Arts and Culture
The buildings around Vintry & Mercer have stood the test of time, enduring the Great Fire of 1666 and the Blitz of 1940 and 1941.
CHURCH OF ST. JAMES GARLICKHYTHE
1 min walk
Vintry & Mercer’s closest neighbour, hangs the capital’s oldest clock, housing a mechanism which has been ticking since 1682.
Today it’s also home to the patriotic Royal Bells that pealed across the city for the Queen Elizabeth’s II Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
Fun fact: St. James Garlickhythe is one of the few City of London churches that survived extensive bomb damage during the Blitz in World War II.
ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL
8 mins walk
St Paul’s Cathedral is one of London’s most iconic landmarks, renowned for its magnificent dome designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London. Its interior showcases stunning mosaics, intricate stonework, and a rich history of royal celebrations, state funerals, and national services. Standing gracefully above the skyline, it remains a symbol of resilience, faith, and British heritage.
Fun fact: The cathedral’s dome is the second largest in the world, after St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
TOWER OF LONDON
15 mins walk
Formerly a fortress, royal palace and infamous prison, it’s now home to the Crown Jewels, including over 23,000 precious stones belonging to the monarchy, and breathtaking royal regalia from the Coronation Spoon to St Edward’s Crown, which has been used in the coronation ceremonies for centuries, including that of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in 2023.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s also known for its bloody history, with many notable prisoners having passed through its cells. It also housed the Royal Mint, where the country’s coins were made for over 500 years.
Fun fact: The Tower of London is famously guarded by ravens, and legend has it that if the ravens ever leave, the kingdom will fall.
TATE MODERN
15 mins walk
The Tate Modern is a world-leading contemporary art gallery housed within the transformed Bankside Power Station on the River Thames. Its vast, industrial Turbine Hall and ever-changing exhibitions showcase groundbreaking works from global artists.
Celebrated for its bold creative spirit, it remains a cultural icon that redefines how modern art is experienced and understood.
Continually evolving, it challenges convention and invites visitors to see the world through a different lens.
Fun fact: The Tate Modern was once a power station, and its massive Turbine Hall is nearly 152 metres long (long enough to fit three jumbo jets nose to tail).
BARBICAN CENTRE
19 mins walk
The Barbican Centre is a leading performing arts venue located within London’s striking Brutalist Barbican Estate.
Home to world-class theatre, music, dance, and film, it presents an eclectic programme that celebrates both emerging talent and international excellence. Renowned for its architectural boldness and cultural ambition, it has become a defining force in the city’s creative landscape.
Continually exploring new artistic frontiers, it invites audiences to experience culture in unexpected and thought-provoking ways.
Fun fact The Barbican Centre has its own lake and conservatory, making it one of the few arts centres in the world to combine performance spaces with a tropical garden.
HMS BELFAST
19 mins walk
Historic Royal Navy warship permanently moored on the River Thames, offering a vivid insight into Britain’s naval heritage.
Serving with distinction during the Second World War and beyond, it now stands as one of the most significant surviving warships of its era.
Its preserved decks and interactive exhibits allow visitors to step into the daily life of sailors at sea. A powerful reminder of resilience and service, HMS Belfast continues to educate, engage, and inspire future generations.
Fun fact: HMS Belfast played a key role in the D-Day landings, providing naval gunfire support for the Allied invasion of Normandy in 1944.
THE O2 ARENA
32 mins by public transport
World-famous entertainment and sports venue located on the Greenwich Peninsula in London.
Known for hosting concerts, sporting events, and exhibitions, it attracts millions of visitors each year with its state-of-the-art facilities and iconic design.
Its striking white dome and supporting yellow masts make it one of the city’s most recognisable modern structures.
Fun fact: The O2 Arena was originally built as the Millennium Dome to celebrate the year 2000, and it was transformed into the arena we know today in 2007.
ROYAL OBSERVATORY GREENWICH
36 mins by public transport
The Royal Observatory in Greenwich is a historic scientific site overlooking the River Thames, famous as the home of the Prime Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
It has played a pivotal role in the history of astronomy, navigation, and timekeeping since its founding in 1675. Visitors can explore its historic telescopes, planetarium, and interactive exhibits.
Fun fact: The Prime Meridian line at Greenwich is marked on the ground, and you can stand with one foot in the Eastern Hemisphere and one foot in the Western Hemisphere at the same time.