St James's Church Piccadilly

The lowdown

Of all his churches, Wren is said to have been proudest of St James's Piccadilly, a light, airy and unusually welcoming space he designed for a growing West End parish. The poet and artist William Blake was baptised at its exquisite marble font, carved by the great Grinling Gibbons, whose limewood reredos also adorns the church.

Famously open-minded and busy with concerts, talks and a counselling centre, it feels more like a community hub than a museum, and it is free to enter. Its courtyard hosts a regular market of antiques, crafts and food, so you can browse outside and find calm within, all without spending a penny.