St Martin in the Fields is right in Trafalgar Square in the heart of London. This corner of Trafalgar Square hosts the National Portrait Gallery and the National Gallery as well as swanky hotels. The church of St Martin in the Fields is a historic church in central London. This significant parish church has a vast history. It has stood on this prime London site since 1222. Although the church is probably photographed by almost every visitor who arrives in Trafalgar Square, the view that most people take is from the south side of the square, near Nelson's column and the four lions As you stand in Trafalgar Square amidst the pigeons and with Nelson's Column towering over you, stand back and admire the grandeur of this incredible church. You may recognize it from the annual New Year celebrations nearby or films like Notting Hill. read more

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Had our schedule permitted us time to see a classical music performance at St. Martin in the Fields, I assume we would've had a better impression of the venue. Instead, we came for lunch in their crypt; my obsession with the macabre wouldn't let me pass up this hidden cafe, but the food left much to be desired. In true cafeteria style, you grab a tray & move down the line, pointing at items that staff members load onto your plate. We chose a few items to share: something that looked like chicken tenders with sides of mashed potato & peas, pasta salad, a veggie pie, & Victoria sponge cake. Seating area was quite crowded. A unique setting to have a meal, if only the food tasted better. read more

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I wish that I had been there for a concert, but it was still a very nice place to visit! The cafe is so weirdly fun - you're sitting there and you look at the floor and oh there's Anne something or other died in 1743. read more

Cafe in the Crypt is such a fun place to grab a snack or meal. Love that you can get afternoon tea at a more affordable price point.

A beautiful landmark in the center of everything. Get a coffee in the crypt before you wait in line for the National Art gallery. On the way to and from everything on your list! read more

Very nice church from the 18th century. They hold classical music events in the evening. I went there for a performance of the four seasons violin concerto. This concerto was composed by Vivaldi in the 18th century. Very nice acoustics in this historic church. There is a cafe in the crypt that serves hot food and drinks. You can enjoy a glass of wine before the concert. I sat in the orchestra section row K which was a good spot. I missed on their website that you could book a seat in the gallery. Next time I will get a seat up there. read more

Really great atmosphere for lunch or a drink. Food options varied from sandwiches to hot meal items. Definitely recommend a stop here if you have the time. read more

St Martin in the Fields - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

Wonderfully atmospheric place for lunch. The food choices are expansive and the prices are reasonable. read more

St Martin in the Fields - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

As I wandered through London, I realized that I was adjacent to St Martin in the Fields, a name that I knew from listening to music programs on my local public radio station. So of course, I had to pop in and was lucky enough to find 2 musicians practicing for an afternoon concert (violin and piano). The music filled the church beautifully and the church is lovely with from the pews to the windows. Then since the signs told me to...I went downstairs to checkout the art gallery, the crypt, the giftshop and the cafe...and all the other spaces. What great community services! There were people doing Tai Chi in a meeting room and others doing brass rubbings..supplies available for a fee. The shops were a mix of religious items, general British tourism bits and then there was the lovely Christmas shop set up adjacent. Great place to spend money and help support the church and its programs. read more

I have not visited in person, but I have ordered from their gift shop online. I placed an order worth over £100 in the beginning of March, and as of April 26th, not one item has appeared, and they claim they have no way of tracking the shipment. I have asked for a refund and have received no response. I would urge shoppers to think twice before ordering from this church's gift shop. I find it very sad that a church acts this way. read more

I attended their lunchtime concert and was wowed by the wonderful acoustics, beautiful surroundings and impressive musicianship. Check their offerings of free concerts, it's an unforgettable experience. read more

St Martin in the Fields - Lunchtime concert - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

Such a beautiful church Meandered inside It, too, is a place of holiness The music playing Forget about the chaos outside read more

This was another gem I stumbled upon when looking online for things to do while visiting London. It's a beautiful church that hosts a series of concerts throughout the year. You can check out brochures (I'm sure they have an online schedule, too) and see what's coming up. During the day, they have classical concerts for free, open to the public. Arrive early to get a seat and please silence mobile phones! The concert lasted about 30 min. It was a break to sit, rest, and enjoy a taste of culture. If you're hungry for real sustenance, there's a cafeteria downstairs, albeit a nice one. read more

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There once was a church named St. Martin and in the fields was he. I walked on in, there wasn't a din and I rambled right in for free. I was struck by the window in back Whose metal ribbing was slack The line undulated And I celebrated It's artistically wonderful knack. (and here comes the woefully less rhythmic verse...) Concerts are held here often In the crypt you can go see a coffin So why not visit If only a bit Leaving out butter makes is soften. read more

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You might live already since years in London. But have you ever tried something different? Lets unravel the mystic poem written before me. I discovered my passion for classical concerts. Playing myself piano and piccolo, which I neither can transport to the UK not practice in a two bedroom flat, I decided to visit more classical concerts. This concert I discovered when listening to the radio Classic FM. They always have a wealth of classic concerts, which sometimes even are for free. It is just a question to find them. We went to a Mozart concert that night, well known pieces, which anybody would recognise. I remember they had to hold back which one piece as one of the violinists was stuck on a train outside London. That is so typical - which other city something like this could happen? This is why is love this city, even an ordinary Mozart concert has surprises! If you happen to work around Trafalgar Square, there are lunch concerts - why not skip the daily routine... read more

St Martin in the Fields - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

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I had a vague recollection that St. Martin in the Field was a former church that now hosted concerts. Well, it does host concerts but it's a very active church with a ministry strong on social justice. There was a great photo exhibit on the recent refugee crisis and numerous programs to choose from. It's the only church I know that has a box office! I attended a performance of the Faure Requiem, which was excellent. If you do attend a concert, I recommend renting a cushion for a pound. It will be money well spent. Downstairs is a bookstore, Café in the Crypt and the London Brass Rubbing Centre. The bookstore carries a nice variety of unique merchandise that goes beyond religious items, and there's a good selection of interesting books. The amazing Café in the Crypt offers tasty, affordable food and is a real gem. It's also the perfect place to warm up with some tea and dessert on a blustery afternoon and to enjoy a pre-concert dinner. It's obviously a favorite pre-theatre dining spot. I also love that the restroom is pretty much a public restroom. They know it and don't make any fuss about not being a customer. It is part of the hospitality they offer as a church. They do urge you to drop a coin or two in a collection box so they can keep it open to everyone, but it's done in a lighthearted way. St. Martin in the Field is one of my favorite places in London. read more

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My friends and I discovered this place by accident. We had just left National Gallery and saw the pretty church across the street (if you exit National Gallery, it is to your left). A lot of people were just sitting on the steps enjoying their lunch or seeking shade since it was a nice hot day in London. I went inside to take a peek and was amazed by the beautiful architecture of the church. The high ceilings, the details in the ceiling designs, the awesome looking church pipe organ, the weird looking windows. Everything was beautiful to look at. I did not spend much time exploring the rest of the church since we had a tight schedule but I would definitely want to come back and check out the food that the other yelpers are talking about. read more

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This beautiful church is located right on Trafalgar Square. To be honest, there are some ugly behemoths on the square but the church is a great antidote to these It is a live church with services through the day but you can wander inside to look at the lovely architecture inside However, the church does offer more than this. One of its secret gems is the Cafe in the Crypt, which serves meals throughout the whole day including a good value afternoon tea. It also hosts jazz evenings on Wednesday evenings There are concerts in the main church building itself with some free lunchtime concerts as well as evening concerts. So a versatile venue with many string to its bow read more

My hood of treating and meeting friends... a fusion of music, food and drink in a Crypt. The benches are hard; the tone is sizzling; the ceiling is ultra-high... especially when the recorders (English Flute) sing Telemann's concerto, everything seems all together for Baroque :) The church as a concert hall concept was discovered over 2 years ago together with my college friend following the same piano teacher. It has been a treat for us... our Californian and Boston visitors were also obsessed. Another time on Wednesday nights, jazz bands and the audience rock this 18th century brick-vaulted Crypt from the bottom - the café downstairs. The seating is simple and humble; the coffee is strong and grande; the food is modern and British. House specialties include bread and butter pudding and apple crumble both served with lashings of custard, all self-serviced. The portions are generous and all freshly, made mostly from local ingredients. It is also one of the best afternoon teas in Central London and for a bargain. Thanks to Christine C. for the initial introduction. read more

Hearing Mozart's Requiem by Candlelight at St Martin in the Fields was one of the highlights of my recent trip to London. It's a wonderful space with amazing acoustics. I paid 22 pounds for nave seats and sat in the front row right by the orchestra. The Thames chamber orchestra performed and amazing version of one of Mozart's beloved pieces. I would highly recommend attending a performance at the church if you can. read more

Lifelong dream realized! I've always listened to recordings of the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, and dreamed of someday visiting such a famous venue (and I even knew that it was no longer located in actual fields!). I managed to get a same-day upstairs-balcony ticket to a concert featuring the piece of music with which I first fell in love, at the age of eleven: Bach's double violin concerto. It still thrilled me to hear it, and experiencing it live in such a beautiful and historic venue felt pretty special. Sitting up in the dark wood choir lift-type seating felt pretty cool, too. I returned for a weekend concert (Vivaldi) with a friend and sat in the regular pews, and enjoyed it immensely as well. read more

Very interesting old church. During my last visit, I had the opportunity to watch Mozart's Jupiter Symphony by Candlelight performed by a 20 piece orchestra in the church. A unique experience. Worthy of a stop in to see the tombs in the crypt and the floor of the church. read more

Oh, I simply loved my visit to St. Martin in the Fields Church. While it's located in a prime location you can find a bit of solace and peace relaxing along the steps outdoors, taking in the interior of the church and underground in the crypt (where the shop and cafe are located); this is thoroughly a unique place. You MUST head to the church for one of their (free) lunch-time and/or (affordable) evening concerts...it's simply wonderful, surreal and such a wonderful way to spend an hour or two. I had the pleasure of attending an evening chamber music event and it was sublime!!! All the seats in the house are spectacular; it's an intimate space. And the cool optical illusion that makes up the glass window at the back of the church is so awesome! read more

Big, beautiful, churchy, and older than Trafalgar Square. That's St. Martin-in-the-Fields. There's a café, and a decent are to wander (with its crypt) and they do interesting things with the community. I somehow don't reckon that any number of Yelp reviews will do much for it. Or against it. read more

This church has extremely simple looking interiors - compared to the grandeur of other gothic and Renaissance churches in London. But what it has is an amazing pipe organ and acoustics. So this is not a church where you walk in to admire it's beauty, but this is a church where you should visit during choral evensong to appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of its church. read more

It's a beautiful church for services but also have a beautiful crypt below with its cafe and restaurant, brass rubbing centre, art gallery, gift shop, Christmas shop during Christmas period, box office for concerts in the church, and an exhibition area. Something for everyone! read more

Diese Kirche hat eine ganz besondere Atmosphäre. Sie ist sehr hell und freundlich. Das Ansinnen ist auch, eine Kirche zu sein, die allen Menschen offensteht. Und so sieht sie auch aus: Offen, hell, freundlich und einladend. St. Martins in the Fields liegt am nördlichen Ende des Trafalgar Square, neben der National Portrait Gallery. Die Kirche ist nicht so überlaufen, wie andere Sehenswürdigkeiten in der Stadt, so dass man bei dieser Besichtiung ein bischen zur Ruhe kommen kann. Und danach kann man noch im Cafè in the Crypt einkeheren. read more

This is the 2nd time we have attended a concert at St. Martin's in the Field Church. Tonight's concert was Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by the Belmont Ensemble of London. Fabulous ensemble and wonderful acoustics in the church. We plan to attend church service there this Sunday (we are from San Jose, CA) just to see how it is from a church perspective. We sat up in the box gallery seats. Again, acoustics are great, but you have to lean over to see anything. If you go to a concert, I recommend floor seating there. read more

I love this church. I'm not sure what exactly captures my imagination so much, but I really love it. Its tucked into the northeast corner of Trafalgar Square, and although its been under construction for a while, I think its reopened as of November 2007. There are so many things to do at this church- I'd at least duck inside and take a stroll around if you don't have time for anything else, its quite pretty inside. If you do have time, definitely check out one of their concerts, the music is exquisite and in such a nice atmosphere, with excellent acoustics. http://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/jserv/concerts/index.jsp . You can also duck into the Crypt- which is not as morbid as it sounds. The crypt is a cafe and gift shop, and its actually quite cozy. Its also a good place to duck into the toilets if you need to, and a good place to take a break and dry off if you're touring around and its rainy. http://www2.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/page/cafe/crypt/crypt.html read more

We've been to the cafe in the crypt in previous trips and this time we went twice. Being in the middle of London it remains somewhat hidden in that it appeared that there were far more locals than tourists. The cafe is a buffet offering hot and cold meals, desserts, and hot and cold drinks. The menu varies perhaps daily. The atmosphere is very calm. Although this is a little more expensive than something on the street, it is nice to have a calm, cool, place, away from the tourist hustle. Getting to the crypt is either from the staircase on the side of the church or from within the church. In addition, the church itself is lovely. There are occasional organ concerts, which are worth the effort. read more

Catch a classical concert or choral work in this incredible venue. SIMPLY BREATHTAKING!!!!

It really is quite an experience to attend a concert at St. Martin in the Fields. We decided to spend our Friday evening at the church for its Fauré Requiem concert. It was awe-inspiring to listen to the choir (New London Singers) carry the audience on an emotional journey, really. The church itself is beautiful and worth a visit, even if you do not have time to attend a concert. Truly one of the highlights of my London experiences thus far! read more

This is an absolutely gorgeous little chapel on the edge of Trafalgar Square. Check their schedule and try to catch a free lunchtime concert here! They bring in world class musicians to perform. We saw a cellist and pianist from the royal academy and they were fantastic. The acoustics are really good and it is a nice change of pace from running around doing touristy things. If you enjoy classical music DON'T MISS IT!! read more

I am a huge fan of St. Martin-in-the-Fields lunchtime concerts. They are free for all, with a suggested donation. They take place very Monday, Tuesday and Friday at 1:00 pm in an amazing location just by Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery. If you are a tourist or a local I definitely recommend making a point to check out one of the concerts. We were lucky to see a cello and piano duet, which was absolutely fabulous. They played three pieces that lasted about an hour. It was a nice change from the fast paced activity around London. Just sit back, relax and enjoy very talented musicians. We got there plenty early, but if you get there 10 or so minutes before you should be ok. If you get there earlier you could get a better view though. Not much more to add but make it happen and check out a free concert! read more

They have free noon time concerts - check their website. It was pretty crowded the week that we went and we got there 15 minutes ahead of time and were not able to get an ideal seat. I'd suggest 30 minutes if you really want a good view! Just check the times online, no need to buy tickets, and just walk right on in (for tourists: it's right in the church, not in the crypt entrance, although you can get in through there). read more

Lovely church, active, welcoming, with interesting cafe, there might well be someone playing some kind of music - definitely worth popping in as an excursion from the Trafalgar Square attractions. read more

St Martin in the Fields - St Martin in the Fields, seen from entrance to National Gallery - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

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I saw someone i know play here. Surrounded by candel light, fantastic music and the beautiful architecture of this church the evening was really magical. Go as soon as you can! read more

This particular church has been re-opend after a major refit during the summer. It hosts many classical concerts and jazz performances.To make your evening unusual and different make an evening of it with dinner and drinks in the Crypt before hand like I did with a group of my friends from Italy. The food is good and they serve both hot and cold foods as well as wines,teas coffees as well as desserts. read more

Beautiful candle lit classical music concerts :) and a cool underground cafe

One evening while visiting London several years ago we heard Vivaldi's Four Seasons by candlelight at St. Martin In the Fields and it was an experience I will remember and talk about for the rest of my life! . read more