical concerts they hold in the early afternoon and evening. Some of their lunchtime ones are even free, which makes it a nice place to take a break from your sightseeing. They usually put a string ensemble up by the altar and have them playing Haydn, Beethoven and Bach – Vivaldi’s Four Seasons is a popular one.
Cafe in St. Martin-in-the-Fields’ crypt
Photo: londondrum.com
I like the big cafe in the crypt because it’s one of the few places around Trafalgar Square where you can practically always get a seat (I’m guessing that most people don’t even know it’s down here). You can sit under the arches and fiddle with your phone while listening to the background chat and hubbub.
The Brass Rubbing Centre downstairs
Photo: londondrum.comWhen I was a kid I remember my parents bringing us to the Brass Rubbing Centre and I’m always surprised to find that it’s still going.
Back in Victorian times they used to give their visitors some paper and crayons and let them trace over all the memorials upstairs, but nowadays you’re limited to copying their collection of replicas that are stacked up on a shelf downstairs (next to the shop).
There’s about a hundred of them in total and they’ve got everything from medieval knights and fire-breathing dragons to portraits of Saint George and William Shakespeare. When you’re finished they let you take it home.
London Squire guidebook – Check out my guidebook available to buy at Amazon, Apple and Kobo. I’ve personally visited 210 London landmarks, attractions and hotels and collected all of my reviews, example itineraries, handy practical info, and advice about using the buses and trains into an eBook, along with 675 original photos
What do you think? (8)
Ask a question, or share your experience of St. Martin-in-the-Fields
MBradley The last time I visited St. Martins was when I was a young child, and my parents took me to do some brass rubbings in the basement. I have always meant to return, so when I saw that there was some Mozart by Candlelight I couldn’t resist. The church is beautiful inside, and the sound of the musicians is so wonderful. And whilst it was not a full orchestra (only six players) I at least did get to sit very close to them near the front, which meant I could enjoy their playing so much more than when I have to sit a long way away somewhere like the Royal Albert Hall. It makes the evening so much more intimate, especially with the candles! (reply)
Paul I occasionally go in to hear some music. It is cheap enough to just wander in off the street (you can spend the same amount just having a cup of coffee in Starbucks) and you can listen to some wonderful classical music while you take the weight off your feet. The seats are actually in the pews, where you would sit if you came to listen to the mass, and pews are not the most comfortable of seats, so that is a black mark, but the sound swells and fills the entire church and sounds absolutely wonderful. I always go and have a cup of tea afterwards in the cafe. (reply)
Andy When is the music on? (reply)
Craig Hi Andy. They have classical concerts most lunchtimes and evenings. You can see a list of upcoming concerts on their website – stmartin-in-the-fields.org/whats-on/?category=206 (reply)
Sandra I seem to remember that we came here many years ago to do some brass rubbing with the children. Is that still there? (reply)
Craig Hi Sandra. Yup, that’s still there – stmartin-in-the-fields.org/visit/things-to-see-and-do/ (reply)
John Scott When I was there in 1967 I was talking to a homeless kid…and he suddenly said "Hold this" and pressed a foil wrapped lump into my hand…my Buddy had just come in wearing a jacket…and the homeless guy thought he was a cop so he gave me his dope to hold…and maybe be caught with. 55 years on evidently still the same and prob still no honour among "thieves". Try to feel sympathy but its hard…still comes down to choices…. (reply)
Nadia Cowen On my trips in the 70s, 80s, and possibly later than that, I remember the bells of St. Martin’s, which certain times of day, rang for maybe 5-10 minutes and it was so beautiful, I would stop everything to stand and listen. But I haven’t heard them in at least 15 years. Are they still ringing but only once a day? Or not at all? The bells were quite loud and I’ve been thinking maybe they’re now considered too intrusive or annoying. I truly hope not! (reply)
Leave a comment (no need to register)
Forum - Landmarks, Attractions & Events