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
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
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 »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
about 1 month ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
about 1 month ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
about 1 month ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
about 1 month 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. Leonard Church of Shoreditch

St. Leonard Church of Shoreditch

Historic church where a number of Shakespeare's actors are buried.

London, England

Added By
Eric Grundhauser
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
The seating area.   Atlas Obscura
The main pipe organ.   Atlas Obscura
Vestibule.   Atlas Obscura
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
The view from behind the clock.   Atlas Obscura
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
The church exterior.   Atlas Obscura
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

English theatre has a historically tumultuous relationship with authority, particularly the undivided church and state.

Various notable works, such as Middleton's A Game At Chess, were banned for reasons of political or moral outrage throughout the Jacobean and Elizabethan periods, and in 1644, Oliver Cromwell stopped the government beating about the bush and banned all theatre, and closed all the playhouses. With this in mind, the reputation of St. Leonard's Church as "the actors’ church" is rather surprising. 

Erected on the location of a Norman church whose first recorded Vicar was practicing in 1185 (with evidence of an Anglo-Saxon church earlier still), St. Leonard's was quite near to The Theatre at New Inn Yard. This theatre was home to the first productions of many of Shakespeare's now legendary plays. To this end, many of Shakespeare's company and contemporaries must have considered St Leonard's a natural resting place. The list of players in the medieval graveyard buried under the current crypt includes James Burbage, founder of The Theatre, and his son Richard, Shakespeare's ally and an actor with the honour of having been the first to play tragic heroes Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello and Romeo.

Restored from near collapse in the 1990s, after a century of war and occasionally destructive attitudes towards preservation, today the Church plays host to a succession of theatrical productions and music nights, continuing its association with the creative community.

Related Tags

Places To Stay Shakespeare

Know Before You Go

The churchyard is a tranquil space away from the traffic, open during the day. For church opening times,  check the website. 

The nearest stations are Shoreditch High Street,  Old Street and Liverpool. 

Level access to the churchyard is around the back and a ramp at the front for the church. 

Community Contributors

Added By

EricGrundhauser

Edited By

AdamTKincaid, jooniur, SEANETTA, jonathancarey

  • AdamTKincaid
  • jooniur
  • SEANETTA
  • jonathancarey

Published

August 22, 2013

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
St. Leonard Church of Shoreditch
111 Shoreditch High St
London, England, E1 6JN
United Kingdom
51.52619, -0.078016
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Banksy's 'Designated Graffiti Area'

London, England

miles away

Shoreditch Town Hall

London, England

miles away

The Theatre

London, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of London

London

England

Places 549
Stories 110

Nearby Places

Banksy's 'Designated Graffiti Area'

London, England

miles away

Shoreditch Town Hall

London, England

miles away

The Theatre

London, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of London

London

England

Places 549
Stories 110

Related Stories and Lists

History Tour: Shakespeare's World of Mysteries

List

By Jonathan Carey

Related Places

  • Shakespeare And Company bookshop situated at 37 rue de la Bûcherie, in the 5th arrondissement.

    Paris, France

    Shakespeare and Company

    This iconic Parisian bookstore doubles as the "Tumbleweed Hotel" for traveling writers.

  • Stratford, Connecticut

    The American Shakespeare Festival Theatre Site

    Markets and festivals take place at this former home of a 1,500-seat theater, which burned to the ground in 2019.

  • Outside view of the Shakespeare Society of America.

    Moss Landing, California

    Shakespeare Society of America

    An archive and museum with a mind-boggling collection of Shakespeare-related objects.

  • Annapolis, Maryland

    Governor Calvert House’s Hypocaust

    A rare 18th-century heating system tucked inside a historic colonial home.

  • The Willow Globe shortly after it was planted

    Llanwrthwl, Wales

    Willow Globe Theatre

    In the middle of a Welsh field, a replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is made out of living branches.

  • Keetmanshoop, Namibia

    Canyon Farm Yard

    A family-run camping spot in the Namibian desert.

  • Porphyry Point Lighthouse at the entrance to Black Bay, Lake Superior

    Thunder Bay, Ontario

    Porphyry Point Lighthouse

    Live your lighthouse keeper dreams at this unique lodging on a Canadian island.

  • The pool of the Trixie Motel.

    Palm Springs, California

    Trixie Motel

    This bright and bubbly Palm Springs hotel was the brainchild of an iconic drag queen.

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.