St James's Church Piccadilly
where blake was baptised
A welcoming Wren church on Piccadilly with a Grinling Gibbons font where William Blake was baptised, plus a free-to-browse courtyard market.
Free to visit · Piccadilly · Piccadilly Circus · W1J 9LL
Opening: Daily · respect services
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.
Getting there: On Piccadilly, a couple of minutes from Piccadilly Circus.
Best time to go: A market day for the courtyard, any day for the calm interior.
Insider tip: Look for the delicate Grinling Gibbons font where Blake was christened and his carved limewood work above the altar. Time your visit for a courtyard market day, and check the listings for free lunchtime concerts.
Official site: https://www.sjp.org.uk
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide