St Dunstan in the East Church Garden is popular among locals, but they often keep quiet about it. But who can blame them?
The garden in the City of London is often described as the most beautiful in the capital, earning praise for being comparable to a set from a mythical film.
You can find the garden via this address: St Dunstan’s Hill, City of London, London EC3R 5DD.
@jessicaxviana 19/100 ✨ a “hidden gem” in the middle of the city, this garden growing from the ruins of a 12th century church is an unexpected little quiet green corner among glass office buildings and skyscrapers 🌱 #londontravel #londonthingstodo #thingstodoinlondon #londononabudget #londonactivities #londonfreeactivities #londonfreethingstodo #freethingstodoninlondon #londononabudget #stdunstanintheeast ♬ Sweet Nothing – Minnz Piano
The hidden magical garden in London
The Church of St Dunstan was originally built around 1100, and although only the ruins remain, it is a Grade I listed building.
According to the City of London, in 1391, the south aisle was added to the curt and repaired in 1631, but was severely damaged in 1666 by the Great Fire of London.
In 1941, the Blitz saw more damage impact the church, with only the Wren’s tower and steeple surviving the war.
After World War II, it was decided not to rebuild St Dunstan’s, and in 1967, the City of London decided to make the remains into a public garden, opening in 1970 and remaining open to this day.
Now, the gardens and ruins have become one, with trees and vines entangling with the former church, resulting in a beautiful and peaceful setting.
St Dunstan in the East Church Garden has earned lots of praise from visitors, earning an impressive 4.6/5 rating on TripAdvisor.
One happy guest said: “Fantastic place! The history is so pure, and everything is green like in nature. Shows us that even in death, there is life. Simply beautiful.”
Recommended Reading
Another impressed visitor said it was “breathtaking”, sharing: “I can’t rate this highly enough. It’s just breathtaking.”
A third said it was an oasis: “An oasis of greenery and peace in the heart of London.”
St Dunstan in the East Church Garden is free to visit and is open daily from 8am to 7pm or dusk, whichever is earlier.
