All Hallows by the Tower

It was founded by Erkenwald the Bishop of London in 675AD and a Chapel of the Abbey of Barking. The church's name means all saints and is in honour of the festival celebrated on November 1st.

The church over the centuries has forged a relationship with the armed forces and Marine forces, and their are many plaques on the walls celebrating their history.

The church has also curated a small museum in the Crypt and is well worth viewing along with the private chapels that are also housed there.

This is a little gem just around the corner from the Tower of London, amazing since the original structure was destroyed by an explosion, followed by damage from the Great Fire of 1666, & after taking a direct hit from a bomb during World War II. Built and rebuilt multiple times from 675 AD, we're now left with a lovely, restored church that contains remnants from a variety of periods. These remnants have their own little stories: a cistern used to hide church documents from Henry VIII & Oliver Cromwell, the marriage registry of John Quincy Adams (6th US President), the baptistry of William Penn (of Pennsylvania fame), a Saxon arch uncovered during renovations after WW2, a Templar-related undercroft altar, and the Crow's Nest from Ernest Shackleton's final Antarctic Expedition (just to mention a few). A must-see in the Crypt Museum. I visited on a Friday & found the place nearly empty. Entry is free. If you love history, expect to spend at least 2 hours here. A small garden & cafe next door are a treat after the visit.

I think this is the oldest church in London. Full of history of course! The gallows where St John Fisher was hung are across the road and apparently he is buried near the front entrance! Gruesome history!

It would be easy to miss this place, the oldest church in England, 675AD.
Located adjacent to the Tower of London it is steeped in history. Be sure to visit the crypt with it's ancient altar bearing the mark of the Knights Templar.

Such an amazing building. This is the oldest church in all of London, dating all the way back to 675 AD! You cannot be unmoved when entering. You are experiencing beautiful Anglo-Saxon architecture that date back over 1,300 years!

"Off the beaten path" isn't true, because it's right in the heart of the Tower complex. There is so much to see... in the basement!

I went to nearly all the well known London attractions on my visit but All Hallows-by-the-Tower was probably the most memorable. I initially planned on just stopping by before heading to the Tower of London but ended up spending almost two hours here. The staff are more than happy to answer any questions you have and personally show you around if you desire, the love they have for the church is absolutely palpable and something I will genuinely remember forever. The church being over 1400 years old as well as being the site of an earlier Roman building means that it has played a role in nearly every era of English history and the museum showcases it brilliantly. Absolutely stop by if you have the chance you will not regret it!

Beautiful and peaceful church, the oldest in London. Even better is the museum underground, which is within Roman caves in their original form!

This church isn't as ornate as some, but what it lacks in flash it makes up for in history...being so close to the Tower and the heart of Roman London.
There's a wonderful crypt museum with many interesting and beautiful artifacts. We had planned on stopping in for a short visit...we left after almost 2 hours.
This place has such a rich historical past it's a must for any student of London history.

An important Church established in 675AD (its website contains a fuller history of the Church) standing near to what would become the Tower of London and also Tower Hill, the church would have witnessed many historical events in the life of the nation and the church in London.

Two bishops celebrated by the Church of England (and one catholic saint) are commerated at the church. An icon of the martyred Bishop of Rochester John Fisher who was buried at All Hallows is commentated. I presume that is why one of the pew carvings in the nave is of a cardinal’s galero (hat with tassels), he was made a cardinal shortly prior to his execution by Henry VIII for his defence of his Queen, Catherine of Aragon.

Archbishop William Laud was baptised at the church and plaque in crypt commemorates his like John Fishers execution for Treason at near by Tower Hill.

The crypt of the church is veritable “museum” of the religious life of the area from roman days to the modern.

Twi fine memorials to dead of the world wars are in the crypt as well as little seen battlefield burial marker crosses.

The church three fine altars, a Lady Chapel, main altar and maritime altar. The church traces its maritime links with many moving memorials to sea going both war time and peace time, including a memorial to HMS Hood sunk by the German Battleship Bismarck. And The Thames Memorial.

Two links to America exists with the church, William Penn founder of the State of Pennsylvania was baptised in the Church and the sixth president John Quincy Adams married at the church in 1797.

Must visit when you’re interested in WW1 and Talbot House, Poperinge, Belgium.

No guide hit self explanatory interesting facts written by BESTSELLERLondon: A Guide for Curious Wanderers: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER. I fully recommend this
Book

Wonderful historic place. Entrance is free. Crypt museum is small, but impressive. Shows all periods of London history from romans till WWII (and it's cold there, that's nice in hot summer day). Stuff is lovely.

100s of years of history at this famous Old Church, explained in some detail as you navigate around.
Military history interests me, so I was pleased to find the resting place of Revd Clayton, or Tubby as he was known to many many WW1 soldiers who visited his Toc H club in Poperinge, to seek solace from the ravishes of the fighting.
I guess the best part of the visit was the crypt, with its Roman flooring, and histories of famous figures associated with the church are laid out
Almost destroyed in WW2, scorch marks of fire damage can still be seen on one of the walls.

Not only is this a lovely and very well maintained church, which was repaired after the Second World War, but its crypt houses a small museum. This museum has artefacts and documents ranging from the marriage register entry for John Adams but also the birth register entry for William Penn. It also has a Saxon Arch meaning that church has been on this site for many years.

Lovely little Wren built church. Old and full of history, great place to visit just next to the tower of London. Free to enter.

This place is amazing, it should be must-go-to for anyone visiting London. In 1940 the church was bombed but tower and walls remains. There is one and half thousand of years of history in that place! I am not sure why never heard of this church before.

Beautiful Church with rich history.

Open to the public. Free.

A wonderful church built nearly 1,400 years ago. Underneath they discovered Roman paving. The carol service was incredible.

A place for quiet reflection near The Tower.
Very old but very beautiful.
Well worth a visit and a small voluntary donation.