St. Dunstan in the East: London City Garden

This hidden gem of a city garden is tucked away in a side street close by to the Tower of London. It’s one of my favourite places to sit and chill away from the hustle and bustle of London streets. Pick up some lunch and come and sit in this peaceful ruin-turned-garden for some quiet, breathing space.

Why visit St. Dunstan in the East?

Stone archway leading to a lobby ruins with bench seats — Original Church Lobby

Church stone wall with greenery growing around the windows — Original Church Lobby

This city garden has such a calm, peaceful atmosphere. You will love the gothic ruins of the church which create stunning photographs with the greenery weaving amongst the stone. There are benches to sit on have a coffee or eat your picnic.

It can get busy at lunchtime but you can always find a quiet corner. There are more benches through this archway.

History of St. Dunstan in the East

Church tower with the entrance to St. Dunstan gardens in the foreground — History of the Church

The original Church was built in Saxon times and restored by St. Dunstan in 950AD. After the Great Fire in 1666, Sir Christopher Wren (the architect who built St. Paul’s Cathedral) rebuilt the church. Unfortunately, only Wren’s tower remains as the rest of the church was severely damaged in the blitz during the second world war. It was decided to create a garden out of the remains and was opened to the public in 1967.

Location

St. Dunstan Hill road with the gated entrance to St. Dunstan in the East — Entrance

The entrance to the city garden is on St. Dunstan’s Hill, just a few minutes walk from the Tower of London in one direction and Sky Garden in the other.

The nearest tube stations are Monument station and Tower Hill station. Just a little further on from Monument station is Cannon Street station for both train and tube.

Opening Times

The city garden is open from 8am to 7pm or dusk, whichever is earlier almost every day. It is closed on Christmas day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.

Toilets

There are no facilities in the garden itself. The nearest public toilets are next to the Tower of London Welcome Centre, about an 8 minute walk away.

Top Tips for Visiting St. Dunstan in the East

Bring a camera. The ruins and greenery are stunning
Avoid lunchtime if you want to guarantee a bench! It can get busy with nearby office workers and tourists.
Pack a picnic or pick up some lunch, just be mindful you may need to sit on a step or the ground if it’s busy.
If you’re interested, you can even book the gardens for a special event.

Another garden you might enjoy nearby is Garden at 120. This is a rooftop garden about a 5 minute walk away with a lovely view.