Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Saquon Barkley Plaque
Kirkkasik Bedesten inside
Kirkkasik Bedesten
Someshwar Temple
Someshwar Temple
Grilled cheese and tomato soup are soulmates.
The Palisades Restaurant
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The local catch is delicious fried as well.
Terry's of Charlevoix
Carlson’s Fishery is a Great Lakes institution.
Carlson’s Fishery
The Cathedral Café maintains the building’s original church exterior.
Cathedral Café
Exterior of the historic Dyffryn Arms pub.
Dyffryn Arms
Most of what’s on the menu here comes from Michigan.
The Glenwood
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Siegfried Tieber specializes in sleight-of-hand magic using small objects, as well as mentalism, which gives the illusion of reading minds.
Does a Magician Really Never Reveal Their Tricks? AO Wants to Know.
12 days ago
Decoy’s wines reflect the terroir of California.
How a Wooden Duck Migrated From the California Wetlands to a Wine Label
15 days ago
There’s more to the French capital than the Eiffel Tower.
Dear Atlas: What Are Some Non-Touristy Things to Do in Paris?
19 days ago
The plants around Liz Dauncey in this photo are not poisonous, but many common garden and houseplants are.
Are Some of Your Favorite Houseplants Poisonous? AO Wants to Know.
25 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England London St Antholin's Spire
AO Edited

St Antholin's Spire

This stone spire holds a unique place in the region's history.

London, England

Added By
Daniel Shortland
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
St Antholins Spire   OffBeat London / Atlas Obscura User
St Antholins Spire   OffBeat London / Atlas Obscura User
  Snowdrop68 / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  Snowdrop68 / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
St Antholins Spire   OffBeat London / Atlas Obscura User
St Antholins Spire   OffBeat London / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

This steeple was once the crowning glory of a church in London along Budge Row, now known as Watling Street. It's not far from St Pauls's Cathedral and was based on designs by Sir Christopher Wren.

The spire is unusual as it is made entirely of stone. Most church steeples at the time were made from wooden frames with stone cladding. It soon became apparent that the main structure of the church was unable to support the weight of the spire and it was in danger of toppling. The spire was removed and replaced with a lighter-weight version.

A churchwarden called Robert Harrild, who was also a successful businessman, to purchase the spire for £5, a huge sum in those days. Harrild had the spire moved back to his home in Sydenham to its current location where it stands today.

Related Tags

Churches Design Architecture

Know Before You Go

It is free and open all the time to visit. Just be considerate of the local residents. Street parking is available on Round Hill, it is just a short walk up to the spire.

Community Contributors

Added By

OffBeat London

Edited By

SEANETTA, lampbane, Snowdrop68

  • SEANETTA
  • lampbane
  • Snowdrop68

Published

March 22, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
St Antholin's Spire
Round Hill, London SE26 4RG, United Kingdom
London, England, SE26 4RG
United Kingdom
51.435639, -0.057911
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Horniman Aquarium

London, England

miles away

Horniman Museum and Gardens

London, England

miles away

Ruined Victorian Folly

London, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of London

London

England

Places 536
Stories 108

Nearby Places

Horniman Aquarium

London, England

miles away

Horniman Museum and Gardens

London, England

miles away

Ruined Victorian Folly

London, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of London

London

England

Places 536
Stories 108

Related Places

  • Uchimura Kanzo Memorial Stone Church

    Karuizawa, Japan

    Uchimura Kanzo Memorial Stone Church

    An unusual structure of stone and glass honoring one of Japan’s most eminent Christian leaders who founded the non-church movement.

  • Parroquia de la Divina Providencia (Parish of Divine Providence)

    Mexico City, Mexico

    Parroquia de la Divina Providencia (Parish of Divine Providence)

    One of the best examples of Modernist religious architecture in Mexico City.

  • Stained Glass Windows.

    Mumbai, India

    St. Thomas Cathedral

    Located in the Horniman Circle area, this church marks the historical Zero Point of Mumbai.

  • The “Chicken Church” of Da Nang.

    Da Nang, Vietnam

    Da Nang Cathedral

    This candy-pink cathedral of Da Nang is also known as the Chicken Church.

  • Chalmers Memorial Church

    Port Seton, Scotland

    Chalmers Memorial Church

    The true beauty of this church is showcased in the hand-painted stencils across the ceiling.

  • Fitzrovia Chapel

    London, England

    Fitzrovia Chapel

    Designed by the architect who also had a hand in crafting the Westminster Abbey and Bristol Cathedral.

  • San Sebastian Church

    Manila, Philippines

    San Sebastian Church

    A church made of steel.

  • Meryem Ana Rum Ortodoks Kilesesi

    Istanbul, Turkey

    Meryem Ana Rum Ortodoks Kilesesi

    It's believed that this small church was connected to the Hagia Sophia via a secret tunnel.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.