London Mithraeum
a roman cult temple under the city
A reconstructed Roman temple to a mystery god, rebuilt seven metres below Bloomberg's headquarters with an atmospheric light and sound show, all free.
Free to visit · City of London · Bank · EC4N 8AR
Opening: Tue–Sat, free but pre-book
When builders dug the foundations of a new office in 1954 they uncovered a Roman temple to Mithras, a secretive cult god worshipped by soldiers and merchants in the third century. Bloomberg rebuilt the whole thing on its original site, seven metres below the modern street, and made it free to visit.
Down in the cool dark you stand among the reconstructed temple walls while a clever light and haze show conjures the lost ritual back to life, complete with the murmur of voices. It is part archaeology, part theatre, and genuinely atmospheric.
Upstairs a wall displays hundreds of Roman objects pulled from the Walbrook mud, including the famous writing tablets that carry the oldest known handwriting from Britain. For a free hour in the City it is hard to beat, just remember to book ahead.
Getting there: On Walbrook in the City, a couple of minutes from Bank station.
Best time to go: Book a weekday slot and aim for one of the timed immersive shows.
Insider tip: Book a free timed ticket online, and try to catch one of the immersive show cycles that runs every twenty minutes or so. Look upstairs for the Roman tablet bearing London's oldest written record.
Official site: https://www.londonmithraeum.com
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide