5 Lesser-Known Catholic Sites To Visit in London

If only the heretics would return to the Faith and all the old Churches in England could become Catholic again, and not just St Ethelreda's!

From Aleteia

By Cerith Gardiner

If you're heading across the pond, be sure to check out these incredible hidden gems in England's capital.

London’s Catholic heritage is a story of resilience and renewal. After centuries of persecution following Henry VIII’s break from Rome, Catholicism in England has quietly flourished once more. In fact, recent surveys show young Britons increasingly drawn to the ancient faith -- Catholic churchgoers now even outnumber their Anglican peers in the 18–34 age range, according to Reuters.

In a remarkable symbol of this new era, King Charles III (as head of the Church of England) recently prayed alongside the pope in the Sistine Chapel in 2025 -- the first such joint worship by a British monarch and Pontiff since 1534. This historic moment, hailed as a “healing of history,” highlights how far Catholic-Anglican relations have come.

This renewed openness makes it a perfect time to explore London’s rich Catholic heritage. In fact, the capital city offers many beautiful testaments to the Catholic revival -- some grand and famous, others tucked away and often missed by the crowds. From hidden chapels to poignant martyr sites, these places invite travelers to step off the busy tourist trail and reflect on a rich spiritual history. Here are five lesser-known Catholic sites in London -- a mix of places of worship and landmarks – that each tell a unique story of faith’s endurance.

1ST. ETHELDREDA’S CHURCH, ELY PLACE

St. Etheldreda’s is a rare medieval gem concealed in a quiet courtyard in Holborn. The chapel dates back to 1270s London, making it one of only two buildings in the city still standing from the reign of Edward I. Once the private chapel of the Bishops of Ely, it later sheltered clandestine Catholic worship -- briefly serving as a secret embassy chapel for the Spanish ambassador’s household in the 1620s.

After centuries of Anglican use, St. Etheldreda’s was finally restored to the Catholic Church in 1878, becoming one of the oldest Catholic churches in England now in use. And this sense of history is tangible as you step inside, the history can be seen, and felt, in its ancient stone walls and stained glass.

The upper church is still an active sanctuary of prayer, even hosting traditional devotions like the annual Blessing of Throats on St. Blaise’s feast. In the crypt chapel below, lit by flickering candles, visitors can sense the continuity of faith through turmoil. Quiet yet powerful, St. Etheldreda’s stands as a symbol of survival, connecting modern pilgrims with the faith of medieval London.

2ST. JAMES’S, SPANISH PLACE (MARYLEBONE)

St. James’s Church at Spanish Place carries a fascinating legacy of Catholic persistence. It is the direct descendant of the old Spanish Embassy chapels that operated in London during penal times, when public Catholic worship was banned. In the late 18th century, Spain’s diplomats maintained a chapel near this site, allowing English Catholics to hear Mass under the embassy’s protection.

After the Catholic Relief acts, a proper church was eventually built here. The present Gothic revival church opened in 1890, its design inspired by French Gothic style and even Westminster Abbey. Fittingly, Spain’s King Alfonso XII contributed funds to its construction, cementing the historic bond.

Today St. James’s is a spacious, beautifully detailed church with double aisles, ornate shrines, and spectacular stained glass. Tucked behind Georgian terraces, it remains somewhat off the beaten path for tourists. But those who venture here discover an “enchanting atmosphere” of old Catholic London.

This church’s very name -- “Spanish Place” -- whispers a story of international friendship and the endurance of faith through eras when it had to hide in the shadows.

3TYBURN CONVENT & MARTYRS’ SHRINE (MARBLE ARCH)

Just steps from the hectic traffic of Marble Arch, Tyburn Convent is an oasis of prayer built on profoundly hallowed ground. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the infamous Tyburn Tree gallows stood near this spot, where 105 Catholics were executed for their faith during the Reformation era.

Today a community of Benedictine nuns keeps watch here, maintaining a “quiet vigil” in memory of those martyrs ianvisits.co.ukianvisits.co.uk. The convent was founded in 1903 – a fulfillment of a prophecy that a religious house would one day rise here to honor the fallen faithful.

Visitors are welcomed to the small chapel and the Martyrs’ Shrine in the crypt below the convent. It’s a modest underground room, but what it holds is extraordinary: relics of the martyrs line the walls -- a fragment of blood-stained cloth, bones, even two tiny splinters of the gallows wood itself. Each memento tells of courage and sacrifice in the face of persecution.

Despite the somber history, the shrine feels peaceful and reverent. The Tyburn nuns continue perpetual adoration, praying in shifts day and night and offering silent hospitality to pilgrims. Visiting Tyburn is a moving experience -- a chance to pause and remember that the freedoms we take for granted were earned by brave souls who kept the faith unto death.

4NOTRE DAME DE FRANCE (LEICESTER SQUARE)

Tucked away on a side street by Leicester Square, Notre Dame de France is a delightful surprise -- a tranquil, round church in the midst of London’s entertainment district. Its unusual circular shape comes from its origins as a 19th-century “Panorama” building, a venue for 360-degree painted spectacles, which was converted into a Catholic church in 1865.

The current structure was largely rebuilt after World War II, but it retained the unique round layout (notably, it was London’s first cast-iron church). Stepping inside, you find a serene space filled with art and light -- truly a little bit of France in London.

In 1959, during the post-war restoration, famed French artist Jean Cocteau spent a week here, painting three remarkable murals on the chapel walls. His frescoes of the Annunciation, Crucifixion, and Assumption now grace the church, rendered in Cocteau’s dreamy, fluid style. And if you look closely at the Crucifixion scene and you’ll even spot Cocteau’s self-portrait among the figures.

These colorful murals, protected behind glass, make Notre Dame de France one of London’s hidden art treasures. The church still serves the French-speaking Catholic community, offering regular Masses in French and English. Popping in for a quiet prayer or simply to admire the art offers a refreshing pause from the bustle of the West End -- a chance to reflect amid beauty.

5CORPUS CHRISTI CHURCH, MAIDEN LANE (COVENT GARDEN)

In a narrow lane behind Covent Garden’s theaters lies Corpus Christi, a petite Gothic church often called the “Hidden Gem of Covent Garden.” This unassuming 19th-century church has a special focus: it was built in 1874 as an act of reparation to honor the Blessed Sacrament after the desecrations of the Reformation. In fact, it was one of the first new Catholic churches established in London after centuries of persecution, dedicated explicitly to Corpus Christi (Latin for the Body of Christ).

Though its brick exterior might not turn heads, inside you’ll find a jewel-box sanctuary glowing with candles and gold mosaics. Corpus Christi today serves as the Diocesan Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament, with Eucharistic Adoration at its heart. A golden monstrance atop the ornate high altar signals that continuous prayer takes place here, echoing the church’s founding purpose.

And tucked in a side chapel is a shrine to St. Carlo Acutis -- his photo and relic inspire young visitors to deepen their faith.

The history here is rich: Cardinal Henry Manning himself oversaw the church’s opening, and the beloved hymn “Sweet Sacrament Divine” was composed by a priest of this parish in the 1880s.

Despite its central location, few passing shoppers realize the treasure of devotion down Maiden Lane. For a traveler, slipping into Corpus Christi offers a moment of hushed reflection amidst the city’s buzz, and a tangible encounter with London’s Catholic revival spirit.

Reflective travel note: These five sites -- from a medieval chapel and an embassy church to a martyr’s shrine, a French artistic haven, and a restored devotional gem -- each highlight a different facet of London’s Catholic story. Visiting them is more than a sightseeing checklist; it’s a pilgrimage through history and hope. In the stillness of these sanctuaries, one can almost hear the echoes of prayers past and present. They remind us that faith, like London itself, endures through the ages in the most unexpected corners, inviting all who find it to pause, ponder, and perhaps say a quiet prayer of their own.

Pictured: St Ethelreda's Church, London