City Churches: St Bartholomew the Great
"St. Bart's" is one of the most "medieval" places remaining in London.
Constant rebuilding - and a relatively high level of prosperity - helps to explain the general lack of surviving medieval structures in central London. The Great Fire of 1666 didn't help matters either! The church of "St. Bartholomew the Great" - close to the famous meat market in Smithfield Square - is one of the few places remaining in the City (aside from the Tower) where it's possible to get a sense of Norman and Plantagenet London.
The Church was founded in the 12th century by the monk Rahere, whose tomb is a well-maintained survivor from the past. Seating in the church is traditional - in the collegiate manner - and the acoustics here are phenomenal, with a remarkable resonance and vibration. St. Bart's has seen its ups and down - after the abolition of the monasteries in the 16th century it was even used as a barn! In the 1800s, the Victorians heavily rebuilt the church so that it would be more in keeping with their strange notions of what a "gothic church" should look like. But in spite of many depredations, St. Bart's still retains its ability to cast a medieval spell on those who enter its doors.



The signature dish - Anatolian Mixed Grill
"Boris" bike at a docking station
Alternative cultures shops in Camden High Street.
The Piazza opened in 1975, offering a view!